The War in Europe, Poland to the Battle of the Atlantic
Lecture Notes
NOTES
Intro:
What agreement did Hitler reach with the Soviets in August 1939? What did it do – both
publicly and secretly?
Within days Hitler was prepared for all out war. The first country he chose to attack was
Poland
1. Invasion of Poland
a. Bliztkerig
i. On Sept 1, 1939 German troops pored across the Polish border in a massive
invasion. This invasion was done with a new tactic that the Germans had
developed called Bliztkerg or “lightening war.” The tactic was based on speed
and the close coordination of armor and air power to surprise, overwhelm and
encircle enemy forces.
1. The Polish air force was destroyed on the ground and its army was no
match for the German Army. In addition the Russians attacked them in
the east as part of the Nonaggression Pact.
2. Poland’s one advantage was that both France and GB were supposed to
declare war and help.
b.
Declaration of War
i. They did this on Sept 3, 1939 but they had been caught off guard by the surprise
attack and swiftness of the Polish collapse and could do nothing to help
ii. This saw the emergence of two key groups: the allies (GB, and France,
eventually USSR and US) and the Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan)
2. Battle of France
 Even before the invasion of Poland Germany began to plan for the invasion of
France.
a.
Invasion of France
i. The 1st step occurred in the spring of 1940 when Germany invaded Denmark
and Norway. Germany began the invasion of France on May 10th.
ii. Like in WWI Germany attacked France through Belgium and the Netherlands
and with a southern army through the Ardennes Forest – never suspected they
could get through the Forest.
iii. The German tanks then swung north and trapped hundred of thousands of
troops against the English Channel at Dunkirk.
Directions: Use the lecture & lecture notes to create notes
for each battle: You need to know the name; date; where;
those involved, who won and the key thing about that
battle.
b. Evacuation at Dunkirk
i. German army traps the British Army and parts of the French army against the
English Channel between May 26 and June 4th 1940
ii. Allied and GB ships saved over 300 000 soldiers and civilian and brought them
to GB
c. Fall of France
i. After this the military forces in France were unable to slow down the Germany
military.
ii. On June 22, 1940 France surrendered. Germany occupied much of the northern
part of the country and set up a pro-Hitler gov’t in the south called the Vichy.
Many French leaders escaped to GB and started to train escaped French soldiers
for the resistance.
3.
Churchill
a. Had been elected PM in 1940 to replace Neville Chamberlain. Churchill had long warned
about the rise of Hitler and was one of the few voices in GB to oppose the policy of
appeasement.
b. Almost immediately following taking the office of PM had to handle the shocking defeats
of the Fall of France and prepare for the Battle of Britain.
4. Battle of Britain
a. After the fall of France GB stood alone and began to prepare for a German invasion.
i. As the first step in this invasion between 08-10 of 1940 Germany sent
thousands of planes to attack GB in an effort to destroy the RAF.
1. This attack failed – RAF used a new technology RADAR to detect
incoming attacks and send fighters to intercept them.
2. German bombers targeted British cities especially London in what is
called the London Blitz
a. Terrorize citizens so they would surrender – continued into
1941 but eventually had to call it off.
5. The Battle of the Atlantic
a. Battle for control of the shipping lanes in the North Atlantic from mid-1940s to the end
of 1943.
i. Britain desperately needed supplies from NA and Germany was equally
determined to stop this – turned to the U-Boat and sank hundreds of ships in
the early years of the war.
b. After Pearl Harbor the American navy joined the Battle of the Atlantic at full strength
and by 1943 the Battle for the Atlantic was in the Allies favor.
i. More and better armed escorts and planes
ii. New technology - sonar
iii. Broke code – Alan Turing
NOTES – con’t