Blitzkrieg-Invasion of Poland 1 September 1939

Blitzkrieg-Invasion of Poland 1 September 1939

• Hitler's tanks (panzers) supported by Luftwaffe (air force) smashed over border into Poland

• Rapidly cut through Poland's defenses making new path for advancing infantry

o Method of fighting known as Blitzkrieg or "lightning war"

• Polish resistance heroic- ultimately futile

• USSR invaded from East, as agreed by Nazi-Soviet Pact

• 29 SEP 1939 Poland divided into two countries

The Phoney War

• BRIT declare war on GER two days after Polish invasion

• BRIT could not get troops to Poland in time to have any effect thus just watched as Eastern Europe fell into hands of Hitler and Stalin

• Soviet took over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Finland: "Winter War"

• FRA manned Maginot Line, waited for GER next move

• Chamberlain thought inactivity would bring Hitler to his knees

Invasion of Denmark and Norway (April 1940)

• Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway

• Control of Norway important to GER due to GER access to Swedish iron ore, vital to GER armaments industry

• Invasion brought downfall of Chamberlain in BRIT

• May 10 coalition govt established under Winston Churchill

Invasion of Holland, Belgium and France (May-June 1940)

• May 10 Hitler launched attack on Holland and Belgium

• Skirted around tip of Maginot Line-invaded FRA 12 May

o Maginot Line defenses did not continue along frontier between FRA and BEL, as Marshal Petain thought Ardennes forest was strong enough Barrier to stop GER from attacking

• Hitler's use of Blitzkrieg tactics caused victories to be swift, Panzers reached English Channel within 6 days

• Only Dunkirk remained in BRIT hands, talk of "Dunkirk spirit" to boost BRIT morale

o But evacuation serious blow for Allies, lost large amounts of arms and equipment, driven from European mainland

• GER captured Paris 14 June, FRA govt led by Petain requested GER terms for armistice

• Ceasefire agreement signed at Compiegne 21 June same railway used for 1918 Armistice

• South-eastern FRA only part of country not occupied or demilitarized, , self-governed by Petain but no real independence and collaborated with GER

• GER now has access to important submarines bases