Transcript The European Theater

Germany and the Soviet Union met in Aug
1939 to draw up a treaty so that the two
nations would not attack each other
Germany did not want to fight a two front war
Soviet Union wasn’t quite ready for war
Poland and Baltic nations were divided up
The NAZIS invaded Poland on Sept. 1st
The NAZIS used blitzkrieg tactics
Britain immediately declared war on
Germany – Sep 3, 1939
W. L. M. King declares war
one week after Britain
Prime Minister King
promised that conscription
would not be required
As Germany advanced into Belgium in 1940,
French and British troops had to retreat to the
beaches of Dunkirk
They found themselves trapped on the shore
900 ships sailed from England, rescuing
340 000 soldiers
Germany will occupy much of the north and
west of France
“Independent” Vichy government created but
driven by Germany
Hitler wanted to control the air so he could
prepare for an attack by water, destroying the
British Navy
British were outnumbered 3 to 1
But they had the advantage of radar and
geography
A German bomber squadron got lost and
accidentally bombed civilians in London
British PM Churchill retaliated by bombing
Berlin
Hitler stopped
bombing RAF airfields
and ordered daylight
bombing raids on
London (blitz)
This shifted focus
allowed the RAF to
train and rebuild its
strength, and Hitler
would lose this
important battle.