Today in History
October 4, 2011
• 1957: Soviet Union launched the
satellite Sputnik into orbit –
starting the Space Race
– 1st satellite in Space
• 1958: NASA formed
• Colleges/ Universities focus on
math/ science
• 1961: President Kennedy
declares goal of landing on the
moon by 1970
• 1968: Kennedy Space Center
– Cape Canaveral, Florida
• 1969: U.S. lands on the moon
WWII Battles in
France & Britain
October 4, 2011
Hitler’s next stop: France
• France prepare for Germans
• Interconnected fortresses along
German border (Maginot Line)
• Armies along Belgium & German
border
– HINT: Route Germany took in
1914 was BELGIUM (WWI)
• Ardennes Forest
– Between Maginot line &
Belgium
• Hilly, forests
• France considered
INVASION PROOF
– WRONG!!!
May 1940
• Germans roll through Ardennes
• Head NORTH to English Channel
German Plan: Trap France & Great
Britain against English Channel
• Almost worked…Couple mistakes
– Allowed enough time to
evacuate to Britain from
Dunkirk (called “Miracle of
Dunkirk”)
• 338,000 troops escaped
– Would have crushed England
• New Prime Minister: Winston
Churchill
France falls in 35 days
• Germany takes Paris
• Force France to surrender in
same railway car as German
surrender in 1918 ***
• France divided in 2 sections
– Large NORTH - Germans
– Small SOUTH - French
• NEXT STOP: Great Britain
• “I will never worry about ACTION, but only about INACTION” Churchill
– FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT
• Hitler’s Plan: Operation Sea Lion
– German Air Force
• Destroy GB Air Force
• Take control of English Channel
• July 1940
– Battle of Britain
• Air Battle
• Fought over GB & English Channel
• GB lost 1000 planes
– Germany: 1700 planes
• Germans bomb military & civilians
• London - “The Blitz”
– Continuous/ Months long (Sept. to May)
– GB holds on
– Germany leaves (senses failure)