WORLD WAR II Chapter 30.2
HITLER S EARLY VICTORIES Early 1940, German blitzkrieg breaks through French defense in the Ardennes Forest Germans trapped French troops and entire British army at beaches of Dunkirk 340,000 British/French troops evacuate Dunkirk; major failure for Germany *Why did Germany let them go?
FRANCE SURRENDERS France signed armistice in June, 1940 ½ of France is German occupied ½ of France is free, known as Vichy France Vichy France was led by French war hero that collaborated with Nazis official French gov t Free France operated from London and continued to support the Allies
Before the Nazis ever demanded the Vichy government participate in anti-semitic policies, the French had enacted policies that removed Jews from civil service and began seizing Jewish property. The Vichy French government participated willingly in the deportations and did most of the arresting The arrests of foreign Jews often involved separating families from their children, sometimes in broad daylight, and it had a very powerful effect on public opinion and began to turn opinion against Pétain. Smithsonian.com
One particularly notable roundup was July 1942 s Vel d Hiv, the largest deportation of Jews from France that would occur during the war. Among the 13,000 Jews arrested and deported to Auschwitz were 4,000 children removed with their parents for humanitarian reasons, according to French Prime Minister Pierre Laval. If they stayed behind, he reasoned, who would care for them? All told, the Vichy regime helped deport 75,721 Jewish refugees and French citizens to death camps, according to the BBC. Smithsonian.com
As France has slowly come to terms with its role in the Holocaust and the willing collaboration of the Vichy government, citizens have struggled with what that legacy means for them. It wasn t until 1995 that a French president (Jacques Chirac) acknowledged the state s role. It s an extremely emotional burden on the French people [Vichy] is seen more negatively than before and affects almost every French family whose grandparents either supported it or held office. More recently, French president Emmanuel Macron gave a speech on France s role in the genocide, denouncing his political opponents on the far right who dismiss the Vichy government. It is convenient to see the Vichy regime as born of nothingness, returned to nothingness. Yes, it s convenient, but it is false. We cannot build pride upon a lie, Macron said in July. Smithsonian.com
BATTLE OF BRITAIN Hitler launches massive bombing raid of Britain British RAF fought back using radar to detect German planes early Still suffered major losses Hitler began targeting British cities instead of military bases; hoped to crush morale Allowed RAF to rebuild and heavily damage Luftwaffe
ATTACK ON THE SOVIET UNION Hitler believed Soviet Union was weak, could be defeated before winter began Operation Barbarossa launched June 1941 to invade USSR Germans push 500 miles into USSR Soviets retreat and scorch everything Germans halted 25 miles from Stalingrad due to early winter, fierce resistance Battle of Stalingrad: turning point of WWII; bloodiest battle in human history German army badly damaged; proven to NOT be invincible
Regardless of the strategic implications, there is little doubt about Stalingrad's symbolism. Germany's defeat shattered its reputation for invincibility and dealt a devastating blow to German morale. On 30 January 1943, the tenth anniversary of his coming to power, Hitler chose not to speak. Joseph Goebbels read the text of his speech for him on the radio. The speech contained an oblique reference to the battle, which suggested that Germany was now in a defensive war. The public mood was sullen, depressed, fearful, and war-weary. Germany was looking in the face of defeat. The reverse was the case on the Soviet side. There was an overwhelming surge in confidence and belief in victory. A common saying was: "You cannot stop an army which has done Stalingrad." Stalin was feted as the hero of the hour and made a Marshal of the Soviet Union. The news of the battle echoed round the world, with many people now believing that Hitler's defeat was inevitable.
1,000 deaths