After reaching the agreement with the Soviet Union, Hitler was prepared for an all out war. On September 1, 1939, the German military, along with the Soviets in the east, attacked Poland. Using the blitzkrieg method, the invasion began with air attacks that damaged Polish defenses and caused civilian panic. Additionally, on the ground, fast moving mobile artillery and tanks struck the Polish countryside followed by foot soldiers to dispel any further resistance. The effect on Poland was devastating. The Polish Air force was obliterated. Although Poland did not have much of a solid defense, they did have the backing of the British and French who had promised to come to the aid of Poland if it were attacked. War was declared against Germany by the British and French on September 3, 1939. Despite this promise and alliance, the Allies were of very little assistance to Poland, which fell within weeks with a total loss of 70,000 lives. Even before the final defeat of Poland, Germany began to move soldiers along its western border with France. Although the war lay relatively stagnant from the end of September to the beginning of April, a time which is called the Phony War, the Germans were preparing for an assault on France.
On April 9, 1940, Germany began to attack again, starting with Denmark and Norway. Although both countries had claimed neutrality at the beginning of the war, control of Norway’s extensive coastline would have been very important in the battle for control of the North Sea and easing the passage of German warships and submarines into the Atlantic. The control of Norway would also aid Germany’s ability to import iron ore from Sweden. German occupation of Denmark was important due to its proximity to France and the airfields located at the Northern end of Denmark.
Once Germany secured control of Norway and Denmark they quickly moved to their assault on France. On May 10, 1940, Germany began its invasion of France and the low countries, attacking Belgium and the Netherlands first, because they lie between France and Germany. Although Allied forces rushed to meet the invasion, they were no match for the German military and both countries quickly fell. While the attack on the low countries was taking place, German forces stationed in the Ardennes, between France and Belgium, began their assault. Due to the thick forests of the Ardennes, the French believed that it was relatively impassable for German forces, therefore they left it practically undefended. The Germans used tanks to cut through the thick forests and emerged in France to quickly overwhelm the resistance. German tanks drove northward toward the English Channel. The Allies were unable to stop German advances and the Germans reached the coast in a matter of 6 days. Allied troops, primarily members of the British Expeditionary Force, were unable to evacuate and became trapped by the Germans when they retreated to the coastal city of Dunkirk. At Dunkirk a daring rescue operation consisting of Allied military and civilian ships, rescued over 300,000 troops.
Despite the rescue at Dunkirk, France was doomed. The Allied forces which remained in France were unable to stop the German advance on Paris. To make matters worse, Italy joined in the war as part of the Axis powers and declared war on Great Britain and France on June 9, 1940 as the government of France fled Paris for Tours. On June 22, 1940, France surrendered to Germany. Germany then occupied much of France, and placed part of France under the control of French officials that cooperated with Germany. This area of France was known as Vichy France. Although under German control the French did not stop fighting. Resistance within France continued, while some French leaders, including Charles DeGaulle escaped to Great Britain where they led a government in exile that was considered by many to be the official government of France.
Once Hitler had taken France he quickly set his sights on what he believed to be the last resistance in Western Europe, Great Britain. Conquering Britain was more difficult than Hitler had imagined. Winston Churchill was now Prime Minister of Great Britain and he had inspired the British to stand up against the Germans. Hitler’s invasion of Britain was given the code name Operation Sealion. The initial plan was to land 160,000 German soldiers along a forty-mile coastal stretch of south-east England. However, Hitler’s generals were concerned about the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the harm it could inflict upon the German army. Hitler agreed to postpone the invasion until the RAF had been effectually incapacitated or destroyed. On the 12th August, 1940, the Luftwaffe (German Air force) began its mass bomber attacks on British radar stations, aircraft factories and fighter airfields. During these raids radar stations and airfields were badly damaged and twenty-two RAF planes were destroyed. This attack was followed by daily raids on Britain. The climax of the Battle of Britain came on the 30th-31st August, 1940. The RAF were close to defeat when Hitler then changed his tactics and ordered the Luftwaffe to switch its attack from British military targets to civilian targets in London. This decision was the result of a bombing attack on Berlin by the British. These air attacks, occurring between September 1940 and May 1941 are known as the London Blitz. As a result of the German Blitz, approximately 60,000 London civilians lost their lives and 60% of the homes were destroyed, while 87,000 civilians were injured. The goal of the blitz was to terrorize the people of London into pressuring their government to surrender. It didn’t work as the British resolve increased and more Germans began to lose their lives. Hitler postponed his plans to invade Britain in May 1941, and began to focus on another front of the war.
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