The Nazis Take Europe

The Treaty of Versailles gave Poland a piece of land running to the Baltic Sea. Hitler wanted the land back. When Poland refused Hitler sent his army. This was the beginning of a new kind of warfare called Blitzkrieg (lightning war).

The Germans fought by bombing whole cities. Troops moved in with tanks.Poland was quickly defeated. Germany took control of most of Poland. The eastern portion was controlled by Russia.

In April 1940 Hitler moved his armies against Denmark and Norway. Denmark surrendered at once, while Norway tried to fight. It soon was defeated.

In May Hitler attacked the Netherlands and Belgium. In 5 days the Dutch surrendered, and after 18 days of fighting Hitler took Belgium. Belgium was able to hold on for 18 days because the English and French had helped them.

Next Hitler moved to France. Although the French lost the Battle of Dunkirk, the British had one small victory by rescuing 300,000 of their soldiers that were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk after the battle. The British used small boats  and crossed the English Channel for the rescue.  After the Battle of Dunkirk the Germans took the rest of France.

Although the Americans were not fighting at this time, President Roosevelt asked Congress to give money for military supplies.  Some of these weapons were sent to help countries fighting the Germans.

Congress also voted to start a draft system in America. Men over the age of 18 had to register. More than 80,000 men were drafted for one year immediately.

In September 1940 Germany moved toward England. The British leader, Winston Churchill, tried to fight back against the Germans. Roosevelt sent guns, ammunition, and warships to England.

• Germany took Greece.

• Italian and German troops took part of Africa.

• Then Germany attacked Russia because he wanted the supplies of things such as oil and grain even though he had earlier signed a treaty with them.

• The Japanese took part China.