OVERVIEW
Hitler and Stalin created a non-aggression pact(1933) that promised both of them extra land. The main agreement was to split Poland between the two of them. Hitler promised Stalin some of Poland and all of the Baltic states, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Hitler quickly carried out his plan to take over Polan, launching a surprise attack one week later. He dispatched around two million soldiers in addition to warplanes with numerous bombs. Using the "blitzkrieg" method, all German forces moved swiftly at once creating the Lightning War. The Allies (Great Britain and France) declared war on Germany two days later. This was the start of World War Two. Fortunately for Hitler, Poland fell almost a month before the Allies cold help. Hitler took about half of Poland (Western half). Stalin took the other half, and the Baltic Countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia). They all fell quickly, but Finland fought back (The Finns attacked on skis, while the Soviets struggled because of snow. They eventually won because of their mass number of soldiers.) After all of this, there was a month of calm because both sides were waited for the other to attack. Growing tired, Hitler conquered Denmark (several hours) and Norway (a few months). He was going to use this extra territory to take out France, then Great Britain. Now having Germany, part of the Czech Republic, half of Poland, and Denmark and Norway, he took Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Ten days later, his forces reached the coast of France. Hitler used the territories to trap the Allies, who fled to Dunkirk (a port city in France) in order to escape to Great Britain. A week later, Mussolini (Italy's dictator, friend of Hitler) joined in and declared war on the Allies. Two weeks later, France surrendered.
Hitler and Stalin created a non-aggression pact(1933) that promised both of them extra land. The main agreement was to split Poland between the two of them. Hitler promised Stalin some of Poland and all of the Baltic states, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Hitler quickly carried out his plan to take over Polan, launching a surprise attack one week later. He dispatched around two million soldiers in addition to warplanes with numerous bombs. Using the "blitzkrieg" method, all German forces moved swiftly at once creating the Lightning War. The Allies (Great Britain and France) declared war on Germany two days later. This was the start of World War Two. Fortunately for Hitler, Poland fell almost a month before the Allies cold help. Hitler took about half of Poland (Western half). Stalin took the other half, and the Baltic Countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia). They all fell quickly, but Finland fought back (The Finns attacked on skis, while the Soviets struggled because of snow. They eventually won because of their mass number of soldiers.) After all of this, there was a month of calm because both sides were waited for the other to attack. Growing tired, Hitler conquered Denmark (several hours) and Norway (a few months). He was going to use this extra territory to take out France, then Great Britain. Now having Germany, part of the Czech Republic, half of Poland, and Denmark and Norway, he took Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Ten days later, his forces reached the coast of France. Hitler used the territories to trap the Allies, who fled to Dunkirk (a port city in France) in order to escape to Great Britain. A week later, Mussolini (Italy's dictator, friend of Hitler) joined in and declared war on the Allies. Two weeks later, France surrendered.
ARTICLES
- Blitzkrieg How the Blitzkrieg was developed. The idea of Blitzkrieg was years in the making. "The German military, bound by severe post-war limitations, was practically forced to develop the most efficient new tactics, which naturally involved using tanks and aircraft for mobile ground warfare. It also learned from and improved over the ideas of British military theoreticians, mainly Basil Liddell-Hart, which openly published their new ideas about fast and deep armor advancement as the future combat tactic."
- Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) Explanation of the Blitzkrieg. Hitler's battle plan was brilliant...until it failed. "Germany's strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns. Germany quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on a new military tactic called the "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war). Blitzkrieg tactics required the concentration of offensive weapons (such as tanks, planes, and artillery) along a narrow front."
- Blitzkrieg Explanation of the Blitzkrieg. The history of the Blitzkrieg in Europe. "A German term for “lightning war,” blitzkrieg is a military tactic designed to create disorganization among enemy forces through the use of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower."
- War Begins Overview of WWII. "The key to Germany's success was a new military strategy known as blitzkrieg (lightning war). Blitzkrieg stressed speed, force, and surprise; Germany ripped through its adversary's defenses by closely coordinating air power and mechanized ground forces."
- Second World War: The Storm of War Explains the German tactics and thoughts during the Blitzkrieg of Poland. "The German army’s training, discipline and Blitzkrieg tactics – directed by the supremely confident Führer – swept away Polish resistance in 1939. It took the shell-shocked Allies another three years to catch up."
- The Twentieth Century World (pg 34) Explains where the Germans used the new technique of the Blitzkrieg in Europe. "German dive-bombers and low-flying fighter planes and armoured divisions smashed into Poland. This was Hitler's 'lightning war', or blitzkrieg."
- Hitler Pushes East Explains the causes and effects of Poland's destruction, therefore the beginning of World War Two. "Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, with a brutally fast attack known as a blitzkrieg (a combination of two German words meaning “lightning war”) in which the enemy is hit with ruthless speed and efficiency with multiple methods of attack in an effort to destroy it before an effective defense can be mounted."
- Blitzkrieg, 1940 Talks about the Germans going West with their new army techniques. "Civilians and French troops, their faces distorted with terror, lay huddled in the ditches, alongside hedges and in every hollow beside the road. "
- 1939-1940: Blitzkrieg talks about all of the places that Hitler used the Blitzkrieg technique on. "From the invasion of Poland (September 1939) into the spring of 1940, France waited behind the mighty Maginot Line with an army that on paper was the strongest in Europe. During this "Phony War" or "Sitzkrieg" the French hoped they were not on Hitler's list, but were confident they could win if challenged by the Germans. Not until the debacle in Belgium did the French wake to the dimensions of their danger. "
- Blitzkrieg Gives a very brief history of the use of the Blitzkrieg. "German forces attacking Poland used fast, hard-hitting tank units, aided by dive bombers, to break through the enemy's defenses and to open gaps for motorized infantry to pour through. The object was to attack so swiftly and penetrate so deeply that the enemy would be unable to recover."
Videos
Primary Source Documents
Bombed out in the London Blitz explains a woman's experience in London during the Blitzkrieg. "The night I was bombed out lots of people were sleeping in the tube (underground railway) after the last rain had gone. When the bomb dropped I wasn't even under the table! There was a tremendous BANG! and I ducked. All the windows came in and the ceiling and a couple of walls came in and there was incredible smoke everywhere. I was shaking like a leaf but I wasn't hurt. "
Operation Barbarossa explains Stalin's radio-broadcast about fighting back Hitler. "blow up bridges and roads, damage telephone and
telegraph lines, set fire to forests, stores and transport. In occupied regions conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy and all his accomplices. They must be hounded and annihilated at every step, and all their measures frustrated"
1943: Italy's surrender announced is a news report by the BBC. "The Italian forces will cease all acts of hostilities against the Anglo-American forces, wherever they may be. They will, however, oppose attacks of any other forces."
Bombed out in the London Blitz explains a woman's experience in London during the Blitzkrieg. "The night I was bombed out lots of people were sleeping in the tube (underground railway) after the last rain had gone. When the bomb dropped I wasn't even under the table! There was a tremendous BANG! and I ducked. All the windows came in and the ceiling and a couple of walls came in and there was incredible smoke everywhere. I was shaking like a leaf but I wasn't hurt. "
Operation Barbarossa explains Stalin's radio-broadcast about fighting back Hitler. "blow up bridges and roads, damage telephone and
telegraph lines, set fire to forests, stores and transport. In occupied regions conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy and all his accomplices. They must be hounded and annihilated at every step, and all their measures frustrated"
1943: Italy's surrender announced is a news report by the BBC. "The Italian forces will cease all acts of hostilities against the Anglo-American forces, wherever they may be. They will, however, oppose attacks of any other forces."
Maps