Blitzkrieg In The West and The East Blitzkrieg in West The Battle of Britain “Operation Barbarossa”

Blitzkrieg In The West Blitzkrieg In The West and The Eastand The East

Blitzkrieg in WestBlitzkrieg in West

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain

““Operation Barbarossa”Operation Barbarossa”

Poland 1939Poland 1939

Germany attacks Germany attacks Poland, Sept. 1939 Poland, Sept. 1939 because it desires because it desires Lebensraum Lebensraum between Russiabetween Russia

Poland has a Poland has a defensive alliance defensive alliance signed with Britian signed with Britian and France but it and France but it does not deter Hitlerdoes not deter Hitler

Poland falls in four Poland falls in four weeks against weeks against blitzkriegblitzkrieg

Poland 1939

The Phony War 1939-1940The Phony War 1939-1940

After Poland’s fall, After Poland’s fall, Britian races to Britian races to reinforce the French reinforce the French along the Maginot Linealong the Maginot Line

War exists but no one War exists but no one is fighting?!is fighting?!

Germany is mobilizing Germany is mobilizing its forces and bad its forces and bad weather delay fightingweather delay fighting

Britian and France Britian and France panic as time passespanic as time passes

How many gun turrets are How many gun turrets are visible in this picture?visible in this picture?

Denmark and Norway 1940Denmark and Norway 1940

Germany moves quickly Germany moves quickly through the through the Scandinavian countries Scandinavian countries

Desiring access to the Desiring access to the North Sea, deep harbors North Sea, deep harbors and iron from Swedenand iron from Sweden

Hitler’s general staff did Hitler’s general staff did not feel seizing these not feel seizing these countries was a countries was a necessity but a risknecessity but a risk

To France and To A Return Of To France and To A Return Of HonorHonor

May 1940, Germany May 1940, Germany blitzkrieg tactics plow blitzkrieg tactics plow through Belgium and the through Belgium and the NetherlandsNetherlands

Germany troops swing Germany troops swing past the famed Maginot past the famed Maginot Line and surprise the Line and surprise the FrenchFrench

French forces outnumber French forces outnumber German forces in terms German forces in terms of armor and aircraftof armor and aircraft

French believed in French believed in “élan” against German “élan” against German BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg

To France and To A Return Of To France and To A Return Of HonorHonor

Battle of Dunkirk 1940 Battle of Dunkirk 1940 saw British forces saw British forces escape destruction by escape destruction by German forces due to German forces due to naval evacuation naval evacuation

June 22, 1940 Frances June 22, 1940 Frances surrenderssurrenders

Hitler had pushed for Hitler had pushed for this attack against this attack against generals advice againgenerals advice again

To France and To A Return Of To France and To A Return Of HonorHonor

The Battle Of Britain 1940The Battle Of Britain 1940

Winston Churchill is Winston Churchill is Britain's Prime MinsterBritain's Prime Minster

A man of many qualities A man of many qualities and oratory skilland oratory skill

Hitler seeks to invade Hitler seeks to invade Britain, but he must Britain, but he must control her skiescontrol her skies

British RAF and German British RAF and German Luftwaffe fight for air Luftwaffe fight for air dominancedominance

Germany cannot break Germany cannot break Britain causing Hitler to Britain causing Hitler to look elsewhere for victorylook elsewhere for victory

The Battle Of Britain 1940The Battle Of Britain 1940

Germany loses for Germany loses for many reasonsmany reasons Radar introducedRadar introduced Air-ground Air-ground

communications communications usedused

Germany lacks Germany lacks correct aircraft for correct aircraft for this actionthis action

SpitfireSpitfire

The Invasion Of Russia 1941The Invasion Of Russia 1941

Russia and Germany had Russia and Germany had signed a Non-aggression signed a Non-aggression PactPact

Joseph Stalin felt Joseph Stalin felt complacent that Germany complacent that Germany would not attackwould not attack

Stalin in 1936 had purged Stalin in 1936 had purged his military of its his military of its leadership because of leadership because of distrustdistrust

Military leadership after Military leadership after the purge was the purge was incompetentincompetent

The Invasion Of Russia 1941The Invasion Of Russia 1941

““Operation Barbarossa” Operation Barbarossa” 1941, German invasion of 1941, German invasion of RussiaRussia

Hitler attacks Russia even Hitler attacks Russia even though it violates Non-though it violates Non-Aggression pactAggression pact

German army pushes to German army pushes to outskirts of Moscow and outskirts of Moscow and Stalingard by 1942Stalingard by 1942

German forces are tried, German forces are tried, ill equipped for winter and ill equipped for winter and overstretched from supply overstretched from supply lineslines

Stalingrad 1942-1943Stalingrad 1942-1943

Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Stalingrad, 1942-1943 is best 1942-1943 is best described as a battle described as a battle of willsof wills

Brutal room to room Brutal room to room fighting for a city, both fighting for a city, both sides used everything sides used everything in arsenalsin arsenals

Fought for 195 daysFought for 195 days Germany will losses Germany will losses

will be irreplaceable will be irreplaceable

The Invasion Of Russia 1941The Invasion Of Russia 1941

Russian army launches Russian army launches counter offensive counter offensive smashing and pushing smashing and pushing Germans back by late Germans back by late 19421942

Hitler refuses to Hitler refuses to retreat and orders retreat and orders generals to stand and generals to stand and fightfight

German army loses German army loses 740,000 men due to 740,000 men due to weather, fighting and weather, fighting and disease disease

Kursk 1943Kursk 1943

Kursk, 1943, largest Kursk, 1943, largest tank battle in historytank battle in history

Russian offensive Russian offensive showed that they showed that they could in fact defeat could in fact defeat German panzersGerman panzers

T-34 tank introduced T-34 tank introduced and changes and changes outcome of war for outcome of war for RussiaRussia

The Invasion Of Russia 1941The Invasion Of Russia 1941

Why Did Hitler Pursue War With Why Did Hitler Pursue War With RussiaRussia

There had been a history of There had been a history of animosity between the two regionsanimosity between the two regions

Hitler desired a “greater Germany” Hitler desired a “greater Germany” one with “lebensraum”one with “lebensraum”

Hitler believed that he was invincible, Hitler believed that he was invincible, did he not command most of Europe did he not command most of Europe by 1940?!by 1940?!

Hitler underestimated the Russian Hitler underestimated the Russian military and the Russian will to fightmilitary and the Russian will to fight