September 1939 o War broke out in Europe (what Hitler always wanted) o Hitler also served in WWI Served

d in German army, wounded numerous times in the trenches o Did not want WWII to be a repeat of WWI, (no more trench warfare) German losses will be too high War would drag on in stalemates and ruin the economy He knew long drawn out struggles would cost lives and would not be popular with people o Hitler wanted to win battles quickly o After becoming chancellor, Hitler watch military exercise videos of heinz guderian (colonel) Figured out ways to make use to new and improved technology Many generals believed Guderian's ideas would not work o Hitler however saw his exercises and thought that it would work It's exactly what he has been looking for A way to change warfare Avoid trench warfares To win quickly and spectacular victories at relatively low costs o Supported Guerian (who became general) and put his ideas to war o Guderian's new ideas- aka Blitzkrieg [lightening war] Published book called octon Explained in book was center of division in German army called panser division Take advantage of new and improved military tech Would not rely on trains/horses to move soldiers and supplies Instead, they would be carried by trucks Artillery and anti-aircraft guns would be carried by trucks Most important weapon---TANK Move 25 miles per hour Go more than 100 miles with tank of gas Could not be stopped by trenches Plow right through barbed wire Bullets fired by machine gun could not go through Tanks could jump over trench Weapon to ensure no more trench fights Another important weapon--- GERMAN DIVE BOMBERS Airplane tech improved dramatically Planes used as aerial artillery Used to bomb people behind lines Attach wailing sounds to bombs Make use of all new technology o British and French also had new technology but didn't know how to use them Warfare was always linear Generals always wanted to keep lines in tacked o Guderian wants to: Mass together tanks, planes, trucks in one spot and use massive firepower to punch holes in enemy lines Keep going and disperse, after breakthrough happens just run through

Guderian said that they will move so fast that no other country would know where they are But frighten enemies and make them panic and enemy will fall apart September 1939 war begins o When Germany attacks Poland o Poland had no tanks but more men than Germany (less military equipment) o Put almost all guys up against frontier between Germany and Poland Germans divide army into 2 large separate groups o When battle begins, German army crashes through Poland lines and kept on going Within 4 weeks, Poland surrendered o Germans only lost 150 soldiers After, British and French declared war on Germany o While Hitler was fighting Poland, British and French did nothing British and French were convinced that WWII would be exactly like WWI o WWII would be characterized by trench warfares o French built "super-trench" maginot line (named after a general who decided that it was a good idea) o Trench was built so French soldiers could live in there for months with relative comfort o Maginot line defended Germany better than it defended French Soldiers were too afraid to leave trenches, giving Germans more time to plan attacks Germans made new plan-o Divide army into 3 o Against Netherlands and Belgium, right down middle between Belgium and France, and other was against Maginot line Belgium and France- Ardennes forest French were convinced that this forest was impenetrable French were convinced that German soldiers, tanks, and trucks would not be able to get through Ardennes [even though roads and highways were going through the forest] May 1940 o Attack on Belgium o Took Western allies by surprise Most were done by sneak attack Germans launch attack Start going through Ardennes o Allies are so concerned with what is going on in the North that they don't pay attention to Ardennes o British hop on boats and return to Britain, leaving French o After 6 weeks of fighting, French surrenders o Hitler had French sign peace treaty in same place where Britain signed their treaty o Middle of 1940, Germans conquered a lot of empires o Only one country still fought against Germany---new leader (Churchill)

Poland 1939 Guderian Blitzkrieg Achtung Pazerl France 1940

Maginot Ardennes