World War II: European Theater

1
World War II European Theater

• Mr. Langfords Class
• A brief look at the war.

2
Overview

• Beginnings of the war
• Where are the battles
• Who won
• What did that battle set up

3
Treaty of Versailles

• The treaty that ended WW I
• Called for Germany to repay countries for their
  loses
• Required Germany to give up land
• Said that Germany was the blame
• Basically, it humiliated Germany

4
Hitler begins his move

• Hitler helps to organize the Nazi party
• Begins his political career
• He realizes his potential and seeks further
  advancement
• Power takes over--his speaking ability allowed
  him to appeal to the masses
• Began to assassinate people for more power
• 1933-- chancellor of Germany

5
Benito Mussolini

• Takes full power in 1922
• Vowed to keep the trains on time and received the
  peoples trust
• Leader of the Fascist party
• Denounced the parliament and other government
  positions
• Declared himself ruler of Italy

6
Germany rebuilds

• According to Versailles, Germany was not allowed
  to build a military
• Hitler rebuilt any way and help build morale in
  Germany
• Also, the factories and businesses thrived off of
  the new industry
• The rest of the world tries Appeasement toward
  Germany

7
The move of Germany

• March 1936
• Germany invades the Rhinelands
• Rhinelands are a vital agricultural area where
  both the French and German people live
• Used to belong to the Germans

8
Germans move again

• March 1938
• Germany takes Austria and Czechlosovkia
• Claimed that they were Germanic people and
  belonged to Germany
• Rebuilds faith and trust among the people of
  Germany

9
A Deal?

• Germans offer a pact with Russia
• Claims that they will not fight each other
• Signed in August of 1939
• Hitler and Stalin
• Was this a precursor of what was to come?

10
The Start of WW II

• Germany invades Poland in Sept. of 1939
• The France and England are outraged by this
  attack--declare war
• Soviets join the invasion of Poland
• The Athenia sunk by U-boat starts the battle of
  the Atlantic

11
The U.S. Role?

• The U.S. claim neutrality
• Still follows the isolation policy
• U.S. does lend a hand to the British and French
  forces
• The Lend Lease Act-- sent provisions to the Ally
  powers

12
Blitzkrieg

• A German fighting style
• Starts with planes and bombers
• Then artillery and tanks
• Then the troops are sent to clean up the
  situation
• Extremely fast and furious assault

13
The Axis power

• 1940- 1941
• Axis powers invade France, Belgium, Denmark and
  other European countries
• Also, the Axis begins their world domination by
  taking North Africa
• What countries are involved in North Africa
• Was this a smart move?

14
A Truly World War

• Japan bombs U.S.
• U.S. declares war on Japan
• Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.
• U.S. declares war on Germany and Italy
• Allied powers declare war on Japan
• Japan declares war on Allies

15
North Africa

• Germany and Italy take most of North Africa
• U.S. and Britain ally and fight after U.S. joins
  the fight
• First allied invasion in Morocco and Algeria
• Two front war in the desert
• Fight for Africa ends in June of 1943

16
European area

• Germany invades France and other western European
  countries
• Russia takes Finland
• Germany also moves into Norway
• Few countries stay neutral Sweden and
  Switzerland
• Whos next?

17
England

• England safe because of English Channel?
• Hitler wants England
• Begins to bomb London to break morale
• Uses incendiary bombs
• Then uses V-1 rockets
• Never tries to invade by troops

18
Russia?

• Germany becomes frustrated with England
• Puts focus on Russia
• Begins to invade Russia
• Pact is broken
• Russia fights Germans but loses many Russia
  burns fields and kills animals as they
  retreat--Why?

19
Aftermath of a battle in Russia
20
Time to Move

• Troops move from North Africa to Sicily and Italy
• Allies begin to fight and liberate
• Montgomery and Patton
• Sicily was first then the troops moved to
  Southern Italy and began to move north
• Italy is liberated 1944

21
D-Day

• Led by Eisenhower
• Allied invasion to begin liberation of Europe
• Five invasion points to land on beaches and beat
  back German resistance
• Landed on French beaches code named Omaha Utah
  Gold Juno Sword
• Watch clip from Saving Private Ryan

22
Allies on the move

• After D-Day, Allies begin to move back the German
  forces
• Russia joins the fight after defeating the
  Germans at Stalingrad
• Begins a two front war
• Forces begin to take Italy, France and Russia

23
Battle of the Bulge

• Dec. 1944 through Jan. of 1945
• Some considered it the breaking point of the
  Germans
• A severe battle that caused heavy casualties to
  both sides
• Known more for its tank battles
• After battle, more heavy fighting occurred

24
Air Attack

• The air attack proved crucial to the fighting
  over Europe
• English and American bombers destroyed vital
  areas of the Germans to stop reproduction
• Note The bombings however did not break the
  morale of either side like anticipated

25
Tuskegee Airmen
26
Naval Attacks

• The U-boat was the best weapon for the Germans
• Destroyed more cargo than bombers and severely
  hampered the assistance
• Note Proved fatal to thousands of Germans as
  American and British ships were able to locate
  and destroy U-boats--
• Watch clip from movie U-571 if possible

27
Fall of Berlin

• Berlin fell in May of 1945
• All allies met in Berlin
• Hitler had committed suicide in April but no body
  was found
• Many commanders were put on trial at Nuremberg
  after the war for war crimes

28
Holocaust

• Many troops liberated these camps
• Often found people severely underweight
• Most of the camps turned into death camps after
  1943
• Genocide
• As mentioned, some were work camps, some became
  experimental camps
• Watch a clip from Schindlers List

29
A Concentration Camp