World War II

European Theater (June ‘40 – May ‘41) Hitler’s Dilemma, Baltics, SeaLion, Tripartite Pact, Balkans,

Greece, Crete … North Africa (’40-’42)

2

June 1940

Germany Victorious

3

June 1940

Germany Victorious

Hitler’s Strategic Dilema:

• Invade/Conquer England

• Turn East

• Something Else?

4

Fall 1939

USSR begins pressuring Baltic States

5

June 1940

USSR invades Baltic States

6

Aug 1940

USSR formally annexes Baltic States

7

June 1940 – Oct 1940

Operation SeaLion

• Planned invasion of Britain

• Air superiority of British Channel required

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8

Battle of BritainBattle of Britain

July – October 1940July – October 1940

Germany attempts to gain air superiority in order to invade BritainGermany attempts to gain air superiority in order to invade Britain

The RAF defeated the Luftwaffe and the invasion (SeaLion) was called offThe RAF defeated the Luftwaffe and the invasion (SeaLion) was called off

June 1940 – Oct 1940

Operation SeaLion

• Planned invasion of Britain

• Air superiority of British Channel required

9

The Blitz

October 1940 …

Virtually continuous night bombing of England

10

Tripartite Pact: Axis Powers

27 Sep ’40: Germany, Italy, Japan

Nov 1940: Hungary, Romania

Mar 1941: Bulgaria

11

October 1940

Italy invades Greece; repulsed

Britain sends forces to defend Greece

12

April 1941

Germany invades Greece and Yugoslavia

British forces evacuated to Crete

13

20 – 31 May 1941

Germany seizes Crete with Germany’s largest and last airborne assault

14

Europe: June 1941

The eve of Operation Barbarossa

World War II

North Africa (Sep ‘40 – Oct ‘42)

16

North African Campaign

Sep 1940 to Oct 1942

Operation Compass

Operation Crusader

Operation Lightfoot