Changes

Poland’s turn was next, and listening to the rumblings was France and Britain, which signed guarantees of mutual assistance to the Polish nation should it be attacked by Germany.  Hitler also signed pacts: a “Pact of Steel” with Italy, strengthening the alliance between Rome and Berlin, and then a treaty that caught many off-guard: a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union on August 23.  A secret clause in the pact allowed for the simultaneous invasion of Poland, and the division of the country in the center from north to south.  Poland was invaded on September 1; two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany.   

Poland’s turn was next, and listening to the rumblings was France and Britain, which signed guarantees of mutual assistance to the Polish nation should it be attacked by Germany.  Hitler also signed pacts: a “Pact of Steel” with Italy, strengthening the alliance between Rome and Berlin, and then a treaty that caught many off-guard: a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union on August 23.  A secret clause in the pact allowed for the simultaneous invasion of Poland, and the division of the country in the center from north to south.  Poland was invaded on September 1; two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany.   

Hitler assumed his own war strategy.  Poland was conquered within weeks, and when a desired peace accord with Britain failed to materialize, he ordered the army to prepare for a western offensive.  Norway was invaded and occupied, forestalling a British move on that country; Denmark was occupied by April, 1940.  Hitler than adopted General Erich von Manstien’s plan for an offensive against France itself, which would move through neutral Belgium’s Ardenne Forest on May 10, taking that country as a matter of convenience, as well as avoiding the static fortifications of France’s Maginot Line.  The German forces, extremely successful in their operations, reached the coastal ports on the English Channel in 10 days; Holland and Belgium both surrendered within days.  But south of Dunkirk was where the army was ordered to halt.  Hitler had hoped even at this stage in the battle that Britain would commit to peace; instead, the halting of the German army allowed the British remove 170,000 fighting men.

Hitler assumed his own war strategy.  Poland was conquered within weeks, and when a desired peace accord with Britain failed to materialize, he ordered the army to prepare for a western offensive.  Norway was invaded and occupied, forestalling a British move on that country; Denmark was occupied by April, 1940.  Hitler than adopted General Erich von Manstien’s plan for an offensive against France itself, which would move through neutral Belgium’s Ardenne Forest on May 10, taking that country as a matter of convenience, as well as avoiding the static fortifications of France’s Maginot Line.  The German forces, extremely successful in their operations, reached the coastal ports on the English Channel in 10 days; Holland and Belgium both surrendered within days.  But south of Dunkirk was where the army was ordered to halt.  Hitler had hoped even at this stage in the battle that Britain would commit to peace; instead, the halting of the German army allowed the British to remove 170,000 fighting men.

On June 10, Italy entered the war as German tanks were sweeping across northern France.  Hitler signed an armistice with France on June 22, the signing taking place in the same rail car at the same site where the Germans surrendered in 1918.

On June 10, Italy entered the war as German tanks were sweeping across northern France.  Hitler signed an armistice with France on June 22, the signing taking place in the same rail car at the same site where the Germans surrendered in 1918.

Having failed in getting the British to sign an armistice, Hitler prepared his forces for “Operation Sea Lion,” the invasion of Britain; at the same time, he was also preparing to double-cross his erstwhile partner in the Poland conquest, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union.  Then Mussolini invaded Greece, got bogged down in the Balkans, and the threat loomed that he would lose his whole army there.  Hitler found it necessary to come to his aid, while at the same time taking direct control of Yugoslavia in the wake of the overthrow of the pro-Nazi government.

Having failed in getting the British to sign an armistice, Hitler prepared his forces for “Operation Sea Lion,” the invasion of Britain. However, the Luftwaffe was defeated in its attempt to gain air superiority over British airspace, also known as the Battle Of Britain, which forced the permanent postponement of Sealion.

 

Facing the failure of the British to give in, Hitler started to prepare to double-cross his erstwhile partner in the Poland conquest, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union.  Then Mussolini invaded Greece, got bogged down in the Balkans, and the threat loomed that he would lose his whole army there.  Hitler found it necessary to come to his aid, while at the same time taking direct control of Yugoslavia in the wake of the overthrow of the pro-Nazi government.

==Barbarossa==

==Barbarossa==