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Blitzkrieg – Lightening War Relentless Nazi air and ground attack using Stuka dive-bombers, tanks and mobilized infantry Was quick and took the enemy by surprise. Blitzkrieg :. Sept 1939 - crushed : Poland > 1 month The Phoney War (Winter 1940) when no fighting took place
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Blitzkrieg – Lightening War Relentless Nazi air and ground attack using Stuka dive-bombers, tanks and mobilized infantry Was quick and took the enemy by surprise Blitzkrieg:
Sept 1939 - crushed: Poland > 1 month The Phoney War (Winter 1940) when no fighting took place Spring 1940 - Crushed: Denmark - 1 day Norway - 2 days The Netherlands – 5 days Belgium – 18 days France – 6 weeks Sept 1939, Spring 1940
British and French troops pushed back to the English Chanel by advancing German soldiers – town of Dunkirk Britain could not afford to have any naval ships sunk during an attempted rescue Fisherman, ferry boats and pleasure sailors rescued trapped British soldiers. 350 000 rescued, equipment left behind “Miracle of Dunkirk” Spring 1940 - Dunkirk
Blitzkrieg – the strategy • Air attack • Take out strategic sites • Create chaos in civilian population • Paratroopers secure strategic sites • Armored tank attack – break through into towns (create an entry ‘column’) • Infantry attack (troops arrive in truck loads – enter after tanks • City surrenders
Summer 1940 Britain stood alone in Europe Winston Churchill – Britain’s new P.M. “blood, toil, tears, and sweat” Halifax – assembling convoys (food, weapons, soldiers) “blood, toil, tears, and sweat” Eiffel Tower – 1889 centennial of French Revolution
Canada in 1939 • WW1- Enthusiasm- WW2- Disappointment • Before Munich- few Canadians wanted a war- after Munich the tide of opinion had turned • The House of Commons debated a declaration of war- only one MP voted no- J.S. Woodsworth “I vote for the children”
Canada in 1939 • 10,000 soldiers • 14 tanks • 29 artillery • 23 anti tank rifles • 5 mortars • 10 naval vessels • 50 modern aircraft
Canada in 1939 • End of September 1939- 58, 000 troops • $1.30 a day private pay • 1940 a contingent of Canadian soldiers stayed in Britain to protect against a German invasion-