1/24/2020
1
The Road to War (Again) The War Begins in Europe
1918 - 1939
1
2
3
The Treaty of Versailles
Harsh Reparations
High Inflation
Unemployment
Political Chaos
Weak Central Government
Article 231 “War Guilt Clause”
1/24/2020
2
4
5
6
Hitler in Power 30 January 1933
Reichstag Fire27 February 1933
Enabling Act23 March 1933*Acting without Reichstag
1/24/2020
3
7
Hitler in Power 30 June 1934
Dissolution of Labor Unions
Elimination of Political Parties
Introduction of Press Censorship
Reduces UnemploymentPublic Works Projects
Night of the “Long Knives”30 June – 2 July 1934
Elimination of Political Rivals
Ernst Rohm
8
The Death of President Hindenburg2 August 1934 / Lung Cancer / 86 years old
Burial at Tannenberg, East Prussia (Poland)January 1945 Moved to the West!
19 August 1934Plebiscite
Combine Offices90% “JA” (Yes)
9
Hitler in PowerAugust 1934
Dissolution of Labor Unions
Elimination of Political Parties
Introduction of Press Censorship
Reduces UnemploymentPublic Works Projects
Rearms Military
Nurnberg Laws of 1935 Jews loose citizenship
“Lebensraum” (Living Room)“Sub-Humans in the East”
1/24/2020
4
10
11
Re-Occupation of Rhineland – 7 March 1936
Unsure of World Reaction
French Response
No Action
Germans Enthusiastic
Hitler Emboldened
“Re-Militarize”
12
1/24/2020
5
13
“Greater German Reich”
10% (4 million) against unification
No response from England or France
Some (Jews) start to leave Austria
Anschluss with Austria - 12 March 1938
14
15
The Munich Conference of September 1938
Sudetenland Germans vs. Czechoslovakia
England (Chamberlain – PM) France (Daladier – PM) Italy (Mussolini) Germany (Hitler) Czech President Benes (Absent!/Waiting)
“Peace in our time” ?? Churchill outspoken – Against “Appeasement”!
1/24/2020
6
16
Kristallnacht – 9 & 10 November 1938(‘Night of the Broken Glass”)
Beginning of the “real” persecution of the Jews in Germany and Austria
Flee to Israel, USA, UK – others “Stateless” (See Life Magazine –Evian, France)
World reaction was of shock Widely documented in foreign press (See
Life Magazine Article)
17
18
15 March 1939 – Occupation of Czechoslovakia
Germany moves to occupy the entire country of Czecho(Slovakia)
Bohemia – Moravia = “Protectorate”
Slovakia – Msgr. Joseph Tiso –President (Executed after War)
6 April 1939: Mutual Assistance Pact - England and France are quick to warn Germany of attempts on Poland … Treaty of each with Poland
1/24/2020
7
19
20
Mussolini
Acquires his
“Empire”
Ethiopia & Somalia: 3 October 1935
Emperor Halie Selassie
21
Albania invaded 7 – 12 April 1939
“Pact of Steel” - 22 May 1939 German and Italy = Allies
1/24/2020
8
22
23
24
Blitzkrieg / 1 September 1939
22 August 1939 – Soviet Non-Aggression Pact with Germany
1 September 1939(General George Marshall Note to Mrs. Patton)
1 Million+ Germans invade Poland
Introduction of the “Blitzkrieg” (“Lightning War”) Combined arms operations Luftwaffe attack targets in rear –
airfields/fortifications/aircraft in sky German mechanized (armor/artillery/infantry)
units move quickly Followed by slower units (Horse Drawn)
1/24/2020
9
25
1 September 1939
Population: Germany = 80 million France = 42 million England = 46 million
German soldier = excellent 6 Panzer (tank) divisions 4 motorized divisions Majority of Army lacking motorized
transport Majority of horse drawn equipment
Raw materials and Germany’s need Import 80% of oil Import 85% of rubber Import 20% of food
26
17 September 1939 – Soviet Union invades in the east
Polish Campaign ends 6 October 1939 (5 Weeks!) Germany suffers 50,000 casualties!
Poland Divided – Soviet Union gains a “Buffer State”
Stalin “Awed” by display of German power – future?
27
Polish View of Start of World War II
Defensive – Heroic Patriotism!
1/24/2020
10
28
Katyn Forest Massacre – March 1940
Russians against Polish people: Prisoners of War Military leaders Political leaders Police leaders Educators Religious22,000 total murdered
Blame against Germany Allied complacency Post-war Communism
See 1943 German response
29
Germans Publish Rebuttal to the World!! – April 1943
30
1990 – Collapse of Soviet state, acknowledgement to world of Katyn massacre
April 2000
National Katyn Memorial
Monument Located -Baltimore Inner Harbor
1/24/2020
11
31
32
England / France Declare War*See April 1939 Life Magazine
Winston Churchill “Winston is Back!” – 3 September 1939 First Lord of the Admiralty
Royal Navy – Blockade
British Army mobilizes moves to French / Belgian border
French mobilization remain behind the Maginot Line
33
“Sitzkrieg” October 1939- April 1940
(“Phony War”/“Sitting War”)
1/24/2020
12
34
Sitzkrieg (October 1939 – April 1940)
“Sitting War” “Phony War”
Germans remain behind the Siegfried Line (“Westwall”) French behind Maginot Line
Germans shift forces from Poland to west – created armies of one million+ men
35
Russo – Finnish War (Winter War)November 1939 – March 1940
Century of discord Russia demands land near
Leningrad Finns fortify border Russia Invades Norway, Sweden, England &
France send supplies
36
Soviets invade Finland on Broad Front Outnumber Finns Poorly Led (Remember the Purges) Poorly Equipped Suffer Catastrophic Losses Harsh Weather Conditions
Simo Hayha - Sniper - “White Death” -542 Kills!!!
November –December
1939
1/24/2020
13
37
Finland overwhelmed by Soviet Forces at 100 – 1 odds!
Set precedent for Soviet operations
Gained crucial territory Weaknesses of Soviets
noticed by the Germans!
January – March
1940
38
39
Sitzkrieg (October 1939 – April 1940) “Sitting War” “Phony War”
Germans remain behind the Siegfried Line (“Westwall”) French behind the Maginot Line
Germans shift forces from Poland to west – create armies of one million+ men
Ends with German invasion of Denmark - 9 April 1940
Danish Army (15,000)
Token resistance 16 KIA Over in two hours Resistance emerges Jewish situation
1/24/2020
14
40
Denmark – No Resistance!
Norway Resists Campaign Ends in June (German
Combined Arms Operations) German Navy suffers serious losses Vidkun Quisling (Remember His Name!
41
10 May 1940
Churchill replaces Chamberlain(November 1940)
Speech – 4 June 1940I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious
apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment
believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
42
Germans Cross Belgian/ Dutch
Frontiers 16 May 1940
1/24/2020
15
43
Dunkirk Pocket Created
5 Days Later!
44
“Operation Dynamo” Begins26 May – 4 June 1940
45
“Operation Dynamo”Dunkirk Evacuation
26 May to 4 June 1940
British Naval and Civilian Craft of all types
338,000 evacuated to England (224,000 = British soldiers) (54,000 = French soldiers) (60,000 = Others) Loss of heavy weapons and equipment
German Army halts on 24th of May Resupply? Overextension of forces? Luftwaffe alone? Hitler’s Sentiments?
1/24/2020
16
46
Dunkirk Beaches Today – July 2017 (77 Years Later!)
47
Italy Declares War on France – 10 June 1940
Invades Southern France – 16 June 1940
Makes few gains – halted in Alps
Italy gains small amount of territory in
Alpine France (Italian Zone!)
48
French Alps Today - 2017
Fort Central (1880)
St. Agnes (1936) (Next Slide)
1/24/2020
17
49
June 2017
50
Occupied
Un-Occupied
Capital at Vichy
51
French Surrender at Compiegne 22 June 1940France falls in 35 Days!
Rail Car of 1918 Moved to Berlin (1944)
Vichy France Established Occupied vs. Un-Occupied Marshall Petain (84 years old)
Charles De Gaulle 4th French Division Battle of Montcornet (Colonel) Battle of Abbeville (Brig. General) Flees to England 18 June 1940 = “Free French
Government” in exile
1/24/2020
18
52
Marshall Petain as French “Head of State”(Hero of Verdun/Controversial!/Collaborator?)
Figurehead or Puppet?
Age Issue or Ego?
Effective?
German Control of Vichy after
November 1942!
Gestapo Arrest Late 1944?
French Captivity April 1945
Treason Trial July 1945 (89 yr.)
Guilty – Death!
DeGaulle – Life! – Ile d’Yeu Traitor or Scapegoat??
?
53
Ile d’YeuJuly 2011
54
July 1951
(95 yr.)
1/24/2020
19
55
Operation “Sea Lion”Invasion of England