27.2 Fall of Poland and France Flashcards
Why did Hitler want Poland?
-Polish corridor (access t Baltic sea)
-Poland’s resources
-resentful of former German provinces lost to Poland under treaty of Versailles.
What was the German Army’s tactic when invading Poland?
Blitzkrieg
Explain Blitzkrieg
“lightning war”
a surprise and speed tactic that began with
1. heavy bombing by luftwaffe to destroy military units, factories, railways and bridges.
2. Panzer tanks attack defending units
3. Infantry troops tackle any remaining resistance.
Within how many weeks was Poland defeated
5
Who was Poland split between
Hitler and Stalin
-Nazi- Soviet Agreement the secret clause
What was the Maginot line
System of fortification along the French- German border
What was the phoney war?
Sep 1939 - May 1940
When a state of war exists but no fighting occurs.
(British Expeditionary force BEF vs. German Army)
Who replaced Chamberlain as Prime minister?
Winston Churchill
When did the attack on Belgium, France and Netherlands begin?
10 May 1940
How did Ther German Army avoid the Maginot Line?
-Using Blitzkrieg tactics
- Using panzers they rolled through the ardennes which French had thought impossible to cross.
What was Operation Dynamo
BEF were pushed back to Dunkirk and trapped
- over nine days, 900 boats
- The allied evacuation of 350,000 soldiers from beaches at Dunkirk.
What was Vichy France?
Unoccupied “free zone” that was controlled by a puppet govt. (Nazis) in Vichy.
-Leader was Phillipe Pétain
What part of France did Geramny control?
The north
