Background ► AXIS POWERS – Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. ► ALLIED POWERS – Britain, France, USSR, British Empire (Aust, NZ, Canada.

BackgroundBackground► AXIS POWERS – Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, AXIS POWERS – Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary,

Romania and Bulgaria.Romania and Bulgaria.► ALLIED POWERS – Britain, France, USSR, British ALLIED POWERS – Britain, France, USSR, British

Empire (Aust, NZ, Canada & South Africa), USA (after Empire (Aust, NZ, Canada & South Africa), USA (after 1941) and they were assisted by China, Greece, 1941) and they were assisted by China, Greece, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Belgium, the Poland, Norway, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Belgium, the Netherlands & Luxembourg.Netherlands & Luxembourg.

► THE FOUGHT IN – Western Europe, the North South THE FOUGHT IN – Western Europe, the North South Atlantic Oceans, Russia, North Africa, the Atlantic Oceans, Russia, North Africa, the Mediterranean & the Balkans, the Middle East and Mediterranean & the Balkans, the Middle East and the Pacific Ocean. the Pacific Ocean.

► ENDED – in Europe in May 1945, in the Pacific in Sept ENDED – in Europe in May 1945, in the Pacific in Sept 1945.1945.

► FATALITIES – 62 million dead (3 times the number of FATALITIES – 62 million dead (3 times the number of people in Aust today!)people in Aust today!)

Course of the Course of the European WarEuropean War

German Advances 1939-1940German Advances 1939-1940

Germany’s early successes were due largely to Germany’s early successes were due largely to blitzkrieg blitzkrieg (lightning war). Germany choose a (lightning war). Germany choose a

target and launched an all out attack. It aimed target and launched an all out attack. It aimed to overwhelm the enemy with a massive, to overwhelm the enemy with a massive, localised infantry force with use of tanks, localised infantry force with use of tanks,

parachutes and aircraft.parachutes and aircraft.

The Fall of PolandThe Fall of Poland► Despite Britain and France’s declaration of war Despite Britain and France’s declaration of war

almost immediately following the invasion, they almost immediately following the invasion, they were too far away to affect the fighting. were too far away to affect the fighting.

► 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland (Operation Case White) on three fronts; East (Operation Case White) on three fronts; East Prussia in the north, Germany in the west and Prussia in the north, Germany in the west and Slovakia in the south. They had 2600 tanks Slovakia in the south. They had 2600 tanks against the Polish 180, and over 2000 aircraft against the Polish 180, and over 2000 aircraft (the (the Luftwaffe) Luftwaffe) against the Polish 420. against the Polish 420.

► BLITZKREIG BLITZKREIG Sept 1Sept 1stst – – Luftwaffe Luftwaffe decimated the decimated the Polish airfields, before the planes could leave the Polish airfields, before the planes could leave the ground, before attacking railroads and other lines ground, before attacking railroads and other lines of communication.of communication.

► Germany attacked with a pincer movement which Germany attacked with a pincer movement which took the industrial areas west of Warsaw and took the industrial areas west of Warsaw and closed in from the east. Warsaw held until Sept closed in from the east. Warsaw held until Sept 2727thth. .

►Stalin was so alarmed by Stalin was so alarmed by the German advances that the German advances that he ordered the Soviet he ordered the Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland invasion of Eastern Poland on Sept 17on Sept 17thth..

►The arrangements of the The arrangements of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact were soon fulfilled. Pact were soon fulfilled.

►Poland surrendered on Oct Poland surrendered on Oct 66thth..

►Poland was reorganised as Poland was reorganised as the Gestapo and the SS did the Gestapo and the SS did their work.their work.

From Oct 1939 to April 1940: From Oct 1939 to April 1940:

►There was some fighting along the Maginot There was some fighting along the Maginot Line between the Germans and the French.Line between the Germans and the French.

►Some fighting at sea, The Battle for the Some fighting at sea, The Battle for the Atlantic, when German submarines (U-Atlantic, when German submarines (U-boats) attacked US-Britain merchant ships. boats) attacked US-Britain merchant ships.

►Nov 1939, Soviet Union attacked Finland – Nov 1939, Soviet Union attacked Finland – poor state of the Soviet resources was seen.poor state of the Soviet resources was seen.

►Seen as a period of ‘Phoney War’ or Seen as a period of ‘Phoney War’ or Sitzkrieg. Sitzkrieg. The period of calm and little The period of calm and little actual fighting, that lead to a false actual fighting, that lead to a false sense of security in Britain and France sense of security in Britain and France despite the knowledge that Hitler despite the knowledge that Hitler desired their destruction. desired their destruction.

Fall of the Low CountriesFall of the Low Countries

► 99thth April 1940. German forces occupy April 1940. German forces occupy Denmark and the main ports of Norway, Denmark and the main ports of Norway, including a supply of iron ore in neutral including a supply of iron ore in neutral Sweden. Sweden.

► Despite both sides being equally matched in Despite both sides being equally matched in artillery, the artillery, the Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg attack saw a quick attack saw a quick German victory. German victory.

► This lead to the end of Neville Chamberlain’s This lead to the end of Neville Chamberlain’s career. He was replaced on May 10career. He was replaced on May 10thth by by Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill.

► Also on May 10Also on May 10thth Germany attacks Belgium Germany attacks Belgium and the Netherlands – both surrender by the and the Netherlands – both surrender by the end of the month. end of the month.

The Fall of FranceThe Fall of France

► The invasions of the Netherlands and The invasions of the Netherlands and Belgium were planned precursors to the Belgium were planned precursors to the attacks on France.attacks on France.

► Germany attacked France through and Germany attacked France through and unexpected avenue – the Ardennes Forest. unexpected avenue – the Ardennes Forest.

► They successfully pushed the French, They successfully pushed the French, Belgium and British forces into a clump and Belgium and British forces into a clump and drove them to the sea. drove them to the sea.

► Those German troops were then recalled by Those German troops were then recalled by Hitler to attack Paris. Hitler to attack Paris.

The Fall of FranceThe Fall of France

►From 27From 27thth May to 4 May to 4thth June, 340 000 allied June, 340 000 allied troops are evacuated from Dunkirk by troops are evacuated from Dunkirk by any means possible – destroyer, ferries any means possible – destroyer, ferries and private motor boats. They were and private motor boats. They were ongoing attacked by the ongoing attacked by the Luftwaffe. Luftwaffe.

► June 14June 14thth Germany captures Paris. Germany captures Paris.► June 22June 22ndnd France signs the armistice. France signs the armistice.►1010thth June, Italy declares war on France June, Italy declares war on France

and Britain. and Britain.