Key Topic 2 Flashcards
When Britain declare war on Germany?
-3rd September 1939, after Hitler invaded Poland
What were the key features of the German invasion of the low countries and France?
-On 13th May 1940, Germans landed a Blitz attack on Belgium and Holland
-Other Germans attacked France which caught the French unaware
This was because they believed the forts on the Maginot Line would stop any attacks but the Germans attacked the Ardennes
-So French resistance crumbled
Why did the BEF retreat to Dunkirk?
- French and British troops tried to move their border to protect Belgium but German troops moved across the RIver Meuse, causing troops to be separated from the rest of their army
- This became knows the ‘cut of the sickle’
- On 21st May, Lord Gort decided to evacuate his troops to Dunkirk
What were the key features of the retreat to Dunkirk/’Operation Dynamo?
- On 20th May, Hitler gave an order to halt his tanks in order for the Luftwaffe to completely destroy French and British troops- this was a mistake as this gave troops breathing space
- Began on May 27 and the evacuation lasted 9 days
- Little ships were used to pick men from the beaches and send them to larger vessels
What were the results of the Dunkirk retreat?
- In total over 300,000 men were safely evacuated
- However, 70,000 men were killed or taken prisoner during the evacuation
- Churchill turned this military defeat into a propaganda victory and coined the term the ‘Dunkirk spirit’ which became synonymous with continuing to fight on
- Huge amounts of military equipment was abandoned inc 475 tanks
What were the key features of the Battle of Britain?
1 August 1940- Hitler ordered the destruction of the RAF
From 13th August- Luftwaffe ordered full-scale attacks on radar and sector stations
-7 Sep- Hitler made a mistake and ordered the bombing of London instead of fighter bases and sector stations- this gave RAF breathing space
-15 Sep- 56 German planes were lost when they bombed London due to lack of fuel
-17 Sep- Operation Sealion was postponed
What were the Luftwaffe weaknesses (why did they lose)?
- Goering, leader of Luftwaffe, had little understanding of tactics
- Planes only limited fuel and couldn’t fly over London long enough to protect the Germans
- Germans had to fight over Britain and it was hard to find replacement pilots (they were either killed or imprisoned)
What were the RAF strengths (why did they win the Battle of Britain)?
- Two British fighter planes, the Hurricane and Spitfire were good matches for their German counterparts, The Messerschmitt 109
- The British had radar which was used to track German planes
- Air Chief Marshall Dowsing was an accomplished and experienced commander
- British were fighting over their own territory
What was the importance of the Battle of Britain?
- It was Hitler’s first real defeat- showed that Germans were weak in drawn-out conflict
- It was a morale booster for the British public
- USA was prepared to ‘lend’ Britain equipment during the duration of the war
How did the Allies prepare for the invasion of Normandy?
- The allies deceived Germany that attack would take place in Pas de Calais (Operation Fortitude)
- Allies took countless photos on Normandy and used postcards of Normandy sent in by the British
- 100,000s of troops from Allied countries were carried over to Britain
- They gained aerial superiority by bombing Luftwaffe bases
- Floating harbours (aka Mulberries) were constructed and an underwater pipeline (PLUTO) in order for materials to be delivered
Why did they chose Normandy as the site of the invasion?
-They chose the site of Normandy because it didn’t has a port and it wasn’t as heavily defended as Pas de Calais and Brittany
What were the key events of the D-day invasions/Operation Overlord? (6th June 1944)
- US landed 15,500 airborne troops and 7900 British troops landed and hid behind enemy lines
- Their job was to secure key bridges
- British and Canadians captured Juno, Sword and Gold beaches with little resistance
- USA received high resistance at the Ohama beach with 2000 casualties
- By the end of the day, 156,000 troops had landed in Normandy
Why was the Allies positions improved on 27 June 1944?
The Port of Cherbourg was taken
-They now had a deep water port and didn’t gave to rely on Mulberries
What was Operation Market Garden? (September 1944)
- Plan by Marshal Montgomery to end the war quickly to stop supply issues
- Plan was to secure key Rhine Bridges so the Allied forces could advance and skirt around German defences
Why did Operation Market Garden fail?
- Rhine bridge at Arnhem was not taken
- Bad weather
- Poor radio communication
- Poor intelligence- failed to detect Panzer Corps
