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WWII

WWII. THE FIRST BATTLES. The Invasion of Poland . Begins September 1, 1939 Britian and France declare war on Sept. 3 Canada declares war on Germany on Sept. 10 Polish Army is crushed by the German Blitzkrieg

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WWII

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  1. WWII THE FIRST BATTLES

  2. The Invasion of Poland • Begins September 1, 1939 • Britian and France declare war on Sept. 3 • Canada declares war on Germany on Sept. 10 • Polish Army is crushed by the German Blitzkrieg • On Sept. 17, Soviet Army attacks Poland from the East (part of the secret “Nazi-Soviet Pact” • Poland is divided into three parts1. Incorporated into the Soviet Union2. Incorporated into Germany (Poles are removed) • 3. General Government: Controlled by Germany, A place for the Poles to live, also used for slave labor, concentration camps and natural resources

  3. The Nazis in Poland • The Poles were considered “sub-human” by Hitler • The Nazis were brutal to the Polish people • Executions, thievery and the kidnapping of children were common • A special group of the S.S. (Einsatzgruppen) were sent into to destroy unwanted elements of the Polish population – the travelled behind the army, searched for and killed government officials, communists and Jews

  4. Sitzkrieg – The Phony War • Rather than attacking Germany, the British and French prepare for WWI style battles • They rely on fortifications & trenches and simply wait for the Germans to attack first • Germany uses this time to go after the weaker countries of Europe • They capture Norway, Holland, Denmark and Belgium • The Nazis oppress these people install dictatorships

  5. The Invasion of France • France is invaded on May 12, 1940 • The Britsh and French defender divide into two separate lines (1st along the Belgian border, 2nd along the German border) • Between the two lines is the Ardennes Forest, which was lightly defended because it was believed the Germans wouldn’t be able to travel trough it • However, the Germans did go through the Ardennes and took the Allies by surprise • The British and French could not recover and were soon beaten • France surrenders – Northern France is controlled by Germany, Southern France is still controlled by the French in exchange for becoming and ally of Germany (The Vichy Regime)

  6. The Miracle of Dunkirk • After the French surrendered, the British Army was severely outnumbered and quickly retreated back to the coast city of Dunkirk • However, it seemed like the German Army would destroy the British before they could bring enough ships to get them back to England • The British population came to the aid of the Army and average people took boats across the English Channel and picked up soldiers • From fishing boats to battleships, almost every boat in England contributed to the effort and the British Army was saved from destruction • The British promise to fight to the end!

  7. Winston Churchill rallies the British Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender

  8. Key Points • Poland is taken by the Nazis and the Soviets • The Nazis capture most of western Europe • The Nazis defeat France and France is forced to join Germany • The British Army is saved at Dunkirk and Britain promises to fight to the end • Winston Churchill is awesome!

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