Germany Germany AdvancesAdvances

The fall of Poland, the Low Countries and France

AppeasementAppeasement• During the 1930s the Allies had “appeased”

Germany.• Nazi Germany began to build up her army,

airforce and navy again.• Germany also began to take land they thought

they were entitled to.• Allies did not punish Germany for breaking the

terms of Treaty of Versailles nor for their actions towards Czechoslovakia.

• This allied policy is known as ‘appeasement’.

Adolf Hitler orders the German Army into Austria.

12 March 1938

Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler sign the Munich Agreement.

29 Sept, 1938

Joseph Goebbels organizes Crystal Night (Krystallnacht).

9 Nov 1938

The German Army invades Czechoslovakia.15 March 1939

Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

23 Aug 1939

The German Army invades Poland. 1 Sept 1939

Britain declares war on Germany 3 Sept 1939

Nazi-SovietNazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Non-Aggression

Pact 1939Pact 1939

Russia secretly agrees not to declare war on Germany if Germany invades Poland (in

return for Polish land)

Declaration of WarDeclaration of War• Germany invaded Poland 1 Sept 1939• Allies told Germany to withdraw• When they did not, the Allies declared war on 3

Sept 1939

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg•Literally means “Lightning War•It is a concentrated co-ordinated assault based on overwhelming force and speed by planes, tanks, artillery and infantry.•Blitzkrieg tactics works best in small areas

Invasion of France and Invasion of France and the Low Countriesthe Low Countries

• Germany launched their attacks on 10 May 1940.• Belgium and the Netherlands surrendered in May

1940 and France surrendered in June 1940.• The Germans again used Blitzkrieg tactics

successfully.

Invasion Invasion of Poland of Poland

– – Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg

TacticsTactics

German bombing of PolandGerman bombing of Poland

Leah Hammerstein Silverstein describes the bombing of Praga and Warsaw (Clip):

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_oi.php?ModuleId=10005437&MediaId=1175

Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland

Destruction in Warsaw in 1939 as a result of Blitzkrieg

German troops parading after capturing German troops parading after capturing

PolandPoland

Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland

Hitler reviewing the troops after capturing Poland Oct 5, 1939

Photo of Warsaw, Photo of Warsaw, May 1940May 1940

Invasion of the Low CountriesInvasion of the Low CountriesMay 1940May 1940

Destruction of Rotterdam

Clip of German paratroopers dropping into Rotterdam http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_fi.php?ModuleId=10005181&MediaId=196

Germany invades FranceGermany invades France

Footage of the Invasion of France:

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_fi.php?MediaId=195

Speer, Hitler and Breker in Paris after Germany defeated France in June,1940.