Transcript Fall of Europe 1939-41

Fall of Europe 1939-41
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Because of failures within the League of
Nations and the failure to stop military
alliances on both sides, war was an after
thought. Hitler bullied Europe into war and
we were to occupy with our own problems
to stop him.
Poland: September 1-October 5, 1939
• Justified by a phony attack of a Polish soldier near
the boarder. Really it was a political prisoner
dressed as a soldier executed by the SS
• 56 divisions attacked from three directions (9
divisions were tank/motorized) taking the very
confident Polish Army off guard.
Fall of Europe 1939-41
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The Luftwaffe (air force) was successful in
destroying enemy planes and railroads as
well as protecting the advancing German
infantry.
In four days the Germans covered 100 miles
and captured 10,000 soldiers.
Here come the Russians.
• On September 17 Stalin unleashed his men on
Poland virtually squeezing the life out the country.
• On the 27th Warsaw fell and on Oct. 5, the country
fell. The Polish government escaped to Romania.
Fall of Europe 1939-41
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In the end the Poles lost 66,000 men.
Another 200,000 wounded and 1 million
captured.
This new method of fighting became known
as Blitzkrieg, or Lightning War. The new
technology of WWI was now improved and
wielded devastating results.
Fall of Europe 1939-41
Aftermath
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Hitler finally used force in his conquest of Europe and
his Lebensraum. But for his dream to become a
reality he needed to oust any opponents.
• The Einsatzgruppen began killing Jews and
Political opponents by the thousands. Other
Polish Jews would forced into Ghettos
• Polish land would turnover to German officers and
citizens
• Stalin also had his secret police arrest and deport
political opponents as well.
• Polish officers were shot in the back of the head
with a German bullet to disguise the crime.
Fall of Europe 1939-41
Britain and France take action
• Chamberlain puts his most vocal critic, Winston
Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty. A
position he previously held in WWI.
• British Navy began engaging German subs in the
Atlantic from Europe to South America. Soldiers
were sent to Belgium to protect France from a
likely German attack.
• French vetoed any British air strikes on German
installations, fearing retaliation by Germany on
French soil.
• Felt secure behind the Maginot Line, a defensive
wall from Switzerland to Belgium with guns and
encasements facing east incase of an attack. The
only question that remained was when would
Hitler and his Blitz strike again.