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Did You Know

Did You Know. Some historians think that Hitler was a great military commander – for the Allies! During the course of the war, he was responsible for several major blunders. For example, he seriously underestimated the strength of the Soviet Union, and made a huge mistake by attacking.

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Did You Know

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  1. Did You Know • Some historians think that Hitler was a great military commander – for theAllies! • During the course of the war, he was responsible for several major blunders. • For example, he seriously underestimated the strength of the Soviet Union, and made a huge mistake by attacking. • Prior to D-Day, the Allies fooled Hitler into thinking the invasion would be in Calais, which weakened the German response

  2. Europe at War Major Events of World War II (1939-1941)

  3. Objectives • Describe the major events of World War II from 1939-1941 • Identify Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, & Hitler as major leaders • Explain the goals pursued by Germany during 1939-1941

  4. Big Question • What were some of the turning points that helped the Allies during the first couple of years of World War II?

  5. German invasion of Poland • Invasion took only 4 weeks • Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) • Sept 28, 1939 – Germany & USSR divided Poland

  6. Other Invasions Norway Denmark • Spring 1940 - Invaded Denmark & Norway • May 1940 – Attacked Netherlands, Belgium, & France Netherlands Belgium France Maginot Line

  7. Miracle of Dunkirk • Germans trapped entire British army & French forces on the beaches of Dunkirk • British navy & private boats able to evacuate 338,000 Allied troops

  8. Fall of France • Maginot Line - Germany simply went around it • June 22, 1940 – Armistice signed • Germany now controlled 3/5 of France • French puppet gov’t set up under German control – Vichy France Maginot Line

  9. Battle of Britain (August 1940) • Hitler had to control the air before attacking Britain by sea • Luftwaffe (German air force) bombed military targets • British was aided by a good radar system

  10. Battle of Britain (Sept 1940) • Hitler shifts targets from military to civilian • Hoped to break British morale • Shift in Hitler’s strategy actually helped British to rebuild their air power • Germany postponed the invasion of Britain indefinitely at the end of September

  11. Battle of Britain (Sept 1940) Headline from 16 Sept. In fact, only about 69 enemy planes were destroyed. Does this mean that this newspaper is a useless source to historians?

  12. German invasion of the Soviet Union • Hitler convinced to defeat Britain was to first smash the USSR • He thought Britain was expecting Soviet support • Also thought USSR could be easily defeated • Wanted to crush communism • Wanted USSR’s rich natural resources

  13. German invasion of the Soviet Union • Invasion took place June 1941 • captured 2 million soldiers by Nov • within 25 miles of Moscow • Winter set in • First time Germany forced to a halt • Germany not equipped for Russia’s harsh winters

  14. Growing American Involvement • Strict policy of isolationism • Neutrality Acts (1930s) • Roosevelt wanted to repeal the neutrality acts • Lend-Lease Act (1941) • Laws were slowly relaxed, US sent food, ships, planes, and weapons to Britain

  15. Closure • What were some of the major events that were the turning points during the first couple of years of World War II?

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