Section II: Conflict in Europe (Pages 668-671) This section is about: This section is about: How World War II began with the invasion of Poland and how.

Section II: Conflict in EuropeSection II: Conflict in Europe(Pages 668-671)(Pages 668-671)

Section II: Conflict in EuropeSection II: Conflict in Europe(Pages 668-671)(Pages 668-671)

This section is about:This section is about: How World War II began How World War II began

with the invasion of Poland with the invasion of Poland and how Hitler soon and how Hitler soon conquered most of Europe, conquered most of Europe, including France.including France.

How the United States How the United States responded to the Nazi responded to the Nazi attacks.attacks.

How resistance fighters How resistance fighters helped fight the Nazis.helped fight the Nazis.

How women worked to How women worked to help the allies.help the allies.

WeWe’’ll start with ll start with something you already something you already probably know – the probably know – the picture on page 671; picture on page 671; Does that look familiar?Does that look familiar?

ThereThere’’s nothing wrong s nothing wrong with looking at a couple with looking at a couple of the questions first: of the questions first: page 671: Review page 671: Review History: A and B.History: A and B.

Also: Also: ““Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking”” and and ““Write about Write about EconomicsEconomics””

Conflict In EuropeConflict In EuropeWorld War II BeginsWorld War II Begins

Most of Europe had been Most of Europe had been ““turning their headturning their head”” as as Hitler invaded Austria, and Hitler invaded Austria, and then Czechoslovakia.then Czechoslovakia.

They had remembered They had remembered WWI and how horrible it WWI and how horrible it was and hoped by was and hoped by appeasing Hitler, he might appeasing Hitler, he might be happy and stop.be happy and stop.

Finally, France and Great Finally, France and Great Britain agreed that if Hitler Britain agreed that if Hitler invaded Poland, theyinvaded Poland, they’’d d have to take some action.have to take some action.

Invasion of Invasion of PolandPoland

On September 1On September 1stst, , 1939, Hitler invaded 1939, Hitler invaded Poland.Poland.

Two days later, France Two days later, France and Great Britain and Great Britain declared war on declared war on Germany.Germany.

Eventually 40 other Eventually 40 other nations (including the nations (including the U.S. and eventually the U.S. and eventually the U.S.S.R.) would form an U.S.S.R.) would form an alliance (the Allies) alliance (the Allies) against Germany, Italy, against Germany, Italy, and Japan.and Japan.

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HitlerHitler’’s invasion of s invasion of Poland was his first real Poland was his first real show of military power.show of military power.

His new strategy was His new strategy was called a called a blitzkriegblitzkrieg (( ““lightning warlightning war””).).

This was a total attack This was a total attack of planes dropping of planes dropping bombs, followed by fast bombs, followed by fast moving tanks and moving tanks and trucks carrying troops trucks carrying troops and weapons.and weapons.

The Polish army was The Polish army was overwhelmed.overwhelmed.

Within a month, Poland Within a month, Poland ““no longer existed.no longer existed.””

Germany and the Germany and the Soviets divided Poland Soviets divided Poland in two (as they had in two (as they had agreed to).agreed to).

The Move WestThe Move West

Germany didnGermany didn’’t attack t attack anyone else in 1939 – but anyone else in 1939 – but Russia did (Latvia, Russia did (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, and Lithuania, and Estonia, and a little of Finland).a little of Finland).

In April, 1940, Hitler did In April, 1940, Hitler did attack and take Norway attack and take Norway and Denmark, and in May and Denmark, and in May took Luxemburg and the took Luxemburg and the Netherlands.Netherlands.

The Germans were finally The Germans were finally ready to head west - to ready to head west - to France.France.

The French and British The French and British were ready – at the were ready – at the German/French border, but German/French border, but the Germans first went the Germans first went through Belgium.through Belgium.

The Miracle at Dunkirk The Miracle at Dunkirk and the Fall of Franceand the Fall of France

This left thousands of French This left thousands of French and British soldiers and British soldiers ““trappedtrapped”” with little hope for escape.with little hope for escape.

The British asked for all The British asked for all available ships to come help.available ships to come help.

Stranded soldiers fought their Stranded soldiers fought their way to Dunkirk as the boats way to Dunkirk as the boats (big ships – even tiny fishing (big ships – even tiny fishing boats) came to rescue 350,000 boats) came to rescue 350,000 soldiers.soldiers.

This was called This was called ““the Miracle at the Miracle at DunkirkDunkirk”” and gave a huge boost and gave a huge boost to the morale of the British.to the morale of the British.

But France couldnBut France couldn’’t stop the t stop the Germans and their Luftwaffe Germans and their Luftwaffe (and the Italians in the south) (and the Italians in the south) and had to surrender when the and had to surrender when the Germans had taken Paris.Germans had taken Paris.

The Blitz in BritainThe Blitz in Britain

Britain was unhappy with Britain was unhappy with their Prime Minister (Neville their Prime Minister (Neville Chamberlin – who they Chamberlin – who they thought didnthought didn’’t do enough), t do enough), and replaced him with and replaced him with Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill..

Churchill was one of the few Churchill was one of the few politicians who had been politicians who had been against appeasement. He against appeasement. He knew Hitler was a threat to knew Hitler was a threat to world peace.world peace.

After France, Hitler next After France, Hitler next attacked Great Britain, attacked Great Britain, starting with the bombing starting with the bombing of air bases and then cities.of air bases and then cities.

………………………………………………………………..

The The ““Battle of BritainBattle of Britain”” or or ““the blitzthe blitz”” lasted for 57 lasted for 57 days in a row.days in a row.

Hitler believed the Hitler believed the constant attacks would constant attacks would weaken the British weaken the British people.people.

Instead, it made them Instead, it made them even tougher.even tougher.

Many British Many British ““camped camped outout”” in bomb shelters in bomb shelters and underground and underground railway stations.railway stations.

The kept watching the The kept watching the English Channel for English Channel for signs of an invasion.signs of an invasion.

In London alone, 14,000 In London alone, 14,000 people were killed in people were killed in the bombings.the bombings.

Responses to Responses to the Nazi Threatthe Nazi Threat It took a while, but other It took a while, but other

nations around the world nations around the world began to get involved.began to get involved.

At first, the United States At first, the United States declared it would stay declared it would stay neutral and stay out of neutral and stay out of anything that didnanything that didn’’t t directly involve them.directly involve them.

But when their friends But when their friends were were attackedattacked (France (France and Great Britain), and Great Britain), people in the United people in the United States began to change States began to change their opinions of staying their opinions of staying neutralneutral..

Lend-Lease Act and the Atlantic Lend-Lease Act and the Atlantic CharterCharter

President RooseveltPresident Roosevelt (FDR) (FDR) wanted to help, but didnwanted to help, but didn’’t t want to go against our want to go against our ““isolationistisolationist”” policies. policies.

He came up with the idea He came up with the idea of of ““the Lend-Lease Actthe Lend-Lease Act..””

The U.S. Would be the The U.S. Would be the arsenalarsenal (provide weapons (provide weapons for) for those standing up for) for those standing up to Hitler.to Hitler.

FDR also met with FDR also met with Churchill and agreed to Churchill and agreed to the Atlantic Charter: to the Atlantic Charter: to support all peoples to support all peoples to determine their own determine their own governments. This governments. This helped strengthen the helped strengthen the bond between the two.bond between the two.

Resistance MovementsResistance Movements

Poland, France, Belgium, and Poland, France, Belgium, and others were under Hitlerothers were under Hitler’’s control.s control.

They were forced to supply Hitler They were forced to supply Hitler and his armies with manufactured and his armies with manufactured goods and food.goods and food.

Many people tried to resist: they Many people tried to resist: they were called were called ““the underground.the underground.

French General Charles de Gaulle French General Charles de Gaulle had escaped before the Nazis had escaped before the Nazis overran France and helped by overran France and helped by sending messages to the sending messages to the resistance.resistance.

Many groups tried to Many groups tried to sabotagesabotage the the Nazis (intentionally damaging or Nazis (intentionally damaging or destroying something).destroying something).

Some other resistance took the Some other resistance took the form of helping Jewish people hide form of helping Jewish people hide and/or escape (and/or escape (AnneAnne FrankFrank).).

Women in the WarWomen in the War

Just like WWI, millions of Just like WWI, millions of men left their jobs to fight.men left their jobs to fight.

Women took their places – Women took their places – making planes, ships, making planes, ships, tanks, and other military tanks, and other military supplies.supplies.

Some also raised crops at Some also raised crops at home.home.

Many women even served Many women even served in the armed forces. in the armed forces.

They werenThey weren’’t allowed in t allowed in direct combat, but did direct combat, but did often serve in places there often serve in places there was direct danger.was direct danger.