lesson 3 battles of wwii
TRANSCRIPT
THE WAR IN EUROPE
The Main Campaigns of WWII (Part 1)
BLITZKRIEG (“LIGHTENING WAR”)
BLITZKRIEG: ALLIES VS. THE AXIS POWERS
When war was declared in Sep. 1939, Allies hurried to get their forces organized
Allied troops positioned themselves on France’s border with Germany
Nothing happened for 7 months…people started to think war was never going to happen (“Phony War”)
April 1940 Germany renewed its blitzkrieg (“lightening war”), attacking Denmark and Norway
Blitzkrieg extremely successful-it used the elements of surprise, speed and massive power
Using these techniques, Germany quickly conquered Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium
EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK
• Within days, German forces surrounded the French port of Dunkirk
• If Allied troops surrendered, British troops would lose majority of its army
• Allied forces had to escape before Germans captured the town
• British Navy rounded up as many boats as possible and headed across the Channel for Dunkirk
Dunkirk
EVACUATION AT DUNKIRK CONT’D Evacuation began on May 26, 1940 Two days later, German air force bombed
the port of Dunkirk. Evacuation was completed on June 4th
More than 340,000 Allied soldiers were rescued
After the evacuation, German forces swept through France and France eventually surrendered
Britain and the Commonwealth now stood alone against Germany
THE BLITZ
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN Once France surrendered, Hitler set his
sights on Britain “Operation Sea Lion” July 1940, German air force started a
massive bombing campaign which focused on destroying harbours and shipping facilities in southern England
August 24th German forces bombed several areas of London and other British cities
These raids became known as “the Blitz” and took place over many weeks
BATTLE OF BRITAIN CONT’D
Germans had more air craft than Britain but were unable to defeat them
British had a very advanced radar system
British also used Spitfires and Hurricanes, two very effective fighter planes
RAF was equipped with pilots, planes and supplies from Canada
Hitler finally gave up on his plans to invade Britain
THE EFFECTS OF THE BLITZ
EFFECTS OF THE BLITZ CONT’D
OPERATION BARBAROSSA (“RED BEARD”)A German soldier walks toward the body of a killed Soviet soldier and a burning BT-7 light tank in the southern Soviet Union in in 1941, during the early days of Operation Barbarossa.
HITLER BREAKS THE NON-AGGRESSION PACT Hitler launched this
tremendous attack on the Soviet Union and broke the pact that he had made with Stalin in 1939
Soviets were unprepared for the attack German army able to get deep into Russian territory
By the fall, Germans had reached outskirts of Moscow and Leningrad (Now St. Petersburg)
OPERATION BARBAROSSA CONT’D
Germans were not prepared for the long and excruciatingly cold Russian winter and soon lost their advantage
Germans got as far as Stalingrad but could not withstand the severe winter
Germans could not turn back and suffered 300,000 casualties
Germany surrendered in early 1943 After this attack, Soviet Union took back
much of their territory and joined the war on the Allies’ side
STALINGRAD
Stand Firm.Die but do
not Retreat.
Joseph Stalin on
The Siege of Stalingrad1942-1943
BATTLE OF STALINGRAD
BEFORE THE BATTLE AFTER THE BATTLE
PRISONERS OF WAR: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SOVIET SOLDIERS WERE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS
Three German soldiers covered in snow and ice during winter on the Eastern front