Changes

Hitler’s dictatorship, the Third Reich, was ready to begin conquering all of Europe.  He started with Poland based on Stalin’s promise not to interfere.  On September 1, 1939, Hitler launched a lightning-fast, massive attack (a “blitzkrieg”) against Poland.  A blitzkrieg combines bombing with a tank invasion.  As mentioned above, Polish soldiers fought valiantly on horseback, but were crushed.  France and Britain declared war on Germany in two days, on September 3rd.  After destroying Warsaw, Poland, with the bombing and destruction of the Polish militia, Hitler annexed western Poland to Germany.   

Hitler’s dictatorship, the Third Reich, was ready to begin conquering all of Europe.  He started with Poland based on Stalin’s promise not to interfere.  On September 1, 1939, Hitler launched a lightning-fast, massive attack (a “blitzkrieg”) against Poland.  A blitzkrieg combines bombing with a tank invasion.  As mentioned above, Polish soldiers fought valiantly on horseback, but were crushed.  France and Britain declared war on Germany in two days, on September 3rd.  After destroying Warsaw, Poland, with the bombing and destruction of the Polish militia, Hitler annexed western Poland to Germany.   

By mid-September, Stalin was grabbing eastern Poland and also annexing Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.  Finland put up an awesome struggle against Stalin, and the typically cold winter helped its defenses.  But by March 1940, the massive Soviet army had taken territory from Finland.

By mid-September, Stalin was grabbing eastern Poland and also annexing Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.  Finland put up an awesome struggle against Stalin, and the typically cold winter helped its defenses.  But by March 1940, the massive Soviet army had taken some territory from Finland.

Germany did little for six months after taking Poland.  The Germans nicknamed this the “Sitzkrieg” (sit (wait) – skrieg).  Even though war had been declared, the nations seemed to be watching and waiting.  Some call this period the “phony war.”  The British and French fortified the Maginot Line, which was a defensive line set up along the French-German border.  Ever since World War I, the French relied on a strong line there to prevent Germans from ever invading again.  But Germany later invaded by going around (“outflanking”) the Maginot Line.

Germany did little for six months after taking Poland.  The Germans nicknamed this the “Sitzkrieg” (sit (wait) – skrieg).  Even though war had been declared, the nations seemed to be watching and waiting.  Some call this period the “phony war.”  The French fortified the Maginot Line, which was a defensive line set up along the French-German border.  Ever since World War I, the French relied on a strong line there to prevent Germans from ever invading again.  But Germany later invaded by going around (“outflanking”) the Maginot Line.

The Germans, meanwhile, fortified their Siegfried Line on their side.  Then, on April 9, 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway.  Denmark surrendered quickly, and by June Norway had fallen also.

The Germans, meanwhile, fortified their Siegfried Line on their side.  Then, on April 9, 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway.  Denmark surrendered quickly, and by June Norway had fallen also.

In September 1925 a military airship crashed and killed many on board. Mitchell published a diatribe harshly criticizing his superiors, even accusing them of treason in ignoring the need for good military aviation. He was swiftly brought before a military court, known as a court-martial, for insubordination. He was tried for seven weeks, and convicted by a divided jury.  One juror, widely thought to be the future General Douglas MacArthur, voted for acquittal. Mitchell was sentenced to a humiliating loss of rank and pay, and he quit.  Only after he died and after World War II did President Truman honor him again.

In September 1925 a military airship crashed and killed many on board. Mitchell published a diatribe harshly criticizing his superiors, even accusing them of treason in ignoring the need for good military aviation. He was swiftly brought before a military court, known as a court-martial, for insubordination. He was tried for seven weeks, and convicted by a divided jury.  One juror, widely thought to be the future General Douglas MacArthur, voted for acquittal. Mitchell was sentenced to a humiliating loss of rank and pay, and he quit.  Only after he died and after World War II did President Truman honor him again.

But perhaps Billy Mitchell’s warnings did make a difference.  In 1942 the United States sent Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle to bomb Tokyo and other Japanese cities, largely for symbolic purposes.  In May 1942, a fleet of American and Australian ships intercepted a Japanese strike force and stopped Japanese advances at the Battle of Coral Sea.  This was the first battle in world history in which both sides fought in aircraft based on aircraft carriers.

But perhaps Billy Mitchell’s warnings did make a difference.  In 1942 the United States sent Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle to bomb Tokyo and other Japanese cities, largely for symbolic purposes.  In May 1942, a fleet of American and Australian ships intercepted a Japanese strike force and stopped Japanese advances at the Battle of Coral Sea.  This was the first naval battle in world history in which the opposing ships never saw either other; aircraft based on aircraft carriers flew and attacked each other and the ships.

In June 1942, the Japanese brought together the largest naval force in the world near Midway Island in the Pacific.  The American cryptographers had by this time deciphered enough of the Japanese messages to know that there was going to be an attack on Midway, and they knew roughly when the attack would occur.  When the Japanese did attack, there was an American force waiting for them.  On a reconnaissance mission an alert American pilot with superb eyesight spotted the Japanese fleet on the distant horizon.  That gave the Americans the advantage of surprise, as the Japanese were not expecting the Americans to be ready. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific, then embarked on a strategy of island-hopping to capture strategic islands surrounding Japanese positions.  The Japanese, who were trained not to surrender, fought tenaciously for months before succumbing to American and Australian forces in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

In June 1942, the Japanese brought together the largest naval force in the world near Midway Island in the Pacific.  The American cryptographers had by this time deciphered enough of the Japanese messages to know that there was going to be an attack on Midway, and they knew roughly when the attack would occur.  When the Japanese did attack, there was an American force waiting for them.  On a reconnaissance mission an alert American pilot with superb eyesight spotted the Japanese fleet on the distant horizon.  That gave the Americans the advantage of surprise, as the Japanese were not expecting the Americans to be ready. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific, then embarked on a strategy of island-hopping to capture strategic islands surrounding Japanese positions.  The Japanese, who were trained not to surrender, fought tenaciously for months before succumbing to American and Australian forces in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

===Victory===

===Victory===

Just as the American soldiers had defeated Germany in World War I, the Americans did it again (this time with help from the Soviet Union). Operation Overlord was the code name for the massive challenge of invading Continental Europe, to enable liberating France from the Nazis and conquering Germany itself.  It began on “D-Day”, June 6, 1944, with the largest amphibious invasion in the history of the world when the Allied forces staged a surprise landing at Normandy, France.  There were so many ships and people in the ocean that it obscured the water below.  German defense forces killed many of the initial soldiers who hit the beaches, but the Americans overpowered them and started moving through France. They were aided by the fact that Field Marshal Rommel was on leave on June 6. With America’s massive industrial capacity added to the Allies, they could now defeat the Axis Powers.

Just as the American soldiers had defeated Germany in World War I, the Americans did it again (this time with help from the Soviet Union). Operation Overlord was the code name for the planned massive invasion of Continental Europe, to enable liberating France from the Nazis and conquering Germany itself.  It began on “D-Day”, June 6, 1944, with the largest amphibious invasion in the history of the world when the Allied forces staged a surprise landing at Normandy, France.  There were so many ships and people in the ocean that it obscured the water below.  German defense forces killed many of the initial soldiers who hit the beaches, but the Americans (and British and Canadians) overpowered them and started moving through France. They were aided by the fact that Field Marshal Rommel was on leave on June 6. With America’s massive industrial capacity added to the Allies, they could now defeat the Axis Powers.

American General [[George Patton]] had perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  A few years earlier, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s aggression and the enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with fewer casualties than anyone else.

American General [[George Patton]] had perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  A few years earlier, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s aggression and the enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with fewer casualties than anyone else.

Patton’s Third Army rolled through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands, routing the Germans everywhere.  The best the German army could do was turn and run.  The French citizens lined the streets of Paris to cheer the Americans when they arrived and freed the city.  One of Hitler’s last orders to his general in Paris was to detonate bombs to destroy great artworks at the Louvre Museum, which holds the Mona Lisa.  The Nazi general received the order but courageously disobeyed it.

Patton’s Third Army rolled through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and much of the Netherlands, routing the Germans everywhere.  The best the German army could do was turn and run.  The French citizens lined the streets of Paris to cheer the Free French and American soldiers when they arrived and freed the city.  One of Hitler’s last orders to his general in Paris was to detonate bombs to destroy great artworks at the Louvre Museum, which holds the Mona Lisa.  The Nazi general received the order but courageously disobeyed it.

Hitler did not plan on surrendering.  He launched a massive counterattack at the Battle of the Bulge (December 16-26, 1944), also known as the Ardennes Campaign.  This was the last major German counteroffensive against advancing Allied troops during World War II. Hitler caught the Allied forces by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties on them in the bitterly cold Ardennes Forest.  

Hitler did not plan on surrendering.  He launched a massive counterattack at the Battle of the Bulge (December 16-26, 1944), also known as the Ardennes Campaign.  This was the last major German counteroffensive against advancing Allied troops during World War II. Hitler caught the Allied forces by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties on them in the bitterly cold Ardennes Forest.  

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United States and Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United States and Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on a phony trial (known as a “show trial” because its real purpose is to humiliate an enemy), and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, to which the Soviets ultimately agreed in a prisoner exchange.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth (possibly shot down) in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on a phony trial (known as a “show trial” because its real purpose is to humiliate an enemy), and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, to which the Soviets ultimately agreed in a prisoner exchange.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

==China==

==China==