The document summarizes key events in World War 2 from 1939-1941. It describes Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 starting the war, followed by the Soviet Union also invading Poland. This led to a "Phony War" period with little action on the Western Front. In May 1940, Germany invaded France through Belgium and the Netherlands, leading to the British evacuation at Dunkirk. France surrendered to Germany in June 1940, becoming occupied in the north and controlled by a collaborationist government in the south. The document also outlines Winston Churchill replacing Chamberlain as British Prime Minister and continuing the fight despite the fall of France.

1. WORLD WAR II The Beginning: 1939-1941

2. End of Appeasement March 1939 – Germany seizes control of remaining part of Czechoslovakia Czech portions (Bohemia & Moravia) absorbed into Germany Remainde4r becomes dependent nation of Slovakia France & Britain embarrassed at final failure of appeasement

3. Poland – The next victim? Versailles Treaty – German city of Danzig declared a free city and placed under Leagoe of Nations Control German province of East Prussia separated from German to alloy Polish access to Baltic Sea Summer 1939 – Hitler demands access to land route to East Prussia – a “Polish Corridor”

4. Poland – The next victim? France & Britain sign alliances with Poland, pledging to defend her independence 8/22/39 – Germany signs non-aggression pact with Soviet Union – Stuns the world, and seals Poland’s fate

5. The War Begins 9/1/39 – Germany invades Poland Germans use tactic of Blitzkrieg (Lightning War), moving swiftly and using psychological warfare to win 9/4/39 – France & Britain declare war against Germany 9/17/39 – Soviet Union also invades Poland 9/22/39 – Poland surrenders, and is partitioned between Germany and Soviet Union

6. The Phony War France & Britain deploy soldiers on border of France & Germany Neither side attacks during fall of 1940 through early spring 1940 Germans call it Sitzkrieg (sit-down war) Referred to in US as “The Phony War”

7. The Winter War December 1939 – Soviet Union invades Finland, expecting an easy victory Finnish Army holds off Soviet attacks First sign of weakness in high command of post-purge Red Army

8. A Fatal Flaw a truth in Military History: All nations plan for their next war based on their last war France – builds a static series of underground fortifications – Maginot Line Maginot Line only covers Franco-German Border, as France expected Belgium to build something similar Plans to expand the Maginot Line are too late

9. The Phony War Ends 5/10/1940 – Germany invades Holland & Belgium German army moves south toward France German tanks invade France through lightly-defended forest on Franco-Belgian border, the Ardennes

10. A new British Prime Minister 5/10/1940 – British Prime Minister Chamberlain resigns, replaced by Winston Churchill

11. Winston Churchill Born 1874 Mother – Jennie Jerome – American Father- Randolph Churchill – loses mind to syphilis and dies in 1895 Does poorly at British Public School of Harrow Succeeds at Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst

12. Winston Churchill 1890’s – gets leave from Army to serve as newspaper correspondent in America and South Africa Captured during Boer War, makes a famous escape Elected to Parliament in 1904 as a member of Conservative Party Leaves Conservative Party in 1906, rejoins in 1924

13. Winston Churchill 1910-1915 – serves as First Lord of the Admiralty, in charge of Royal Navy Builds up navy prior to WWI Supports disastrous Gallipoli campaign, forced from office Serves in France for 9 months

14. Winston Churchill 1920’s – serves as Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury Secretary), performs poorly Churchill not considered for office again until War breaks out, when he again becomes First Lord

15. France Defeated Late May – German army moving freely through France British army forced to English Cannnel, at town of Dunkirk 5/26=> 6/2/40 – British ships (most privately owned) evacuate nearly ½ million British and French soldiers British forced to leave behind most equipment Germans believed their air force (Luftwaffe) alone could destroy British

16. France Defeated 6/10/40 – Paris falls to Germans 6/22 - French sign armistice with Germans at same spot where armistice that ended World War I was signed France disarmed and divided Northern portions to be occupied, Southern portion under a collaborationist government with capital at city of Vichy French Navy in port in North Africa sunk by British to prevent its capture by Germans

17. What about America? 1930’s -strict Neutrality Acts passed by US Congress that ensured no US involvement in European wars 1939 – At outbreak of war, Neutrality Acts revised to allow for cash-and-carry (foreign nations could purchase American weapons with cash and take them on their own ships) Summer 1940 – British offer 99-year leases on Naval bases in exchange for mothballed US Destroyers from WWI– swap agreed to

18. Britain on their own British, behind Prime Minister Churchill, resolve to continue fight British prepare for likely invasion Churchill maintains the nation’s morale

19. The Battle of Britain Summer 1940 – German planes try to soften Britain for invasion Bomber campaign does poorly due to British resistance by fighters Invasion postponed by September German Bombers turned loose on British cities after British bomb Berlin City bombing (especially of London) becomes known as the Blitz

20. Hitler Turns East 1941 – Hitler turns his army away from Britain, invades Yugoslavia & Greece in the spring 6/22/41 – Germany invades their ally, the Soviet Union Germans take advantage of surprise and poor Soviet leadership to drive deep into Soviet Union

21. A new brutality In wake of German invasion, Nazis send in SS groups called Einsatzgruppen, specifically to find and kill Jews Einsatzgruppen shoot Jews & bury in mass graves Nazis find this method inefficient ant too taxing on their soldiers

22. An Election in America 1940 – US President Franklin Roosevelt breaks tradition by seeking a third term, due to the deteriorating world situation Many Americans in opposition, due to desire to stay out of Europe (Isolationism) and opposition of principle of 3 rd term Famous isolationists – Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford November 1940 – Roosevelt narrowly re-elected

23. Growing American Involvement December 1940 – US congress passes Lend-Lease Act – Allows war materiel to be shipped to Britain on American ships without prior payment 1941 – German submarines begin to target US ships heading toward Britain November 1941 – US destroyer torpedoed and sunk by German submarine

24. Japan’s problems 1940 – Japan bogged down in war with China Japan sees opportunity for “Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere” – a gathering of all Asian territory under their political and Economic control 1941 – US and Britain begin embargo of raw materials, including oil and scrap metal Japan sends delegation to Washington in November 1941 to negotiate for resumption Japan also sends attack fleet across pacific

25. Pearl Harbor Japan ends negotiations by December 6 th Us misinterprets Japanese Actions, does not place forces on alert 12/7/41 – Japanese attack US naval base at Pearl Harbor, sinking 4 ships, damaging many others US aircraft carriers not in port, escape destruction