💣European History – 1890 to 1945 Unit 11 – World War II in Europe – 1939–1941

Key Events and Timeline

• September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe
• September 3, 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland
• April 9, 1940: Germany invades Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung to secure access to the Atlantic and protect iron ore shipments from Sweden
  • Denmark surrenders within a few hours, while Norway continues to resist with Allied support until June 10, 1940
• May 10, 1940: Germany launches a major offensive against Western Europe, invading the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
  • The same day, Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• May 26, 1940: The Allies begin the evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo), rescuing over 330,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of France
• June 10, 1940: Italy enters the war on the side of Germany, declaring war on France and Britain
• June 14, 1940: Paris falls to the German forces, and the French government relocates to Bordeaux
• June 22, 1940: France signs an armistice with Germany, effectively surrendering and dividing the country into the German-occupied zone and the Vichy France regime
• July 10, 1940: The Battle of Britain begins as the German Luftwaffe launches air raids against the United Kingdom
  • The battle lasts until October 31, 1940, with the British Royal Air Force successfully defending against the German attacks
• September 27, 1940: Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact, forming the Axis alliance
• October 28, 1940: Italy invades Greece from Albania, but the Greek Army successfully resists the invasion
• April 6, 1941: Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece to support the struggling Italian forces
  • Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17, and Greece falls on April 23, 1941
• June 22, 1941: Germany launches Operation Barbarossa, the massive invasion of the Soviet Union, breaking the non-aggression pact between the two countries

Major Powers and Alliances

• Axis Powers:
  • Germany (Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler)
  • Italy (Fascist Italy led by Benito Mussolini)
  • Japan (Empire of Japan)
  • Other Axis-aligned nations include Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia
• Allied Powers:
  • United Kingdom (led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain until May 10, 1940, then Winston Churchill)
  • France (Third French Republic, later Vichy France after the armistice with Germany)
  • Soviet Union (USSR led by Joseph Stalin, joined the Allies after the German invasion in June 1941)
  • United States (initially neutral, providing material support to the Allies through the Lend-Lease Act, and later joining the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941)
• Neutral Powers:
  • Spain (under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco)
  • Sweden (maintained neutrality throughout the war)
  • Switzerland (neutral, but heavily influenced by Germany due to its geographical location)
  • Turkey (remained neutral until February 1945)

Causes and Buildup

• Rise of fascism and totalitarianism in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in Germany (Nazi Party) and Italy (Fascist Party)
• Aftermath of World War I and the perceived injustices of the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh reparations and territorial losses on Germany
  • This fueled German resentment and nationalist sentiments
• Failure of the League of Nations to maintain international peace and security, as it lacked the power to enforce its decisions
• Appeasement policy adopted by Western European nations, particularly Britain and France, in an attempt to avoid another major war
  • This included concessions to German territorial demands (Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland) in the hope of satisfying Hitler's ambitions
• German rearmament and military buildup during the 1930s, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles
• Formation of the Axis alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the aggressive expansionist policies pursued by these nations
  • Germany's Lebensraum (living space) ideology and the goal of establishing a "New Order" in Europe
  • Italy's desire to create a "New Roman Empire" in the Mediterranean
  • Japan's ambition to dominate East Asia and establish the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"
• Signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact) in August 1939, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence
  • This pact allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention, setting the stage for the outbreak of World War II in Europe

Military Strategies and Tactics

• Blitzkrieg (lightning war): A German military strategy emphasizing rapid, coordinated attacks using concentrated armored forces, air support, and infantry to quickly overwhelm the enemy
  • Employed successfully in the invasions of Poland, Western Europe, and the early stages of the Soviet campaign
• Combined arms warfare: The integration of infantry, armor, artillery, and air power to achieve a synergistic effect on the battlefield
• Dive bombing: A tactic used by the German Luftwaffe, involving aircraft (such as the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka) diving steeply to deliver bombs with high accuracy
  • Played a crucial role in the success of the Blitzkrieg, as it provided close air support to ground forces
• Submarine warfare: German U-boats (submarines) targeted Allied shipping in the Atlantic Ocean to disrupt supply lines and weaken the British war effort
  • The Battle of the Atlantic was a prolonged campaign to control the vital shipping routes between North America and Europe
• Aerial warfare: The Battle of Britain showcased the importance of air power, with the British Royal Air Force defending against the German Luftwaffe's attempts to establish air superiority
  • Radar technology and the integrated air defense system played a crucial role in the British success
• Scorched earth tactics: Employed by the Soviet Union during the German invasion, involving the destruction of infrastructure, resources, and supplies to deny their use to the advancing enemy
• Partisan and resistance movements: Organized groups in occupied territories that engaged in guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and intelligence gathering to undermine the Axis forces
  • Notable examples include the French Resistance, Yugoslav Partisans, and Polish Home Army

Significant Battles and Campaigns

• Invasion of Poland (September 1-October 6, 1939): Germany's swift conquest of Poland, employing Blitzkrieg tactics and marking the beginning of World War II in Europe
  • The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, as per the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• Battle of France (May 10-June 25, 1940): Germany's successful invasion of Western Europe, resulting in the fall of France and the establishment of the Vichy France regime
  • The Allied evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) saved a significant portion of the British Expeditionary Force
• Battle of Britain (July 10-October 31, 1940): A major air campaign in which the German Luftwaffe attempted to gain air superiority over the British Royal Air Force
  • British victory thwarted Germany's plans for an amphibious invasion (Operation Sea Lion) and demonstrated the importance of radar and fighter command
• North African Campaign (June 10, 1940-May 16, 1943): A series of battles in the deserts of North Africa between the Axis forces (Germany and Italy) and the Allies (primarily British and Commonwealth troops)
  • Key battles include the Siege of Tobruk, Operation Crusader, and the two Battles of El Alamein
• Balkan Campaign (October 28, 1940-June 1, 1941): The Axis invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia, resulting in the occupation of both countries
  • The Greek victory against the initial Italian invasion forced Germany to intervene, delaying the planned invasion of the Soviet Union
• Operation Barbarossa (June 22-December 5, 1941): Germany's massive invasion of the Soviet Union, which ultimately proved to be a turning point in the war
  • The Axis advance was halted by the Soviet resistance, harsh winter conditions, and overextended supply lines
  • Key battles include the Siege of Leningrad, Battle of Moscow, and Battle of Kiev

Political and Diplomatic Developments

• Formation of the Axis alliance (1936-1940): The alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan was formalized through the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936), the Anti-Comintern Pact (1936), and the Tripartite Pact (1940)
• Munich Agreement (September 30, 1938): A settlement reached by Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia
  • The agreement is often seen as a prime example of the appeasement policy and its failure to prevent further German aggression
• Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (August 23, 1939): The non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence
  • The pact allowed Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention
• Lend-Lease Act (March 11, 1941): A program established by the United States to provide material aid to the Allies, particularly the United Kingdom and later the Soviet Union, without directly entering the war
• Atlantic Charter (August 14, 1941): A joint declaration by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, outlining their vision for the post-war world
  • The charter emphasized the principles of self-determination, economic cooperation, and collective security
• Establishment of the Vichy France regime (July 10, 1940): Following the French surrender, a collaborationist government was established in the unoccupied southern part of France, led by Marshal Philippe Pétain
  • Vichy France adopted policies aligned with Nazi Germany and participated in the persecution of Jews and other targeted groups

Home Front and Civilian Impact

• Rationing and resource allocation: Governments implemented rationing systems to manage scarce resources and ensure an adequate supply of essential goods for both civilians and the military
  • This included food, fuel, clothing, and other materials critical to the war effort
• Mobilization of women in the workforce: As men were conscripted into the armed forces, women took on roles in factories, agriculture, and other sectors to support the war effort
  • Examples include "Rosie the Riveter" in the United States and the Women's Land Army in the United Kingdom
• Evacuation and displacement: Civilians, particularly children, were evacuated from cities to rural areas to protect them from aerial bombing and potential invasion
  • In Britain, Operation Pied Piper saw the evacuation of millions of children to the countryside
• Air raid precautions and shelters: Governments implemented measures to protect civilians from aerial bombing, such as blackouts, air raid sirens, and the construction of public shelters
  • The London Underground stations served as improvised bomb shelters during the Blitz
• Propaganda and morale: Governments employed propaganda to maintain public support for the war effort, boost morale, and demonize the enemy
  • Posters, films, and radio broadcasts were used to disseminate messages and shape public opinion
• Resistance and collaboration: In occupied territories, civilians faced the choice between resistance and collaboration with the occupying forces
  • Resistance movements engaged in sabotage, intelligence gathering, and assisting Allied personnel, while collaborators cooperated with the occupiers for various reasons, including ideology, self-preservation, or personal gain

Technological and Logistical Advancements

• Radar: The development and use of radar technology played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain, allowing the British to detect and intercept incoming German aircraft
  • Radar also proved valuable in naval warfare, helping ships detect enemy vessels and submarines
• Sonar: The use of sound navigation and ranging (sonar) technology improved the ability of ships to detect and track submarines underwater
  • This was particularly important in the Battle of the Atlantic, as Allied convoys sought to protect themselves from German U-boat attacks
• Enigma and codebreaking: The German military used the Enigma machine to encrypt their communications, believing it to be unbreakable
  • British codebreakers at Bletchley Park, led by mathematician Alan Turing, successfully decrypted Enigma messages, providing valuable intelligence to the Allies
• Advances in aircraft design: The war saw the development of more advanced aircraft, such as the British Spitfire and Hurricane fighters, the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, and the American P-51 Mustang
  • These aircraft featured improved speed, maneuverability, and armament compared to their predecessors
• Logistical challenges and innovations: The scale of the war required the efficient movement of troops, equipment, and supplies across vast distances
  • Innovations such as the standardization of parts, the use of prefabricated components, and the development of supply chain management techniques helped streamline logistics
• Advancements in medicine and surgery: The war drove advancements in medical technology and techniques, including the mass production of penicillin, the use of blood plasma transfusions, and the development of more effective surgical procedures
  • These advancements helped reduce mortality rates among wounded soldiers and civilians
• Rocketry and guided missiles: Germany developed advanced rocket technology, such as the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket, which were used to attack Allied cities in the later stages of the war
  • These developments laid the foundation for post-war rocketry and space exploration programs