WW2

• Hitler’s Foreign Policy

  • Lebensraum: Hitler aimed to expand Germany to provide "living space" for ethnic Germans, creating a greater Germany known as the Third Reich.
• Rebuilding the German Army and Navy

  • In 1933, Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations.
  • In 1935, the Anglo-German Naval Agreement allowed Germany to expand its navy beyond Treaty of Versailles limits.
  • Conscription was reintroduced, and the Luftwaffe (airforce) was created, violating the treaty. Britain and France did not intervene.
• Re-occupying the Rhineland

  • In March 1936, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, which was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. France did not respond.
• The Anschluss

  • The Anschluss: In 1938, Austria was incorporated into the Third Reich after Hitler pressured the Austrian Chancellor and replaced him with a Nazi who invited German occupation.
• The Sudetenland

  • The Sudetenland, a German-speaking region in Czechoslovakia, was targeted by Hitler for inclusion in the Third Reich. Nazi propaganda fueled Sudeten German calls for independence.
• Making Allies

  • In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini signed the Rome-Berlin Axis, forming a mutual support agreement.
• Appeasement

  • Appeasement: Britain and France avoided confronting Hitler to prevent war, influenced by:
  • Belief that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh.
  • Pacifist sentiment in Britain.
  • Concerns about communism.
  • This policy allowed Hitler to expand without opposition.
• The Munich Conference and the Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • Munich Conference (1938): Britain, France, Italy, and Germany forced Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany.
  • Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939): Hitler and Stalin agreed not to attack each other and secretly planned to divide Poland.
• Europe Falls into War: The Fall of Poland and France

  The Invasion of Poland

  • On 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland using Blitzkrieg tactics. The Soviet Union invaded from the east, and Poland was quickly defeated.
• The Invasion of France

  • In May 1940, Germany invaded France via Belgium and the Ardennes Forest, bypassing the Maginot Line. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) retreated to Dunkirk, and by June 1940, Germany occupied northern France.
• The Battle of Britain

  • Operation Sea Lion: Hitler's plan to invade Britain.
  • The Battle of Britain involved the Luftwaffe attacking RAF bases. The RAF used advanced radar to win by September 1940.
• The Blitz

  • The Luftwaffe bombed British cities at night, targeting industrial sites. This lasted until May 1941, killing 43,000 civilians.
• Life in Wartime Britain

  • Evacuation: City children were sent to the countryside.
  • Women filled roles left by men at war.

  Rationing: Essential goods were rationed, and campaigns like Dig for Victory encouraged home-grown food
• The Invasion of the Soviet Union

  Operation Barbarossa

  • In June 1941, Germany launched a three-pronged attack on the Soviet Union. The Soviet scorched earth tactic and harsh winter halted German advances.
• The Turning of the War

  The Battle of Stalingrad

  • From 1942-1943, the Red Army defended Stalingrad, cutting off German supplies. The German Sixth Army surrendered in February 1943, marking a turning point.
• The War Beyond Europe

  The United States Enters the War

  • On 7th December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, prompting the US to join the war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.
• War in the Mediterranean

  • The Allies defeated the German Afrika Korps at El Alamein and launched Operation Torch in North Africa. They invaded Italy in 1943, leading to Mussolini's removal from power.
• The Battle of the Atlantic

  • German U-boats targeted Allied shipping. The US Navy and advances in radar, sonar, and codebreaking, including the Enigma code by Alan Turing, helped protect shipments.
• D-Day

  • Operation Overlord: On 6th June 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy, France. By August, the Allies liberated Paris.
• The Final Offensives

  Air Raids on Germany

  • The Allies bombed German cities, including Dresden, causing massive civilian casualties.
• Operation Bagration

  • The Red Army pushed German forces out of the Soviet Union.
• The Battle of the Bulge

  • Germany's final offensive in December 1944 failed by January 1945.
• The End of World War II

  • In April 1945, Soviet forces attacked Berlin. Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide on 30th April. VE Day (Victory in Europe) was celebrated on 8th May.
  • Japan surrendered on 15th August 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The Impact of World War II

  • Over 60 million people died, and many cities were destroyed.
  • The US and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers.
  • The United Nations (UN) was established in 1945.
  • The European Economic Community (EEC) was founded in 1957, later becoming the European Union.
• Ireland During World War II

  Neutrality and the Emergency Powers Act

  • Ireland (Éire) remained neutral, not participating in the war.
  • The Emergency Powers Act allowed the government to censor information to maintain neutrality.
• Life in Éire During the Emergency

  • Shortages and Rationing: Ireland faced shortages of food and fuel. Seán Lemass introduced measures like the Compulsory Tillage Scheme to increase food production.
• Fuel Shortages and the Glimmer Men

  • Fuel shortages led to rationing and the use of turf instead of coal. Glimmer men monitored gas usage.
• Life in Northern Ireland During World War II

  • Northern Ireland, part of the UK, was involved in the war. Industries boomed, and the region became a base for American troops.
  • The Belfast Blitz: In April and May 1941, Belfast was bombed, causing significant damage and loss of life.
• Post-War Divide Between North and South

  • Northern Ireland's economy improved, while the south's suffered. Relations between the two regions and Britain were strained due to the south's neutrality.