SUMMARY
On September 1, 1939 Adolf Hitler violently attacks and successfully conquers Poland territory. The strategy Hitler used for the first time, is called the blitzkreig-"lightning war," which involved the rapid movement of airplanes and tanks. Hitler attacked from above, with airplanes making it rain bombs, and from the ground with tanks and trucks loaded with more than 1.5 million soldiers. Doing so this pushed polish citizens out of their homes, and to leave behind destroyed land at a fast pace. The world stood in shock and it was not until after two days, of merciless bombing of Poland's cities, on September 3, 1939 that France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. After Germany's successful takeover of Poland, Hitler did not stop there. He continued to make plans to invade France and Great Britain. France and Britain mobilized its troops along the Maginot Line ready for Germany to start the war. Like wise, Germany was waiting for the French and British to resist them from invading, but instead got nothing. This was the Phony War of March-April 1940. Suddenly in April 9, 1940 Hitler set a invasion of Denmark and Norway that took Great Britain and France by surprise. Denmark gave in in just four hours, and in two months Norway surrendered. Hitler took a risk of sending his troops through the Ardennes (forest), but managed to get through the Maginot Line into France. On May 26, 1940 the Germans had the Allies trapped in the French city Lille. France faced an inevitable defeat, even with the help of Great Britain which France's Benito Mussolini noticed. He joined forces with Hitler on June 10 and on June 22, 1940, France surrendered. With the fall of France, Hitler then aimed to attack Great Britain, but due to their strong resistance Hitler was unable to takeover Great Britain and until May 10, 1941, stunned by the tough resistance of Great Britain, he called off the attacks. Later on June 22, 1941 his operation to invade the Soviet Union took place, but due to a cold Russian winter, many of Hitler's troops did not survive and his attempt to attack failed.
IMPORTANT ARTICLES
1.The Nazi-Soviet Pact The Soviet Union was manipulated by Nazi's. After the German took over of Poland the Soviet Union was embarrassed to mention that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact existed. Moreover, the Soviet Union made a mistake to sign the pact, "For the Jews of all these lands, the pact was the licence for the Holocaust."
2. Pact That Set the Scene For War Review on reasons why the Soviet Union accepted to sign the pact, and beliefs that they can stop the war German sought to begin (Lightning War). More on, who it is to blame for German takeover, "..it was suggested that Poland was ultimately responsible for World War II, by refusing to acquiesce to "legitimate" Nazi territorial demands."
3. Hitler's Lightning War Clear summary of the Lightning War, with quick summaries that tie together all the events taking place during then Lightning War, "Hitler’s actions set off World War II. The results of the war still affect the politics and economics of today’s world".
4. The Bombing War Written by Richard Overy, he shows the misunderstanding of using bombing as a tactic to keep from spending loads of cash on war, in fact he says, "bombing was surprisingly inefficient. As Overy shows, poor visibility, the sudden deterioration of weather conditions, malfunctioning equipment, outdated and slow-moving aircraft, pilot inexperience or crew exhaustion, and enemy action varying from anti-aircraft batteries to night-fighters or the jamming of navigation beams, all reduced the effectiveness of bomber fleets."
5.The Phony War A review of events and regulations that occurred during the Phony War. The writer explains that the Phony War could not have been so "phony" after all. "In fact, things were happening but the public in Britain were not aware of them – or very few were".
6. Operation Sealion Questions whether the Operation Sealion, operation for German invasion of Great Britain, would have been successful if it did not occur.
7. BLITZKRIEG (LIGHTNING WAR) Overview on the Hitler's Lightning War and shows the affect it has in relationship to the strategies used against Hitler. "Germany quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on a new military tactic called the "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war)".
8. Blitzkrieg Explanation on what Blitzkrieg is and how the strategy is used during combat. Goes on to talk about how effective the strategy is. "Blitzkrieg was based on speed, co-ordination and movement. It was designed to hit hard and move on instantly. Its aim was to create panic amongst the civilian population."
9. Operation Barbarossa Full review on how Hitler mobilized his army and vehicles to attempt his invasion in the Soviet Union. "Barbarossa the largest military attack of World War II and was to have appalling consequences for the Russian people".
10. World War II: A short and quick overview of Operation Barbarossa including pictures of important events leading to the failure of Hitler's invasion of Soviet Union. "Operation Barbarossa"Within a single week, German forces advanced 200 miles into Soviet territory, destroyed nearly 4,000 aircraft, and killed, captured, or wounded some 600,000 Red Army troops."
2. Pact That Set the Scene For War Review on reasons why the Soviet Union accepted to sign the pact, and beliefs that they can stop the war German sought to begin (Lightning War). More on, who it is to blame for German takeover, "..it was suggested that Poland was ultimately responsible for World War II, by refusing to acquiesce to "legitimate" Nazi territorial demands."
3. Hitler's Lightning War Clear summary of the Lightning War, with quick summaries that tie together all the events taking place during then Lightning War, "Hitler’s actions set off World War II. The results of the war still affect the politics and economics of today’s world".
4. The Bombing War Written by Richard Overy, he shows the misunderstanding of using bombing as a tactic to keep from spending loads of cash on war, in fact he says, "bombing was surprisingly inefficient. As Overy shows, poor visibility, the sudden deterioration of weather conditions, malfunctioning equipment, outdated and slow-moving aircraft, pilot inexperience or crew exhaustion, and enemy action varying from anti-aircraft batteries to night-fighters or the jamming of navigation beams, all reduced the effectiveness of bomber fleets."
5.The Phony War A review of events and regulations that occurred during the Phony War. The writer explains that the Phony War could not have been so "phony" after all. "In fact, things were happening but the public in Britain were not aware of them – or very few were".
6. Operation Sealion Questions whether the Operation Sealion, operation for German invasion of Great Britain, would have been successful if it did not occur.
7. BLITZKRIEG (LIGHTNING WAR) Overview on the Hitler's Lightning War and shows the affect it has in relationship to the strategies used against Hitler. "Germany quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on a new military tactic called the "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war)".
8. Blitzkrieg Explanation on what Blitzkrieg is and how the strategy is used during combat. Goes on to talk about how effective the strategy is. "Blitzkrieg was based on speed, co-ordination and movement. It was designed to hit hard and move on instantly. Its aim was to create panic amongst the civilian population."
9. Operation Barbarossa Full review on how Hitler mobilized his army and vehicles to attempt his invasion in the Soviet Union. "Barbarossa the largest military attack of World War II and was to have appalling consequences for the Russian people".
10. World War II: A short and quick overview of Operation Barbarossa including pictures of important events leading to the failure of Hitler's invasion of Soviet Union. "Operation Barbarossa"Within a single week, German forces advanced 200 miles into Soviet territory, destroyed nearly 4,000 aircraft, and killed, captured, or wounded some 600,000 Red Army troops."
VIDEOS/AUDIO
AUDIO[click here]
PRIMARY SOURCES
1. Treaty of Nonaggression Between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Articles from the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
2. New York Times Article published September 1, 1939 (Beginning of Hitler's Lightning War)
3. 'THE DUTY OF RESISTANCE' After France falls French general, Charles de Gaulle, delivers a broadcast in which he called the French people to resist.
MAPS