Transcript Blitzkreig - CrolanciaHistory

Blitzkrieg
Wednesday April 24th
“Nature is cruel, so we may be cruel, too…
I have the right to remove millions of an
inferior race that breeds like vermin”
-Hitler
• Hitler wanted to conquer whoever he felt was
inferior to the Germans or Aryans. He wanted
“living space” for the Germans in Eastern
Europe.
• On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded
Poland without a declaration of war.
“Blitzkrieg”
• In German blitzkrieg means “lightning war”.
• Hitler used blitzkrieg during his invasion of Poland.
• Blitzkrieg included surprise attacks, rapid advances
into enemy territory, and massive air attacks that
struck and shocked the enemy.
• Germany achieved most of its victories in World War
II with the Blitzkrieg tactic.
Blitzkrieg
“Phony War”
• Britain sent troops to wait with the French down
behind the Maginot Line.
• Reporters called this quiet time of not much action the
“phony war”
Maginot Line
• The Maginot Line was a defensive for France against
an invasion of Germany.
• The Maginot Line was established after World War I.
• The line showed to be little use in 1940 when
Germany invaded France for the third time.
Maginot Line
“Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into
Holland - May 10, 1940”
Step One
• Attack with the Luftwaffe
– Fighters (air superiority)
– Stuka (Dive bombers)
– Bombers
• Destroy Communications (radio…)
• Destroy Transportation (bridges, RR)
• Destroy Military Targets (bases, supply)
Step Two
• Next come the PANZERS (tanks)
• Hitler’s military designers had developed
extremely advanced tanks.
• Their tanks were light years ahead.
• Advance very quickly, and destroy any
remaining targets that the Luftwaffe had
left behind. (Comm, Trans, Military)
Step Three
• Finally come the infantry
• They had been training for several years
and these troops were VERY ready.
• Hitler’s troops were already battle
experienced b/c of the Spanish Civil War.
• Their job was to MOP UP anything left.
Early Axis Triumphs
• In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded into
action.
• Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg.
• Norway and and Denmark both fell.
• Germany had overrun the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Germany along with Italy forced France to surrender.
World War II in 1939/1942
Fall of France
Hitler’s Major Blunder
• The Germans invaded France in May 1940.
• Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found
themselves trapped between the advancing Nazis and
the English Channel. The British sent every boat they
could get across the English Channel to pick up troops
off the beaches of Dunkirk.
Miracle at Dunkirk
• The event at Dunkirk is called a miracle because the
retreating allies had lost hope and then the British
pulled through for them and rescued 338,000 men.
June 22, 1940
• On June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with
Germany in occupied France.
• An armistice is a cease fire or a truce.
• The Franco-German Armistice divided France into
two zones. One zone was under German military
occupation and the other was under French control.
• In 1942 Germans occupied all of France
June 22, 1940
Questions
• Describe the German concept of the “blitzkrieg”.
• Where were the early Axis triumphs?
• What was the miracle at Dunkirk?
• What was the significance of June 22, 1940?