Hitler’s Lightning War Section 16.1. September 1, 1939 Hitler breaks Nonaggression Pact and invades Poland. WORLD WAR II BEGINS The German Strategy for.

Hitler’s Lightning War

Section 16.1

September 1, 1939

Hitler breaks Nonaggression Pact and invades Poland.

WORLD WAR II BEGINS

The German Strategy for invasion is called BLITZKRIEG

What is BlitzKrieg?

- Literally means “Lightening War”

It’s a fast invasion using...

Planes Tanks Infantry

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BlitzKrieg: The First Phase

Medium Bombers Stuka: Dive-bombers

Luftwaffe - The Nazi Airforce

BlitzKrieg: The Second Phase

Panzer Tank Armored Units

Tanks overran enemy lines

Blitzkrieg: The Third Phase

Mass Nazi Infantry

Mauser Rifle- Kurz MP-40 Sub Machine Gun

Finally troops would overwhelm the enemy

Invasion of Poland

- Nazis invade Western

Poland Sept 1st 1939

-Soviets take Eastern half of

Poland

-Poland is divided

French and British Mobilize

Maginot Line: fortification on French German boarder

Germany Gets Clever

-April 1940 Germany invades Denmark and Norway

May 1940 Germany fights through Netherlands and Belgium, then into France.

Going around the Maginot line, Germany takes northern France in 10 days

Outnumbered, allied troops pull back to Dunkirk Beach

850 boats get the troops to Britain and safety

By June 1940 France surrenders

What Does BlitzKrieg mean in english?

“Lightening War”

What three Phases make up Blitzkrieg?

Planes, Tanks, infantry

What country did Germany invade in september 1940?

Poland

The fortified boarder protected by French and British troops was called?

The Maginot line

Rather than attack the Maginot line Germany attacked France through what two countries?

Netherlands and Belgium

British and French troops escaped to Britain from what beach in France?

Dunkirk