Fall of France and Battle of Britain

Fall of France and Battle of Britain

Multiple Select

Recap- Which of these countries were part of the Axis Powers?? (Mark all that apply)

• Great Britain

• Germany

• Soviet Union

• Italy

• Japan

The Maginot Line

The Maginot Line

• Series of fortifications built by France along the France and German border

• German invasion through the Line practically impossible

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMPkVRfWc04&ab_channel=SimpleHistory

Maginot Line Defenses

Maginot Line Fort

Multiple Choice

What was the Maginot Line??

• A line of fortress and bases along the French and German border

• A line of fortresses and bases along the French and British Border

• A series of canals in Italy

• A line of German tanks that invaded France

Blitzkrieg

• German words that mean "Lightning War"

• When you attack your opponent before they get a chance to defend themselves

Multiple Choice

What does the term Blitzkrieg mean????

• Fast Attack

• Slow Push

• Lightning War

• Quick Battle

German Invasion of France

The Ardennes Forest

• France said the Ardennes forest was "Impenetrable" meaning Germany could not go through it

• Germany went through it and surrounded the French army

• France was not prepared

• https://youtu.be/LAGZpJ8FCaU?t=1601

Battle of France

• The Germans sent their tanks through the Ardennes Forest and surrounded the Allies( France & Britain)

• The German would push in on the Allies forcing them to the coast where they would be stuck at Dunkirk

Dunkirk

• over 400,000 soldiers were stuck on the beaches in Dunkirk and the Germans were closing in

• However, Hitler ordered his tanks to stop so that the infantry(foot soldiers) could catch up

• This pause gave the Allies a chance...

Luftwaffe

• German Airforce

• Hitler used a new type of plane called a Dive Bomber to attack the soldiers stuck on the beach

• Very effective and caused fear in the Allied soldiers

• https://youtu.be/2W3KDB0yHYM

Operation Dynamo

• The Allied leader used ever boat they had and asked the citizens to use any boat they could find.

• The boats crossed the English Channel in the cover of Darkness and rescued Over 338,000 soldiers

• Over 338,000 soldiers were saved

• https://youtu.be/ZOrx1WqgmUU

Miracle of Dunkirk

Multiple Choice

Who did the Allies get help from to rescue the soldiers stuck on the beaches at Dunkirk??

• Russians

• State Police

• Ordinary Citizens

• Resistance Fighters

Multiple Choice

Why did Adolf Hitler halt his tanks from closing in on the Allies??

• To allow time for the Allies to build up a good defense

• He had to resupply his tanks with gasoline

• His tanks got stuck in mud and could go not further

• To let his infantry catch up before attacking them

France Surrenders

• Soon after the Miracle of Dunkirk, France surrenders to Germany and Great Britain is alone fighting the Axis Powers

• Now with France under Germany control Hitler turns his attention North to Britain

The Blitz

• The Germans had a problem. Britain is an island country and water lies between it and France.

• Hitler could not use his Blitzkrieg strategy to overrun Great Britain so her turned to bombing using the Luftwaffe

The Battle of Britain

• The Battle of Britain in World War II was between Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe, Nazi Germany’s air force, and was the first battle in history fought solely in the air.

• July 10 through October 31, 1940

• https://youtu.be/DTk4DU46WDQ

British Victory

• Hitler spread his Luftwaffe out to far and although the Germans had a scary aiforce, they could could not keep up with the superior technology of the British planes

• Eventually Hitler withdrew his Luftwaffe and gave the British a huge victory

• If Britain would have lost then Germany would have invaded Britain

Multiple Choice

Who won the Battle of Britain

• Germany

• France

• Russia

• Great Britain

Multiple Choice

Why was the Battle of Britain Important?

• Germany would have invaded Great Britain if the won.

• Great Britain would have invaded Germany

• The USA would have never entered the war

• The Soviet Union would have never join the Allies

Poll

How well do you know the content that we talked about today?

• I got it down pat and could explain it with no problem

• I know some of it and could explain some of the key details

• I know little and cannot explain it very well.

• I am still confused.