The Axis Triumphant!

Two Theaters of Fighting

World War II occurred in two primary theaters (fronts or areas of fighting): Europe and Asia/Pacific.

Blitzkrieg!

The Germans conducted a blitzkrieg or “lightening war” against Poland – in other words, without warning, they hit Poland with all they had!

The Soviets, German allies due to the Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed in 1939, attacked Poland from the east.

Dominos Falling…..

Denmark and Norway fell quickly to Nazi power.

But the biggest shock was when France, a major ally from World War I, surrendered in 1940!

The Battle Over Britain

Having conquered mainland Europe, Hitler turned to invade Britain.

For an entire year, the German Air Force bombed Britain.

But the British had superior planes, pilots, and RADAR to beat back the Germans.

They also had designed a machine to break German codes.

Winston Churchill

Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspired the British to continue fighting and to take the war to Germany by alternative routes.

Other Places to Fight?

Fighting occurred in North Africa. Germans there were led by a man named Rommel.

The Germans wanted to control the Suez Canal and the Middle East.

By 1941, Germany had take Yugoslavia and Greece.