World War II
The Battle of Britain
The Blitz-September 1940-May 1941
help from the USA with lend-lease scheme.
attacks on london, conventry, liverpool, glasgow + aberdeen.
underground used as shelter.
bombed 71 times
more than 1 million children were sent to the countryside from big cities for protection. whoever looked after them received a payment.
demolitions squads-knock down unsafe buildings.
air raid precaution wardens (ARP's)-direct fire engines + ambulances to the most affected areas
anti-aircraft guns, searchlights used to shoot down german weapons.
blackout-all lights were turned off at night-difficult for bombers to locate targets. flares were used by germans
gas masks-given in case of a gas attack
air rid sirens-worn people of an air attack
morrison table shelters-steel frame, placed in houses located in city centre-shelter during air raid
anderson huts-tiny huts, buried in earth at the bomb of people's gardens, air raid shelters. corrogated iron.
incendiary bombs-which were designed o start fires were dropped on british cities-60,000 killed. 90% of central london buildings destroyed.
german loss-3600 men, 1887 planes. england-144 men, 1547 planees.
this took off pressure off the RAF which recovered.
by halloween 1941 hitler-cancelled operation sealion
the RAF retaliated by bombing Berlin-the luftwaffe switched to bombing cities-the blitz.
40,000 civilians died.
the blitz was when germans tried to destroy british factories, power stations and ports which they hoped would prevent britain's ability to fight war.
lasted from august 1940-october 1941.
germans started targeting radar and bombing airfields.
the main attack-eagle of the day-13th august 1940, almost 1500 german planes attacked britain.
spitfires dealt with german fighters, hurricane dealt with bombers. germans could not support their fighters-beyond london or south coast.
germans-limited fuel reserves over england-RAF had an advantage-flying over their own territory.
britain had observers and radar which helped detect planes before they reached the main land-prepare the planes.
germans knew they couldn't beat britain in the sea-keep it in the air- luftwaffe.
begins on july 10th 1940-the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces-
german 'operation of sealion'
planes used- spitfire (raf), hurricane (raf). stuka ja 87 (german) + messerchmitt bf109 (german)
The War in The Atlantic
britain survived this onslaught with new technology.
new boats-corvettes, lightily armoured and very fast. hedgehogs, multiple bombs at time. sonar technology- hear submarines underwater.
wolf packs
german submarines had direct access to atlantic
most of the submarines sunk in mid atlantic gap outside aircraft range.
in 1939-114 ships sank by submarine to 1942-(1159 ships sank by submarine)-declined after 1942
US lend-lease-5 million tons every month, food, military goods etc.
Operation Dynamo (Dunkirk)
british expeditionary force enabled churchill to convince his cabinet colleagues to fight on
between 27th may-4th june over 300,000 troops were rescued.
thousands of boats were sent from southern england to rescue the troops from dunkirk beaches.
hitler ordered his armies to halt. allowed british and french troops to evacuate.
Case Yellow (Attack on France)
Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain-WWI hero-in charge of vichy france
collaborators were people who worked/helped with germans. jailed/hanged after war.
general charles de gaulle refused to surrender and set up a french government in exile in london.
french resistance-hit/run tactics
southern areas of france-puppet french government-vichy france.
the germans went south and claimed all of france.
france surrendered-northern france ruled directed by german government. (zone of occupation)
10th may 1940-they went towards the sea and cut off british and french forces in belgium.
The germans attacked through belgium-(diversion)-main forces attacked through the ardennes forest-crossed the ardennes mountains
france had faith in the maginot line-concrete defence to keep germans out of france.
Operation Weser Crossing
denmark was taken in 24 hours
6 amphibious (sea landings) attacks were launched, along with para-troopers
hitler did this to protect-iron ore shipments from sweden. used norway's porys
on 19th april 1940 germany launched their invasion denmark and norway. germany had a german 'puppet' government.
Invasion of Poland
poland-wiped off the map on 28th september 1939.
germany could concentrate on poland due to their pact with the soviets. russia made a secret agreement to attack poland from the east on sep 17th. german tanks broke through polish forces. germany had over 500,000 more forces than poland.
5/8 of the polish population died. intelligent
The germans attacked with 1.5 million troops.
the blitzkrieg co-ordinated land and air attacks-using dive bomber planes.
Blitzkrieg-planes first, tanks and then troops-perfected in spanish civil war. 'lightning war'-used in invasion of poland in 1939 and france in 1940. elements of surprise and speed
Causes of World War II
September 1939-April 1940-Phoney War.
germans couldn't get their troops to france.
nothing happened between the allies and germans
october '39-april/may '40.
Japanese aggression- needed more coal and iron for expanding industries - not enough land for 70 million population. took over manchuria in 1931-1932 and other parts in china-late 1930's.
Nazi-Soviet Aggression Pact- stalin feared war with germany and was hoping to delay war until 1942-because of his purges of the army leaders. 10 year non aggression pact with germany. opposite idelogies-now hitler could take poland quicker. surprised the world.
Five Steps of World War II
1939-September-Poland.
poland surrendered on 28th September.
blitzkrieg-lightning war-surprise/speed.
take back Danzig-1/2 million germans.
germany take east prussia back.
1st september 1939.
start of the war
1939-March-The rest of czechoslovakia
all of the country is part of germany now
1938-The Sudetenland
munich conference- all european leaders except cxechoslovakian leaders-czechoslovakia forced give the sudetenland back.
the sudetenland was a primarily german area of czechoslovakia which germany took back. 2.5 million living in a 'foreign country'.
1938-March-Austria-Anschluss (union)
britain and france did nothing.
unite all german speaking people
austria and germany join together
1936-March-The Rhineland
The germans began to occupy this de-militarised zone. 50 miles, the french did nothing to stop them.
Mussolini invaded abynssia (ethopia) in 1935
league of nations did nothing stop him.
The League of Nations- an international police force made up of representatives of many countries. "collective security". An idea of Woodrow Wilson. America didn't join as the public was against it-
no standing army, incredibly weak.
american isolationist policy.
forced to
isolated from world conflicts
European reaction.
policy of appeasement-europe kept appeasing hitler instead of taking any action against his increasing re-arment. giving into dictators to keep the
after germany took czechoslovakia britain and france ended the policy of appeasement
britain made a huge mistake- signed the anglo-german naval agreement, increased german submarines.
Franch built the siegfried line and the maginot line
hitler wants the union of all germans in greater germany-(grossdeutschland). absolish treaty of versailles. lebenstraum.
hitler started to re-arm in 1933 in secret- treble the army-300,000 men. he built 1,000 war planes. by march 1935 he went public and broke the treaty of versailles. europe did nothing. conscription in germany, increased to 550,000 men.
Subtopic
The 1929 Wall Street Crash- unemployment and poverty rose in Europe and dictators rose to power as they promised solutions
This had a major effect on Japan who relied on international trade.
Czechoslovakia emerged after World War I.
Terms of The Treaty of Versailles
Germany was forbidden from uniting with Austria.
Anschluss-uniting Germany and Austria
Their army, navy and airforces were reduced significantly-airforces +submarines gone. army of only 100,000
80% of her fleet.
The Polish corridor-East Prussia was cut off from the rest of Germany so Poland could have sea ports.
Germany returned Alsace-Lorraine to France
Germany had to give up all her colonies.
There was a demilitarised zone in The Rhineland-no military equipment/troops.
Germany agreed to pay £6.6 million for the damage done during the war-reparations.
One of the terms of The Treaty was The War Guilt Cause which meant that Germany accepted responsibility for starting the war
Signed on 28th June 1919.
The Treaty of Versailles- a peace conference in Paris
The USA want Germany to be punished but not severely, a just settlement that will them not resentful. The US public did not support him and the USA became more isolationist.
Britain didn't wanted to crucify Germany as they were important trading partners and they would be allies against communism
France was heavily against Germany and want them to pay
Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd-George (Great Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France) and Vittorio Orlando (Italy)- The Big four involved in the Peace Treaty of Versailles.
Russia is now a communist country
Types of Government
Fascist Dictatorship-Fascists believed in a strong leader who had a dictatorship-total control over the country but they were completely opposed to communism and socialism. Nationalism (pride of country)-"ordinary people should put the interest of their state before their own personal freedom." Used military organisations to increase authority. Secret police. They support private businesses and people owning their land and industries. Very racist-anti immigrant-superior to other nations.
Communist- All the people should share ownership in a country's wealth. They believed in an athiestic state and they were opposed to democracy and were pro-dictatorship.
Dictatorship-a country is ruled by one person/one party. Laws can be passed without parliament-censorship is strictly imposed. Opposition is surpressed and could result in imprisonment/death.
Democracy-gives power to the people and allows them to vote in free elections with the right to free speech, personal freedom and the right to assemble/meet.
