Axis Gains

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_nm.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005137&MediaId=

3376

The “Phony War”

• Hitler’s invasion of Poland introduced a new fighting style. The attack was a blitzkrieg (German for “lighting war”) meaning it took place with great speed and force.

• Poland was no match for Hitler and his powerful army and surrendered to Hitler within a month.

• France and Great Britain stationed troops throughout France, but little action took place. Newspapers began to speak of the “phony war” in western Europe.

The “Phony War”

• As Germany invaded from the west, the Soviets invaded Poland from the east. The invasion by the Soviet confirmed the secret Nazi-Soviet Pact. The Soviets took control of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland.

• The “Phony War” ended on April 9, 1940 when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. With the help of collaborators, Germany quickly took control of both countries.

The “Phony War”

• With the goal to take over Europe, Hitler advanced his forces in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. After seizing control of the three countries Hitler now outflanked France’s Maginot Line.

• As German forces advanced they cut off British, Belgium, and French troops. Forcing a retreat to Dunkerque about 338,000 troops were transported across the English Channel to England. Hitler’ failure to advance and attack would be a costly mistake.

The Fall of France

• With the Maginot Line useless, Germany attacked France from the North and headed straight to the heart of France. As Germany attacked from the North, Italy declared war on France and Great Britain and invaded from the South.

• On June 14th the Germans entered Paris, but rather then surrender, the French cabinet resigned. Philippe Petain assumed dictatorial powers and signed a peace agreement with Germany.

• Under the agreement German troops were to occupy northern France and Paris. France was to pay for the occupation and the French navy was to be disarmed.

The Fall of France

• While Philippe Petain surrendered, some French wanted to fight still. Under General Charles de Gaulle they formed the Free French Government in London. The French resistance movement was not the only one to take place.

• Similar movements developed in other German-occupied countries. Know as maquis, they fought the Germans with their occupied lands.

The Battle of Britain• With France conquered, Hitler set

his eyes to the North on Britain.• Churchill Quote Pg. 601• Hitler ordered his air force the

Luftwaffe to soften up Britain for invasion. Nightly bombings attacked both military sites and civilian sites, but could not break the backs of the English people. Nonstop bombings for two months could not break the sprits of the English as the RAF continued to fight back.

• While bombs could not force Churchill into a surrender, Germany’s blockade of Britain might.

United States Involvement • Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937 stated that the United States

wished to remain neutral in future wars. These laws said Americans could not sell war equipment to warring nations. Americans could not make loans to these nations or sail on their ships. In addition, American ships were restricted from entering war zones.

• Isolationists?• A revised Neutrality in 1939 allowed American firms to sell

munitions to warring countries on a cash-and-carry basis.• September 1940 FDR moved 50 US warships to GB. In the same

month Congress passed the first draft law during peacetime.• Lend-Lease Act- Allowed FDR to supply war materials to GB on

credit. It became a matter of time until the US joined the war.

The Atlantic Charter

• FDR and Churchill met in August 1941 and created a statement knows as the Atlantic Charter.

• 1.Sought no territorial gain• 2. Would allow no territorial changed without the

consent of the people concerned• 3. Respected the right of all people to choose

their own form of government• 4.Believed that all nations should have equal

rights to trade and to raw materials.

The Atlantic Charter

• 5. Wanted nations to cooperate on economic matters to ensure everyone a decent standard of living.

• 6. Believed people everywhere should have the right to security and freedom from want and fear.

• 7. Believed freedom of the seas should be guaranteed.

• 8.Believed that nations must abolish the use of force and establish a system of general security, suggesting the creation of an international organization.