WORLD WAR II ORIGINS:

1. WORLD WAR II ORIGINS: GERMANY & THE RISE OF NAZISM, 1919-39

2. CRITICAL TERMS • ADOLF HITLER • ERNST ROHM • RUDOLF HESS • PAUL von HINDENBURG • STURMABTEILUNG (SA) • FREIKORPS • SCHUTZSTAFFEL (SS) • THE BEER HALL PUTSCH • MEIN KAMPF • “LEBENSRAUM”

3. GROWTH OF NAZI PARTY TIMELINE • 1919: • TREATY OF VERSAILLES IMPOSES HARSH TERMS ON GERMANY • ADOLF HITLER SETTLES IN MUNICH – JOINS NSDAP(i.e. The Nazi Party) • 1920: • NAZI PARTY GROWS TO 3000 MEMBERS • HITLER BECOMES LEADER OF PARTY • 1923: • HITLER LEADS THE “BEER HALL PUTSCH” • HITLER SENTENCED TO PRISON • 1925: • MEIN KAMPF PUBLISHED • MEMBERSHIP RISES TO 27,000 • 1929: • NAZI MEMBERSHIP REACHES 108,000 • GREAT DEPRESSION DEVASTATES GERMAN ECONOMY • 1932: HITLER RUNS FOR PRESIDENT, LOSES, BUT GETS 37% OF VOTE • 1933: • JANUARY: HITLER NAMED CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY • FEBRUARY: THE REICHSTAG FIRE • THE REISCHSTAG FIRE DECREE PASSED – CIVIL LIBERTIES SUSPENDED IN GERMANY • THE ENABLING ACT PASSED – HITLER NOW HAS RIGHT TO “RULE BY DECREE” • 1934: • PRESIDENT HINDENBURG DIES – HITLERS BECOMES “FUHRER” • NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES • 1936: GERMANY REOCCUPIES THE RHINELAND

4. NAZI ORIGINS • 1918-19: NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY (NSDAP) – “NAZI” FORMED • WHERE? BAVARIA (S. GERMANY), CITY OF MUNICH IS FOCUS • WHO? • DISPLACED / DISGRUNTLED WAR VETERANS – “FRONTKAMPFER” • FORMER FREIKORPS MEN • POOR, DISPLACED, UNEMPLOYED WORKERS • TRAITS: • MILITARY – STYLE ORGANIZATION (UNIFORMS {KHAKI SHIRTS, BOOTS, etc.}, PARADES, ETC.) • ABSOLUTE LOYALTY TO THE PARTY AND NATION WAS SUPREME • HIGHLY RACIST, esp. ANTI-SEMITIC • RACIAL IDEOLOGY EMPHASIZED SUPREMACY OF THE “ARYAN” RACE • POLITICAL IDEAS: • GERMANY HAD BEEN BETRAYED BY A CONSPIRACY OF JEWS & COMMUNISTS @ END OF WWI (“STABBED IN THE BACK THEORY”) • GERMANY HAD TO REGAIN IT’S HONOR • THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE BY: • ERADICATING / IGONORING THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES • TERRITORIAL EXPANSION INTO NATIONS / LANDS WHERE GERMANY COULD FIND THE RESOURCES IT NEEDED TO BECOME GREAT AGAIN • ELIMINATING / ENSLAVING THOSE RACES INFERIOR TO THE GERMANS

5. KEY NAZI FIGURES • ADOLF HITLER: • “FUHRER” of NAZI PARTY & GERMANY (after 1934) • PRESIDENT & CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (after Hindenburg’s death in 1934) • BASICALLY, SUPREME DICTATOR OF THE STATE • RULES “BY DECREE” (his word / his decisions are final in all, political, military, & cultural affairs) • ERNST ROHM: • LEADER OF THE S.A. • 2ND MOST POWERFUL MAN IN NAZI PARTY UNTIL “NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES” • HEINRICH HIMMLER: • LEADER OF THE S.S. • PLACED IN CHARGE OF CARRYING OUT NAZI RACIAL POLICIES, ESPECIALLY OPERATION OF… • CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR POLITICAL & RACIAL “CRIMINALS” (JEWS, COMMUNISTS, GYPSIES, DISABLED, etc.) • IDENTIFICATION & “ELIMINATION” OF ALL “UNTERMENSCHEN” IN OCCUPIED TERRITIORES • RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SS COMBAT UNITS – “WAFFEN – SS” • HERMANN GOERING: • COMMANDER OF THE GERMAN AIR FORCE – “LUFTWAFFE” • FORMER WWI COMBAT AIR ACE, AND MEMBER OF THE “RED BARON’s” SQUADRON, KNOWN AS THE “FLYING CIRCUS” • JOSEPH GOEBBELS: • NAZI MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA • RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING ALL PRESS, RADIO & PUBLIC (RALLIES, SPEECHES, PUBLIC PROCESSIONS) PROPAGANDA • JOACHIM von RIBBENTROP: • NAZI MINISTER OF STATE (BASICALLY SAME ROLE AS MODERN SECRETARY OF STATE) • RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FOREIGN AFFAIRS / DIPLOMATIC ISSUES • ORCHESTRATES MOST OF HITLER’S EARLY TREATIES, NON-AGGRESSION PACTS, ETC. • EXAMPLE: • HITLER’S 1938 NON-AGGRESSION PACT W/POLAND

6. ADOLF HITLER

7. KEY NAZI FIGURES (cont’d.) • RUDOLF HESS: • HITLER’S DEPUTY OF THE NAZI PARTY • REPSONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING, PURSUING, AND “PROSECUTING” ANY CRIMINALS IN GERMANY (meaning those who were not supportive of Naziism) • ALBERT SPEER: • MINISTER OF WAR ARMAMENTS & PRODUCTION • RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT, FUNCTIONING OF ALL MILITARY MATERIAL • GEN. WILHELM KEITEL: • GERMAN MINISTER OF WAR • COMMANDER OF THE GERMAN “WERMACHT” (ALL GERMAN MILITARY FORCES) • ANSWERED DIRECTLY TO HITLER (DID NOT HAVE POWER TO MAKE FINAL DECISIONS ON MILITARY MATTERS – ONLY HITLER DID) • GEN. ALFRED JODL: • DEPUTY WAR MINISTER OF THE “WERMACHT” • DEPUTY COMMANDER OF ALL GERMAN MILITARY FORCES • ANSWERED TO HILTER, HOWEVER

9. THE GERMAN MILITARY STRUCTURE • GERMAN MILITARY: THE “WERMACHT” • COMPONENTS: • “HEER”: GERMAN ARMY (INFANTRY, ARMOR, ARTILLERY, etc.) • “LUFTWAFFE”:GERMAN AIR FORCE (including airborne /paratrooper units) • “WAFFEN – SS”: SS COMBAT UNITS (infantry, armor, military police) – SERVED IN COMBAT ALONG W/ ARMY • “KRIEGSMARINE”: GERMAN NAVY • POINTS OF NOTE: • THERE IS NO “MARINE” TYPE OF ORGANIZATION IN THE GERMAN MILITARY STRUCTURE, UNLIKE THE U.S. (USMC) OR THE U.K. (ROYAL MARINES) • ALL “AIRBORNE” (PARATROOPER) UNITS IN THE WERMACHT WERE PART OF THE LUFTWAFFE, NOT THE GERMAN ARMY. • THIS IS DISTINCTIVE FROM MANY NATIONS (U.S., U.K., RUSSIA, etc.) WHERE AIRBORNE UNITS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS A DIVISION OF THE ARMY

10. ChainofCommannd

11. UNIQUE GERMAN MILITARY TERMS • “BLITZKRIEG” – “LIGHTNING WAR” • BATTLEFIELD STRATEGY DEVELOPED BY GERMANY IN THE LATE 1930’s • A COMBINED-ARMS METHOD OF WARFARE EMPLOYING A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: • ARMOR • AIR POWER • AIRBORNE UNITS • INFANTRY MOBILITY & ASSAULT • ARTILLERY • BASED ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES • NEUTRALIZING ENEMY AIR POWER AT THE OUTSET OF ANY CAMPAIGN • USE OF AIRBORNE ELEMENTS TO DISRUPT ENEMEY COMMUNICATIONS & RESERVE SUPPORT • SIMULTANEOUS USE OF INFANTRY ASSAULT, TANK (PANZER) ASSAULT & ARTILLERY SUPPORT TO NEUTRALIZE ENEMY’S MOBILITY • ARMORED THRUST (“PUNCH”)THROUGH ENEMY LINES TO PENETRATE INTO ENEMY RESERVE AREAS • ULITMATE GOAL: ENCIRCLEMENT OF ENEMY UNITS, DESTRUCTION OF UNITS, AND BREAKOUT INTO OPEN COUNTRYSIDE • ARMOR, INFANTRY MOBILITY CAN THEN BE USED TO DISRUPT ENEMY’S ABILITY TO RECOVER

12. Basic BlitzkriegBattle Sequence

15. THE INVASION OF POLAND • When? September 1, 1939 • Causes: • German-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) allowed Germans to invade from the West • Soviets invade from East on Sept. 17th • Hitler’s belief in need for German“Lebensraum” • Hitler’s racial theory: Poles were Slavic people, therefore they were target for enslavement or extermination • Poland had large Jewish population – they would be targeted for extermination • The “Polish Corridor” issue (See map in Keegan) • Polish Corridor problem tied to Hitler’s belief in unification of all German people (like the Sudetenland) • Long-range goal: • Poland would provide base for invasion of Russia • Non-aggression treaty would fool Stalin into believing Soviet borders were secure

16. INVASION OFPOLAND, SEPTEMBER, 1939

17. INVASION OF POLAND (cont’d.) • DATES: Sept. 1, 1939 – Oct. 1, 1939 • TRIATS: • Germans use “Blitzkrieg” tactics to overwhelm the Poles • Polish forces are obsolete and planning on a defensive strategy • Poles do not anticipate fighting a two-front war (never anticipated Russian invasion from East) • WHY ARE GERMANS SUCCESSFUL? • Poles have no adequate forces in the following areas: • Aircraft (WWI-style planes) • Armor – German Panzer units are more advanced / modern • Inexperience: Poles are less battle-tested than German troops • Geography: Polish terrain is ideal for Blitzkrieg tactics (flat land, few major cities) • Russian invasion ruins Polish defense plans • Poles trust alliance guarantees from French and British • -Expect Western allies will attack Germans and force Germany into two-front war • RESULTS: • Poland ceases to exist as sovereign nation • Poland divided between Germany and Soviet Union • German military gains valuable combat experience • “Blitzkrieg” continues to improve – Germans learn lessons • Germans are better prepared for 1940 attack on France • Surviving Polish forces flee to Britain – Polish Government-in-Exile is formed • Polish military / air units formed as part of British military • OTHER ISSUES: The Holocaust begins in full-force

18. German Army units crossing the Polish border, 9/1/39

19. Hitler & German troops, Poland, 1939

20. German Infantry outside Warsaw

21. POLISH CAVALRY, 1939

22. GERMANS OUTSIDE WARSAW

23. GERMAN ARMY INFANTRY, 1939

24. German Infantry In Poland, 1939

25. VICTORY PARADE, WARSAW, 1939

26. VICTORY PARADE, WARSAW, 1939

27. The Holocaust Begins, Poland, 1939

28. Messerschmidt Me-109 Fighter(top) Heinkel He-111 Bomber (below)

29. GERMAN Me / Bf-109 Fighter

30. German He-111 “Heinkel” Bomber

31. “STUKA” DIVE BOMBER

32. GERMAN “STUKA” DIVE BOMBER

33. STUKA DIVE BOMBERS

34. German“Panzer”Types

35. GERMAN “HEER” (REGULAR ARMY) PANZERGRENADIERS

36. GERMAN Sd.Kfz.251 HALF-TRACK WITH DESERT CAMOUFLAGE

37. GERMAN PANZERGRENADIERS IN SD.Kfz.251

38. German Half-Track A.P.C.

39. German APCs, Poland, 1939

40. Waffen-SSPanzergrenadierwith standardcombat equipment

41. STANDARD WWII WERMACHT INFANTRY WEAPONS

42. HEER TROOPS WITH MP40 “SCHMEISSER” GUN

43. Waffen-SS Grenadiers, Russia, 1944

44. WAFFEN-SS, Hitler Youth Division(“Hitlerjugend”)TROOPER WITHFOLIAGE HELMETCAMOUFLAGE

45. WAFFEN-SS PANZERGRENADIERS

46. WAFFEN-SS PANZERGRENADIERS, RUSSIA 1943

47. WAFFEN-SSGRENADIERS, FRANCE 1940

48. WAFFEN –SS GRENADIERS

49. THE PHONY WAR, 1939-40 • When? October, 1939 – May, 1940 • Where? Western Europe, specifically France-Germany border areas • What ? • Period of little, or no, military activity / action between Germans and Western allies (French, British, Dutch, etc.) • Sporadic military “probing” maneuvers on the border while Germans transfer forces from the East to West • German build-up of forces in West is rapid • Some limited air action • Symbol of the period: France’s MAGINOT LINE (define) • Result? • Germans have time to adequately plan for invasion of France • French led to believe that the Maginot Line will deter Germans from an invasion • Called the “Maginot Mentality” – Misguided belief that fixed fortifications could discourage, and prevent, a successful invasion • British grow less confident in French military competence