Untitled Flashcards Set

1. German Expansion

Invasion of Poland (1939)

• Date: September 1, 1939

• Reason: Germany wanted more land and power.

• Strategy: Germany used Blitzkrieg (fast, surprise attacks).

• Outcome: Poland was quickly defeated, and Britain and France declared war on Germany, starting WWII.

Invasion of France (1940)

• Date: May 10, 1940

• Reason: Germany wanted to defeat France and control Western Europe.

• Strategy: Blitzkrieg again, bypassing France's defenses.

• Outcome: France was quickly defeated, and Germany took control of much of the country.

Battle of Britain (1940)

• Date: July 10 – October 31, 1940

• Reason: Germany wanted to weaken Britain and prepare for an invasion.

• Strategy: Germany bombed British cities and tried to destroy the Royal Air Force.

• Outcome: Britain defended successfully, and Hitler canceled his invasion plans.

Invasion of the USSR (1941)

• Date: June 22, 1941

• Reason: Hitler wanted more land, resources, and to destroy communism.

• Strategy: Blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union.

• Outcome: Germany made early progress, but the winter and Soviet resistance slowed them down, especially at Stalingrad.

2. Turning Points

Allied Invasion at Normandy (D-Day, 1944)

• Date: June 6, 1944

• Reason: The Allies needed to open a second front to push Germany back.

• Strategy: The Allies launched a huge attack on the coast of Normandy, France, using land, air, and sea forces.

• Outcome: The Allies successfully landed, and this started the liberation of Western Europe from Germany.

Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)

• Date: August 23, 1942 – February 2, 1943

• Reason: Hitler wanted to capture Stalingrad for resources and to weaken the Soviet Union.

• Strategy: Intense fighting, with Germany attacking and the Soviets defending fiercely.

• Outcome: Germany lost, and this marked the beginning of the Soviet counterattack toward Germany.

Summary of Key Turning Points:

• D-Day opened a second front in Western Europe, leading to the liberation of France and other countries.

• Stalingrad was a major German defeat, which started the Soviet push toward Germany.

These events changed the course of the war and led to Germany’s eventual defeat