Transcript Chapter 24
Chapter 24 Section 2: Europe Goes to War Invasion of Poland ►After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, GB & France abandoned appeasement & prepared for war ►Warned that further expansion meant war ►March 31, 1939 GB & France formally pledged to support Poland Hitler’s Pact with Stalin ►Both realized they had much to gain by working together Aug- signed a ten year nonaggression pact, which eliminated an attack from the east ►Secret document attached to the pact was that Germany & the Soviet Union would divide up the countries of eastern Europe ►Sept 1- Hitler invaded Poland ►Sept 3- Britain & France declared war on Germany Lightning War ►GB, France, & Poland together had more soldiers & infantry units than Germany Each German division had superior firepower & organized its tanks into separate armored divisions ►Germans used the blitzkrieg that included a fast, concentrated air & land attack that took the enemy’s army by surprise Using this tactic, they overran Poland in less than 1 month SU joined this attack mid-Sept. War in the West ►After Poland fell, the war entered a quiet period dubbed “phony war” ►Germans labeled it “sitzkrieg” (sit down war) ►German troops waited while the French forces held their defenses at the Maginot Line (massive string of fortifications along France’s border with Germany ►2 problems Protected only the part of France that bordered Germany All guns pointed east towards Germany Germany attacks ►April 9, 1940- Hitler began an attack on Denmark & Norway ►May 16- launched a blitzkrieg on the Netherlands, Belgium, & Luxembourg Britain & France were too late to defend Belgium ►Mid May- invaded northern France via Belgium & raced up the English Channel, splitting the main French armies to the south from the British & French troops in northern France & Belgium Dunkirk ►Allied forces in the north retreated to the coastal city of Dunkirk ►1 of the greatest rescues took place They assembled a makeshift fleet consisting of tugboats, yachts, & private crafts (900 total carrying 340,000 soldiers across the English Channel to GB) while being bombed by the Luftwaffe The Fall of France ►June 10- French government abandoned Paris Italy declared war of GB & France ►June 22- France officially surrendered ►Terms Germany occupied the northern 3/5 of France & the Atlantic coast south to Spain The French government supervised the south from Vichy ►Adopted a policy of collaboration with Germany ►Free France (government in exile in London) struggled against German invaders in central & west Africa Led by Charles de Gaullebacked the underground resistance movement in France The Battle of Britain ►Relentless Attack To neutralize the British navy, Germany turned to the air Aug. 1940- launched the greatest air assault yet ►Battle of Britain First Germany only targeted British ports, airfields, & radar installations, later attacked aircraft factories & oil storage tanks Group of German bombers strayed off course & bombed London ►2 days later GB bombed Berlin ►Hitler ordered massive bombing raids on GB cities to break people’s will to resist Courageous Defense ►British RAF defended the homeland Inflicted heavy damage on the attackers ►By the end of 1941, German air raids ended ►Advantage Feb. 1940- scientists cracked the code Germany used for top secret communications ►British could get a general idea of Hitler’s battle plans