Germany at War 1939-1945 - the military war Flashcards
German military occupation of non German Czechoslovakia, March 1939:
After this, Britain and France found it hard to tolerate German expansionism and so promised to uphold Poland’s independence. When Germany attacked Poland in September 1939, Britain and France had no choice but to declare war
Germany’s initial victories
Without Britain and France directly helping Poland, they were crushed by the ‘Blitzkrieg’ which gave the Nazis access to Polish raw materials and labour, as well as aid from the USSR under the Nazi-Soviet pact.
Phoney war
Attack on the western front did not finally take place until May 1940, thus prolonging the Anglo-French ‘phoney war’. Hitler wanted to remove the threat from the west before turning east gain. Germany needed to ‘destroy’ France and make Britain accept Germany’s aspiration, they wanted to force Britain into a ‘deal’ with Germany.
The low-countries and France
The German defeat of the low-countries (Belgium and the Netherlands) and France was a triumph for Germany and it satisfied German popular opinion. Germany now bordered 3 allies - Spain, Italy and USSR.
The battle of Britain
Churchill refused negotiations with Germany, Germany needed to secure air superiority in order to invade Britain. Thus Germany’s failure to win at the battle of Britain in the autumn of 1940 was significant, but even more was Hitler’s decision to switch the military focus on the USSR.
Operation Barbarossa
It stated that German forces must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign even before the end of the war with Britain. Hitler believed strongly in the Blitzkrieg. They eventually invaded the USSR on 22 June 1941.
Was Barbarossa successful?
Initially, yes - vast tracks of Russian territory were occupied and thousands of prisoners were taken. By November 1941 they were only miles from Moscow and Leningrad.
Reason for German success?
1) France and Britain failed to take the initiative and Poland was left to fight alone.
2) Blitzkrieg rapidly outmanoeuvred all of its enemies in the first 2 years.
3) French defensive strategy was based along the Maginot line and i proved powerless in the face of the Blitzkrieg, as a result the French lost the power to resist.
4) USSR was taken by surprise and so not prepared.
Germany and the prospect of a war on two fronts?
Germany halted in December 194. The Soviets never lost the will to fight and Anglo-American aid and the onset of Russian winter combined to consolidate the eastern front. Hitler’s gamble failed and he now faced the prospect of a war on two fronts.
USA into the war?
In December 1941, Japan attacked the US military base of Pearl Harbour essentially ‘globalised’ the conflict. Hitler aligned with Japan and declared war on USA. This turned the world’s greatest industrial power against Germany - events were turning against the Fuhrer.
The ‘turn of the tide’
Despite the impact of Pearl Harbour, this was not the apparent turning point. Throughout 1942, Germany pushed through the Caucasan oil fields to capture Stalingrad, while the Afrika Korps drove the British into Egypt. The failure of these two events is seen as the turning point by contemporaries.
British victory at El Alamein and failure at Stalingrad
It led to the ejection of German forces from North Africa and the encirclement and surrender of 300,000 troops at Stalingrad marked the beginning of the Soviet counter-offensive.
German defeat?
Hitler’s military and political thinking was losing touch with reality, it was being shaped by the belief of German invincibility. By the end of 1943, Anglo-American forces had linked up well in Africa and southern Italy. Soviet forces had reconquered Ukraine after the Battle of Kursk 1943.
Effect of bombing on Germany:
caused destruction and dislocation. The war could not be one by Germany and it faces devastation unless unconditional surrender was accepted. Germany surrendered on 7-8th May after Hitler’s suicide.
What key gains did Germany made that change the continental balance of power?
1) Versailles was challenged by the creation of an airforce and the intro of conscription of 550,000.
2) Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
3) The Anschluss with Austria (union).
