The Outbreak of World War II (PDF)

**The Outbreak of World War II** **Introduction** World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved many countries and was marked by significant events, including invasions, battles, and the rise of powerful military strategies. This resource will cover the key events l...

**The Outbreak of World War II** **Introduction** World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved many countries and was marked by significant events, including invasions, battles, and the rise of powerful military strategies. This resource will cover the key events leading to the war, major invasions, and the strategies used during the conflict. **Germany\'s Invasion of Poland** On \*\*September 1, 1939\*\*, Germany invaded Poland, marking the start of World War II. The German military used a strategy called \*\*Blitzkrieg\*\*, or \"lightning war.\" This involved a fast-moving combination of: \- **Air power**: Bombing cities to create chaos and fear. \- **Artillery**: Heavy guns to support ground troops. \- **Armour**: Tanks that could move quickly and penetrate defenses. \- **Infantry**: Soldiers who followed to secure areas. **Key Events:** \- The invasion lasted **five weeks**. \- The German air force bombed Polish cities, a tactic they had practiced during the **Spanish Civil War**. \- Mobile killing squads followed the army to eliminate those deemed racially or politically unacceptable. **The Phoney War** After the invasion of Poland, Britain, France, and Australia declared war on Germany on \*\*September 3, 1939\*\*. However, from \*\*October 1939 to March 1940\*\*, there was little fighting, a period known as the \*\*Phoney War\*\*. During this time, Britain and France were preparing for a larger conflict while Germany occupied Denmark and Norway. **Invasion and Occupation of Western Europe** **France** In the \*\*1930s\*\*, France built the \*\*Maginot Line\*\*, a series of fortifications along its eastern border with Germany. However, on \*\*May 10, 1940\*\*, German forces invaded France, bypassing the Maginot Line by attacking through Belgium.  \- The French army was not prepared for Blitzkrieg tactics. \- Nearly **2 million French soldiers** were taken prisoner. \- The French surrendered on **June 22, 1940**, and an armistice was signed. **Occupation of France** From **1940 to late 1942**, only northern France was occupied by German forces. After the Allies invaded North Africa, the Germans occupied the entire country. During this occupation, many French citizens either collaborated with the Nazis or tried to live normally, while French Jews faced deportation. **Belgium and the Netherlands** Both Belgium and the Netherlands remained neutral at the war\'s start. However, on **May 10, 1940**, they were invaded by Germany, which forced them to surrender by the end of the month. The occupation was strategic for Hitler, as it allowed him to plan further invasions. **Axis Powers Consolidate** Following the successful invasions, \*\*Mussolini\*\*, the leader of Italy, declared war on Britain and France on \*\*June 10, 1940\*\*, despite opposition from many Italians. He aimed to gain territory in France and planned invasions of Egypt and Greece.  On \*\*September 27, 1940\*\*, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the \*\*Tripartite Pact\*\*, pledging mutual support. Other countries, including Hungary and Romania, later joined this alliance. **The Battle of Britain** Hitler aimed to invade Britain but first needed to gain \*\*air supremacy\*\*. From \*\*July to early August 1940\*\*, the German Luftwaffe fought against the British Royal Air Force (RAF).  **Key Phases of the Battle:** 1\. **Early August to Early September**: The Luftwaffe targeted RAF Fighter Command. 2\. \*\*Early September to Early October\*\*: Major English cities, including London, were bombed in a campaign known as the \*\*Blitz\*\*. **Outcome:** \- Thousands of civilians were killed, and cities were devastated. \- Britain emerged victorious by the end of October 1940 due to:   - The bravery of RAF pilots.   - The use of new radar technology that helped intercept German planes.    This victory was seen as both a moral and strategic win for Britain, bolstered by the determination of Prime Minister **Winston Churchill**. **Invasion of the Soviet Union** **Overview** The invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany, known as Operation Barbarossa, began on June 22, 1941. This operation was crucial for Germany as it aimed to secure valuable resources like oil and grain and to acquire \"living space\" for Germans. The invasion marked a significant turning point in World War II, leading to the Soviet Union joining the Allies. **Operation Barbarossa** \- **Date Launched**: June 22, 1941 \- **Significance**: It broke the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. \- **Impact**: The Soviet Union became a key member of the Allies. **Initial German Advances** \- German forces surrounded Leningrad by September 1941, and the city remained under siege until October 1944. \- The German army reached the suburbs of Moscow but was halted by severe winter conditions and Soviet reinforcements from Siberia. **Stalin\'s Response** \- **Initial Reaction**: Stalin was overwhelmed and isolated himself for three days. \- **Leadership**: After regaining composure, he provided necessary leadership to counter the invasion. \- **Key Military Leader**: Marshal Georgy Zhukov led the Red Army with effective tactics. **Scorched Earth Policy** \- As Soviet troops retreated, they implemented a scorched earth policy, destroying resources to hinder German advances. \- Key actions included:   - Destruction of homes, factories, and crops.   - Lifting railway lines and blowing up bridges.   - Evacuating all valuable resources to prevent them from falling into German hands. **Harsh Winter Conditions** \- The winter of 1941-1942 was extremely harsh, with temperatures dropping below -40 degrees Celsius. \- German troops faced severe challenges:   - Tanks and equipment malfunctioned in the cold.   - Soldiers suffered from frostbite and starvation. **Battle of Stalingrad** \- **Timeline**: The battle lasted from August 1942 to February 1943. \- **Significance**: It was one of the most brutal battles of the war and marked a turning point. \- **Outcome**: The Red Army encircled and defeated German troops, leading to a significant shift in the war\'s momentum. **Mussolini\'s Grab for Empire: Greece** \- **Invasion of Greece**: Italy invaded Greece from Albania on October 28, 1940. \- **Resistance**: The Greek military and people resisted strongly, leading to German intervention in April 1941. \- **Outcome**: By May 1941, Greece fell under Axis control, divided among Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria. **North Africa Campaign** \- **Italian Ambitions**: Mussolini aimed to expand Italy\'s empire into Egypt. \- **Invasion**: Italian forces invaded Egypt in September 1940 but faced strong British resistance. \- **Key Battles**: The British pushed Italian forces back into Libya, but German General Erwin Rommel\'s arrival turned the tide. \- **Outcome**: Rommel\'s forces advanced deep into Egypt until they were defeated at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942. **United States Enters the War** \- **Pearl Harbor Attack**: On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, prompting the U.S. to declare war on Japan. \- **Germany\'s Declaration**: On December 11, 1941, Germany declared war on the U.S., bringing America into the European conflict. \- **Strategy**: The U.S. focused on defeating Germany first while also addressing the threat from Japan. **Allied Victory in Europe** **Italy and Greece** \- **Invasion of Sicily**: Allied forces landed in Sicily in July 1943, capturing it within a month. \- **Italian Mainland**: The invasion of the Italian mainland began in September 1943, with Rome captured in June 1944. \- **Liberation of Greece**: Allied forces liberated Greece from Axis control in late 1944. **Tehran Conference** \- **Purpose**: A meeting of Allied leaders in late 1943 to plan further military actions against Germany. \- **Agreement**: It was decided that the U.S. and Britain would launch a second front in Western Europe. **D-Day and Liberation of France** \- **D-Day Date**: June 6, 1944. \- **Operation**: Allied forces landed in Normandy, France, facing fierce German resistance. \- **Outcome**: Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944, marking a significant victory for the Allies. **Germany\'s Defeat** \- **Red Army Advances**: By mid-1944, the Red Army had recaptured Soviet territory and advanced into Eastern Europe. \- **Fall of Berlin**: The Red Army entered Berlin in April 1945, leading to Hitler\'s suicide on April 30. \- **German Surrender**: Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945, with May 8 declared VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). **Post-War Germany** \- **Division of Germany**: Following the Potsdam Conference in July 1945, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by Britain, France, the U.S., and the Soviet Union. \- **Berlin\'s Division**: Berlin, although located in the Soviet zone, was also divided among the four powers. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of key events and strategies during World War II, particularly focusing on the invasion of the Soviet Union and the subsequent battles that shaped the course of the war.