Transcript 1 - WWII The Beginningx - mr

On your own copy
of this picture, add
labels to explain
what the cartoonist
suggests Hitler is
doing?
Who are the other
people in this
picture and what
does the cartoonist
think of them?
[Watch WWII in Colour Episode 1: 8.00 – 19.17]
Hitler visits a factory and is enthusiastically greeted. Many
Germans were grateful for jobs after the misery of he
depression years.
The Rhineland was a
region of Germany that
was ‘demilitarised’ after
the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany was not
allowed to have troops
in the region.
Hitler’s actions showed
that he was willing to
directly challenge the
treaty – ‘cause what
were the “Allies” going
to do about it? Nothing.
Again, this went
against the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles
which banned
Germany from uniting
with Austria.
However, the arrival of
German troops was
met with great
enthusiasm by many
Austrian people.
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The world initially tries to appease
Hitler – giving him a little in order
to prevent war
Neville Chamberlain – British Prime
Minister – travels to Germany to
ensure that Germany will not seek
any more territory.
Hitler agrees to sign the AngloGerman Agreement, basically
stating that Germany would never
go to war with Britain.
Chamberlain returns triumphantly
to Britain, declaring that “the piece
of paper I hold in my hand
guarantees peace in our time…”
War was declared one year later.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
showing us the definition of irony
Click the link!
Hitler had ordered the
occupation of a part of
Czechoslovakia known as the
Sudetenland (in October
1938). Many hoped that that
this would be the last conquest
of the Nazis.
However, in March 1939, he
ordered his troops to take over
the remainder of
Czechoslovakia. This was the
first aggressive step that
suggested that a war in
Europe would soon begin.
Hitler and Stalin (the
Russian leader) signed a
‘non-aggression pact’.
They promised that neither
country would attack the
other in the event of war.
As part of the deal, Hitler
promised Stalin part of
Poland, which he planned to
invade soon.
This photo shows the Russian foreign minister
signing the pact, whilst Stalin stands smiling in
the background
Hitler
Stalin
The non-aggression pact was surprising, as Hitler and Stalin were
seen as natural enemies. When Hitler talked of taking over new
land for Germany, many thought that he meant Russia. Hitler
also hated Communism, the form of government in Russia
September 1939: Germany invades
But, the pact allowed
Poland
Germany to march
into Poland without
fear of an attack from
Russia.
On 3rd September
1939, Germany
invaded Poland and
started a War with
Britain and France.
German troops marching into Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
This was a false flag
operation, as German
troops dressed as
Polish soldiers
attacked a radio
station on the German
side of the border.
They left dead
“Polish” bodies
behind, giving Hitler
the justification for
war.

Germany’s Lightning Attack - Blitzkrieg
 Britain, France declare war on Germany, but
Poland falls quickly
 Blitzkrieg—lightning war—Germany’s new
military strategy
 Planes, tanks, infantry used to surprise enemy and
quickly conquer
[Show WWII in Colour episode 2:
o.42 – 9.20. Blitzkrieg and the new
German army. Poland]
November 30, 1939: Russia attacks Finland
Scandinavia is dragged into
WWII early, as Russia moves
against Finland. The Finns put
up a very good fight, including
using specially trained skitroops.
The Allies decide to try and
help, but this threatens
Germany’s interests in the
region (especially iron ore from
Sweden).
Germany moves quickly,
seizing towns and ports all
along the Norway and
Denmark coastline.
Also we get the story of Simo
Hayha…
German infantry attacking through a
burning Norwegian village.

The Phony War
 French, British mobilize
along French border,
wait for German attack
 Many months of no
action—the “phony war”
 In April 1940 Hitler
attacks and quickly
captures Denmark and
Norway
British Ministry of Home
Security poster of a type
that was common during
the Phony War
Maginot fortifications
The German army at first planned to
repeat the events of WWI and sweep
through Belgium towards Paris. Of
course, Britain and France prepared
for exactly this. But after a copy of
this plan was discovered by the Allies,
the Germans changed their idea (see
map at right). The blue arrows
indicate the maneuvers of the Allies
to meet the German blitzkrieg, while
the red arrows show the actual path
the Germans take. Whoops.
In May 1940, Germany
used Blitzkrieg tactics to
attack France and the
Netherlands.
British troops were
forced to retreat from
the beaches of Dunkirk in
northern France.
[Watch WWII in Colour episode 2:
24.50 to end – needs ½ hour]
Captured British troops, May 1940

Rescue at Dunkirk
 German forces trap
British, French on
coast of Dunkirk
 British Navy and
civilians take ships
across the English
Channel to rescue
soldiers
British troops evacuating Dunkirk's beaches. Many
stood shoulder deep in water for hours, waiting to
board the small vessels and warships.
Britain now stood
alone as the last
remaining enemy of
Hitler’s Germany in
Western Europe.
Adolf Hitler tours Paris after his
successful invasion.
For the following nine months, the
German air force (Luftwaffe) launched
repeated bombing raids on British
towns and cities. This was known as the
BLITZ and was an attempt to bomb
Britain into submission.
“...We shall not flag or fail. We shall go
on to the end...We shall fight in the seas
and oceans...We shall fight on the
beaches, we shall fight on the landinggrounds, we shall fight in the fields and in
the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we
shall never surrender...”
— Winston Churchill
 Germany plans invasion of Britain; begins with air attacks in
1940
 British use air force, radar, code-breaking to resist Germany
 Battle of Britain—Air war over Britain that lasted until May
1941
 Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off attacks
A pair of 264 Squadron
Defiants. (PS-V was shot
down on 28 August 1940
over Kent by Bf 109s.)
But in May, 1941, Hitler ordered a change of tactics. He decided to halt
the bombing of Britain and launch an attack against Russia. He
betrayed Stalin and ignored the promises he had made.
This was a bold (but ultimately stupid) move that would prove to be an
important turning point in the War.
Firstly, use the timeline to indicate the order of events on
your World War II maps.
Then answer the following questions:
1) In what ways did Hitler ignore the Treaty of Versailles?
2) At what stage do you think other countries should have
attempted to stop Hitler by using force? Why do you think
they did not?
3) How was Hitler able to take over Western Europe so quickly?
4) Which specific aspect of the new German war machine was
most necessary for success (Luftwaffe, Panzers, leadership)?
5) Why did Hitler create problems for the German army by
deciding to invade Russia?