Spineless Democracies? Appeasement Italian War The year is 1935, and Mussolini wants to re-establish the glories of Rome, and hopes to use the invasion of Ethiopia to help prove Italian military might. Ethiopia had previously beaten Italy in the 19th century, but Mussolini is confident of Italian strength and will defeat the Ethiopian forces and annex the country for the Italian empire. Italy the campaign goes very poorly initially, and could result in military defeat. What do you plan to do?
German Rearmament The year is 1936, and the Treaty of Versailles only allows Germany to maintain a defensive force of 100,000 men in the Wehrmacht. Germany is not allowed to have tanks, an air force, or militarized navy. Germany must keep the boarder region of the Rhineland unprotected by any military force. Spanish Civil War It s 1936, and a Civil War has broken out in Spain between the Popular Front (Communists), Royalist forces (support the Monarchy), and the Fascists led by the Caudillo, Francisco Franco. All sides of the conflict are seeking international support and military aid. Alliances Fascism around Europe feels the threat of international communism, and fears a Bolshevik take over. The Soviet Union also poses a significant threat militarily to Europe, particularly the Fascist states. The Soviets have already proven through their military support of the Popular Front in Spain their willingness to support Communist allies around Europe to overthrow regimes.
Anschluss The year is 1938, and the Austrian National Socialist Party is a strong proponent of the Heim ins Reich (Home into the Empire) Movement, which seeks unity ( Anschluss ) with Germany. The Austrian government, led by Kurt Schuschnigg, opposes this idea and hopes to maintain its autonomy. The Austrian Nazis staged a coup in April 1938 and has invited the German Wehrmacht to annex the territory. Hakko Ichiu The Japanese war machine needs resources, and the Japanese have begun a massive land invasion of Korea, Manchuria, and China. The Japanese military has taken millions of prisoners, murdered civilians in the Rape of Nanking and other atrocities, and we have reports that they are working on biological and chemical weaponry.
Sudetenland It is the fall of 1938, and Hitler has proposed a German seizure of the Sudetenland, an former territory of Germany that was taken by the Treaty of Versailles and given to Czechoslovakia. Hitler is preparing to take the region by force, and the Czechs are depending upon their allies of Great Britain and France to militarily support them if war results. Polish Corridor It is the fall of 1939, and Hitler wants to reclaim the lost Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig. Hitler fears that an invasion of Poland could ignite another two front war. Germany What can you do to avoid a two front war? Italy Would you support Germany if a war erupted between Germany and the Allies? Great Britain, France, USA Should Hitler be stopped? What do you plan to do? USSR Would you be prepared to start a war against Germany? What options might you pursue?
Ribbentrop-Molotov Mutual Non-Aggression Pact Spineless Democracies? The Blitzkrieg Legend
Interpreting Blitzkrieg Previous Historiography of WWII: Blitzkrieg = overall German strategy, bent on world domination Foreign & Domestic implication of Blitzkrieg = rapid mobilization of war machine and homefront, quick victory Blitzkrieg demonstrates dominance of German war machine over Western powers Time Magazine on the invasion of Poland, Sept 1939: This was no war of occupation, but a war of quick penetration and obliteration - Blitzkrieg, lightning war. French Supreme Commander Gamelin, May 1940: The French Army was defeated due to three reasons - Inferiority of numbers, inferiority of equipment, inferiority of method. Questions: Was the German war machine truly unstoppable? Was Blitzkrieg truly the strategy that defeated the Allies in June 1940? The Great War as Teacher Allied Lessons Learned: Maginot Mentality Air force for recon. and strategic bombing Large, slow tanks Defensive, attritional German Lessons Learned: Stoßtrupp-Taktik Luftwaffe clear resistance, level barriers, surprise Paratroopers disrupt communications Small tanks (Panzers) w/ radios & large fuel capacity punch holes, rapid mobilization Half-tracks/Motorcycles rapid mobilization MUST be a war of movement
Lightning Strikes Sept 1, 1939 Invasion of Poland Poland falls in 3 weeks Soviets invade Finland Next 6 months = Phony War Invasion of France delayed Norway & Sweden, April 1940 Allied Strategy defense/attrition Maginot Line, minimize loss of life Invasion of France (May 1940) Operation Sickle Cut (Manstein) Ardennes, attack at Sedan Encirclement (Rommel & Guderian) Paris falls w/in 6 weeks Miracle of Dunkirk 1 million Allied soldiers surrounded German decision to halt = flank psychosis and Hitler s power Operation Dynamo Rescue of 340K BEF The Hinge of Fate
Lightning Strikes Battle of Britain Hitler s Luftwaffe Targets = BOTH industry & civilians Lightning Strikes Nazi Invasion of USSR (June 1941) Operation Barbarossa Purposes: Lebensraum Knock out Soviet Union w/ preemptive strike Blitzkrieg as strategy Lightning Strikes
Problems: Mediterranean Theater Italians fail in Greece Yugoslavian quagmire Libya & Egypt Result = delays Eastern push Eastern Theater (Barbarossa) German supply lines/organization not prepared Raputitsa to Zima Lightning Strikes