Transcript Section 1: Hitler`s Lightning war

SECTION 1: HITLER’S LIGHTNING WAR
NON-AGGRESSION PACT
• An agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union in which each
promised not to invade the other with military force
• They also agreed to secretly split Poland between the 2 nations
• This pact would allow Germany to focus on France and the Western front
without worrying about an attack from the east and granted the Soviet
Union the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
BLITZKREIG
• Germany’s newest military strategy
which involved fast-moving
airplanes and tanks, followed by
massive infantry forces
• Took enemies by surprise and
quickly overwhelmed them
• Translated to “Lightning War”
• Used to invade Poland-the incident
that caused Britain and France to
declare war on Germany
RESCUE AT DUNKIRK
• British navy and civilians rescued Allied forces at
Dunkirk after the Germans had trapped them there
• 338,000 soldiers were rescued by Navy ships as
well as yachts, lifeboats, motor boats and fishing
boats
CHARLES DEGUALLE
• A French general who set up
a government-in-exile in
London after the Nazis
conquered France
• Committed all of his energy to
reconquering France and
used the radio to call on the
people of France to join him in
resisting the Nazis
WINSTON CHURCHILL
• New British Prime Minister
• Declared that the nation
would never give in, even
after the Nazis took control
of France
• Powerful speaker
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
• After defeating France, the Nazis turned their attention on Great Britain
• Attacked Britain from the air from the summer of 1940 until spring of 1941
• Although Hitler’s forces greatly outnumbered the British RAF (Royal Air Force),
the British were able to break German codes and resist German advances
• Hitler called off the attacks in May 1941, leaving Britain free from Nazi control
LUFTWAFFE
• Germany’s Air Force
• Fought in the Battle of Britain
ERWIN ROMMEL
• Commander of the
German tank force in
Africa, the Afrika Korps
• Sent by Hitler to help the
Italians in North Africa
after they had been
defeated by the British
• Nicknamed the “Desert
fox” for his successes in
North Africa
OPERATION BARBAROSSA
• Hitler’s plan to break the
nonaggression pact and
invade the Soviet Union
• Germans used the element
of surprise to push Soviet
forces back 500 miles into
the country
• Soviets fought back by
using the scorched-earth
policy
• Germans lost 500,000 men
to the Soviet winter
ATLANTIC CHARTER
• A declaration of the principles and goals that Churchill
and Roosevelt had for the free world
• Upheld free trade among nations and the right of
people to choose their own government