After the invasion of Poland, Hitler launched a blitzkrieg against Norway and Denmark, both of which soon fell. Hitler’s blitzkrieg or “lightning war” was a military tactic designed to create

disorganization among enemy forces. First, German planes bombed airfields, factories, towns, and cities, and dive bombers fired on troops and civilians. Next, fast-moving tanks and troop transports roared into the country. After Norway and Denmark, Germany quickly took Netherlands and Belgium. Hitler’s next target was France. The Germans failed to take France during World War I and

Hitler wanted to finish what Germany couldn’t do 20 years earlier. Within days of invading France, blitzkrieg completed Hitler’s goal.

After defeating France in 1940, Hitler forced the French to sign their surrender at the very spot the Germans had signed the Armistice ending World War I. Two thirds of France was to be occupied by the

Germans. The French army was to be broken up, and France would be responsible for the cost of the German invasion.

The following is an excerpt from William Shirer, a radio reporter for CBS News. Shiver stood at a distance from Hitler where the surrender ceremony took place. This is a description of what he saw.

N a m e D a t e P e r i o d _________________________________ _________________ __________

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William Shirer

"The time is now three eighteen p.m. Hitler's personal flag is run up on a small standard in the centre of the opening. Also in the centre is a great granite block which stands some three feet above the ground. Hitler, followed by the others, walks slowly over to it, steps up, and reads the inscription engraved in great high letters on that block. It says:

“Here on the eleventh of November 1918 succumbed the criminal pride of the German Empire. . . vanquished by the free peoples which it tried to enslave.”

Hitler reads it and Goring reads it. They all read it, standing there in the June sun and the silence. I look for the expression on Hitler's face. I am but fifty yards from him and see him through my glasses as though he were directly in front of me. I have seen that face many times at the great moments of his life. But today! It is afire with scorn, anger, hate, revenge, triumph. He steps off the monument and contrives to make even this gesture a masterpiece of contempt. He glances back at it, contemptuous, angry - angry, you almost feel, because he cannot wipe out the awful, provoking lettering with one sweep of his high Prussian boot. He glances slowly around the clearing, and now, as his eyes meet ours, you grasp the depth of his hatred. But there is triumph there too - revengeful, triumphant hate. Suddenly, as though his face were not giving quite complete expression to his feelings, he throws his whole body into harmony with his mood. He swiftly snaps his hands on his hips, arches his shoulders, plants his feet wide apart. It is a magnificent gesture of defiance, of burning contempt for this place now and all that it has stood for in the twenty-two years since it witnessed the humbling of the German Empire. ...It is a grave hour in the life of France. The Frenchmen keep their eyes straight ahead. Their faces are solemn, drawn. They are the picture of tragic dignity. They walk stiffly to the (train)car, where they are met by two German officers, Lieutenant-General Tippelskirch, Quartermaster General, and Colonel Thomas, chief of the Fuhrer's headquarters. The Germans salute. The French salute. The atmosphere is what Europeans call "correct." There are salutes, but no handshakes.

1. In order, what were the first six countries Germany conquered at the beginning of World War II?___________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is blitzkrieg? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think it was so effective? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why was the fall of France so important? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. What were the terms of the armistice with France? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Who wrote this primary source report describing the day of surrender?_______________________________

7. When was it created(month and year)? _______________________________________________________

8. What is the inscription on the granite block referring to? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What was Hitler angry towards the inscription? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Hitler also felt triumph. Why? ______________________________________________________________B. How did he show it? ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

11. Describe the mood of the French officials who came to sign the document? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Why does Shirer make an effort to describe the interaction between the Germans and French as, “There are salutes, but no handshakes?” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What is the advantage of this story being told by a U.S. reporter from a neutral country, rather than a German or Frenchman? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORLD WAR II: SURRENDER OF FRANCETH

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1. In order, what were the first six countries Germany conquered at the beginning of World War II?___________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is blitzkrieg? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think it was so effective? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why was the fall of France so important? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. What were the terms of the armistice with France? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Who wrote this primary source report describing the day of surrender?_______________________________

7. When was it created(month and year)? _______________________________________________________

8. What is the inscription on the granite block referring to? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What was Hitler angry towards the inscription? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Hitler also felt triumph. Why? ______________________________________________________________B. How did he show it? ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

11. Describe the mood of the French officials who came to sign the document? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Why does Shirer make an effort to describe the interaction between the Germans and French as, “There are salutes, but no handshakes?” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What is the advantage of this story being told by a U.S. reporter from a neutral country, rather than a German or Frenchman? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORLD WAR II: SURRENDER OF FRANCETH

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Poland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France

lightning war” was a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces. First, German planes bombed airfields, factories, towns, and cities, and dive bombers fired on troops and civilians

It took countries by surprise creating confusion & chaos. They expected troops invading, not a flood of bombing of strategic areas and civilians. Also, they would bomb airfields, which prevented their targets from getting into the air and fighting back.

Fall of France was important because, France was one of the leader countries of the allies. It had also survived during World War I. Also, it was considered a strong military country. If Hitler could take France, it could take the rest of Europe.

Two thirds of France was to be occupied by the Germans. The French army was to be broken up, and France would be responsible for the cost of the German invasion. William Shier

June 1940 The surrender of Germany during World War I

Angry at the inscription and triumph of his victory over France. Because he just conquered France.

He snapped his hands on his hips, arched his shoulders, planted his feet

wide apart in front of the granite block.

Not cheerful, not smiling, but serious

Shows that this is a ceremony that the French do not want to be apart of. The Germans also are not showing good will towards their new subjects

A neutral party should write an unbiased account, as opposed to a Frenchman telling the story which would certainly paint Hitler as the evil. The same for the German side, which would paint the situation as a magnificent joyous occasion.

KEY