31.2 i. hitler advances toward supremacy a. luftwaffe german air force
TRANSCRIPT
• B. Blitzkrieg (9-1-39)
• Lightning war (take by surprise) • At same
time, Soviets
invade Baltic
States to
create
“Buffer zone”
- Show video
• C. Phony War
• Western front (Brit,France) begin preparing for war – but not here yet
• “sitzkrieg”
II. ScandanaviaA. Identify the countries –
• Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark
B. Why this region is imprt. to Hitler?
• Control water routes to and from Atlantic
• Control resources available
• Prevent another British Blockade
• Finland occupied by Soviets
• B. Why did diplomacy over Scandanavia effectively end Chamberlain’s career as PM?
• He had promised peace – false
• Hitler in Scandanavia: Geographic threat to Britain
• C. What was significant about the results in Scandanavia?
• German navy is weakened
• Winston Churchill = PM May 10, 1940
• Germany begins invasion of France
• Failure of the Maginot Line
IV. Battle of Dunkirk
• A. Describe• Geographic- • Northern France• British, French, and Belgian troops trapped by
Germans along English Channel coast • May 1940- 850 boats from England arrive to
evacuate 300,000 Allied forces• Show map and video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_fall_france_campaign.shtml
B. Why was the result significant for Britain? • Royal Air Force (RAF) proves effective vs.
Luftwaffe (protect evacuating ships)
• Save 300,000 troops
• Sign of survival, hope
• Nationalism – role of the common people ; determination to win
• “Wars are not won by evacuation.”
C. Why was this battle seen as a fatal mistake for Hitler?
• Had opportunity to wipe out Allied forces
• Western front may have been secured in 1940.
D. Why didn’t he finish the job when he had the chance?
• Eager to get to Russia
• Felt western front was under control without an invasion of Britain
• Felt he could still form alliance w/ Britain or force British surrender
V. Vichy and Free France
• Allied held up at Dunkirk- no one left to defend rest of France
• June 14 – March into Paris• June 22 – France surrenders• A. North/ South Division • Germans occupy northern France• Southern France = puppet government in
city of Vichy led by Henri Petain • = “COLLABORATORS”
• “RESISTANCE” movement took many forms
• Charles de Gaulle – Free French govt. operating out of Britain
V. Battle of Britain • A. Hitler expected Britain to seek peace• B. Hitler surprised that Churchill and British
willing to fight • “Victory at all costs….for without victory
there is no survival.” • C. Hitler planned to invade Britain • - would depend on : air supremacy over
English Channel• -destroy British air fields • - destroy British industries
• D. Begin bombing Aug 1940
• (Aug 24 – Sept 6 - 1,000 planes a day to destroy RAF)
• British lost a lot………
• But so did the Germans
• E. Night bombings of London (Sept 7-Nov 3)
1. The Blitz• a. Constant bombings over London and other cities• b.……but “DID NOT BREAK BRITISH MORALE”• c.………..RAF prvent German air supremacy • (down 1700 German aircraft)• d….prevent German invasion• …..survival ……will to win • “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by
so many to so few.”
• Battle of Dunkirk and Battle of Britain• Victories for British?• Failures of Germany?
VI. Anglo-American Cooperation • A. US - at first – Isolationist and neutral
• B. Gradually U.S. begins support of Britain w/ supplies – realize Hitler was a threat to American security…..(think….How?)
• C. US – give Britain 50 naval ships
• In return- US gets military base in Newfoundland, Bermuda, and British West Indies
• D. Cash and carry policy- British pay cash for food and armaments and transport goods themselves
• Keeps US “neutral”
• E. British cant afford all equipment they need , so…….
• 1. Lend – Lease – US President (FDR) allowed to “lend” war equipment
• F. Aug 9, 1941 Atlantic Charter
• Churchill and FDR
• Free trade
• right to choose govt.
• Destroy Nazi Tyranny
VII. Eastern Europe and Africa• A. Mussolini dreams of Mediterranean empire• [Stays neutral until June 1940]• (military and industry not as advanced as
others)• B. June 10, 1940 – declare war on France
and Britain (in N. Africa) • Italy: Focus efforts on gaining territory in
Africa, and E. Europe (Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia)
• Hitler had to send reinforcements in most cases.