European European and and

African African CampaignCampaign

•German troops march German troops march into Austria unopposed into Austria unopposed in Hitler's "Anschluss" - in Hitler's "Anschluss" - union. A majority of the union. A majority of the 6 million population 6 million population were German.were German.

•Hitler signs Munich Hitler signs Munich Agreement with Agreement with Chamberlain asking for his Chamberlain asking for his last territorial demand - last territorial demand - the Sudetenland of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. Hitler's Czechoslovakia. Hitler's propaganda said needed to propaganda said needed to help 3 million Germans help 3 million Germans escape Czech murdering escape Czech murdering them.them.

•German troops invade German troops invade remainder of remainder of Czechoslovakia - a Czechoslovakia - a country which ceased to country which ceased to exist during the war. exist during the war. Policy of appeasement - Policy of appeasement - giving up principles to giving up principles to pacify aggression, had pacify aggression, had failed.failed.

•Non-aggression pact Non-aggression pact between Germany between Germany and Soviet Union and Soviet Union signed - and the two signed - and the two countries secretly countries secretly agree to divide up agree to divide up Poland.Poland.

•German air force - German air force - "Luftwaffe" bombs areas of "Luftwaffe" bombs areas of Poland (bases, roads, cities) Poland (bases, roads, cities) and sends tanks in at same and sends tanks in at same time to wreak havoc on time to wreak havoc on land. Blitzkrieg - lightening land. Blitzkrieg - lightening war of taking enemy by war of taking enemy by surprise and quickly surprise and quickly crushing opposition with crushing opposition with overwhelming force.overwhelming force.

•Britain and France declare Britain and France declare war on Germany, though war on Germany, though major fighting in Poland major fighting in Poland over in 3 weeks, with help over in 3 weeks, with help from USSR, before a from USSR, before a defense can be mounted. defense can be mounted. Blitzkrieg proven highly Blitzkrieg proven highly effective, and Poland effective, and Poland ceases to exist during the ceases to exist during the war.war.

•British and French set up British and French set up fortification of eastern fortification of eastern border of France along border of France along Manginot line, across Manginot line, across from German defense on from German defense on Siegfried line - waiting Siegfried line - waiting for action. Becomes for action. Becomes "sitzkrieg" - sitting war, "sitzkrieg" - sitting war, or phony war.or phony war.

•USSR annexes USSR annexes Estonia, Latvia and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They then Lithuania. They then move on to Finland move on to Finland and fight only 3 and fight only 3 months before months before Finland surrenders.Finland surrenders.

•Germany launches invasion Germany launches invasion of Denmark and Norway to of Denmark and Norway to "protect...freedom and "protect...freedom and independence." Need independence." Need bases to attack Britain! bases to attack Britain! Then they attack Belgium, Then they attack Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - the end of Netherlands - the end of the phony war.the phony war.

•Manginot line is Manginot line is proven ineffective as proven ineffective as Germans send tanks Germans send tanks through the through the "impassable" "impassable" Ardennes Mountains.Ardennes Mountains.

•German offensive in German offensive in France traps 400,000 France traps 400,000 British and French British and French troops who flee to the troops who flee to the coast at Dunkirk - all coast at Dunkirk - all types of boats start types of boats start shuttling 330,000 troops shuttling 330,000 troops across English Channel across English Channel to Britain.to Britain.

•Italy joins Italy joins Germany and Germany and invades France invades France from the South from the South and both march and both march towards Paris. towards Paris.

•At Compiegne, Hitler gives At Compiegne, Hitler gives France surrender terms: France surrender terms: Germany occupies the Germany occupies the North, in the South a North, in the South a puppet government is set puppet government is set up in Vichy, headed by up in Vichy, headed by Marshall Phillipe Petain. Marshall Phillipe Petain. General de Gaulle flees to General de Gaulle flees to Britain and sets up gov't in Britain and sets up gov't in exile.exile.

•Germany prepares invasion Germany prepares invasion of Brit. w/ fleet of ships. of Brit. w/ fleet of ships. Tries 1st to gain control of Tries 1st to gain control of skies by running bombing skies by running bombing runs, every night for 2 runs, every night for 2 months with ↑ 2000 planes months with ↑ 2000 planes per day. RAF fights back per day. RAF fights back using radar and decimates using radar and decimates Luftwaffe, Hitler calls off Luftwaffe, Hitler calls off invasion.invasion.