1) Sept. 1939 – Poland
invaded by first Hitler and
then Stalin.
 Great Britain & France
declare war on the Axis -but NOT on the Soviet Union.
Fin.
No.
D
GB
N
B
Es.
La.
1) Li.
G
Ger.
USSR
Pol.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Sw.
Yug.
Ro.
Bu.
A Gr.
2) Sept-Apr. 1939-40 –
The Phony War.
 A state of war exists, but without
any fighting.
 “Sitzkrieg.”
Fin.
No.
GB
N
B
D
Es.
La.
Li.
G
Ger.
Po l.
Au. Hu.
It.
Maginot Line
USSR
Cz.
Fr.
Sp. 2)
Sw.
Yug.
Ro.
Bu.
A Gr.
3) Nov. 1939 – Stalin
begins an invasion of
Finland, the Baltic States
and Romania.
Fin.
No.
Sw.
D
GB
N
B
Ger.
USSR
3)
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Es.
La.
Li.
G
Yug.
Ro.
Bu.
A Gr.
4) Apr. 1940 – Hitler
invades Denmark and
Norway.
 To prevent a blockade and protect
coal shipments from Sweden.
Fi n.
No.
4)
GB
N
B
Coal
D
G
Ger.
Es.
La.
Li.
USSR
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Sw.
Yug.
Ro m.
Bu.
A Gr.
5) May 1940 – Hitler
conquers Benelux
countries and invades
France.
 Bypassing Maginot Line.
Fi n.
No.
Sw.
D
GB
5)
N
B
G
Ger.
USSR
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Es.
La.
Li.
Yug.
Ro m.
Bu.
A Gr.
France
Falls
• June 10, 1940 –
Mussolini joins
the invasion.
• June 22, 1940 –
France surrenders
to the Axis.
Dunkirk
Vichy
France
Winston Churchill
6) Summer 1940 – The
Battle of Britain.
 Battle for control of the skies over
English Channel.
 RAF v. Luftwaffe.
 Operation Sea Lion.
Fi n.
No.
Sw.
D
6)
N
B
GB
English
Channel
G
Ger.
USSR
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Es.
La.
Li.
Yug.
Ro m.
Bu.
A Gr.
7) Fall-Spring 1940-41 –
Hitler conquers the Balkans.
 3 countries officially join the Axis:
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria.
 Yugoslavia and Greece are invaded.
Fi n.
No.
Sw.
D
N
B
GB
G
Ger.
USSR
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Sp.
Es.
La.
Li.
Yug.
Ro m.
Bu.
A Gr.
7)
8) June 1941 – Hitler
invades the Soviet Union.
 Operation Barbarossa.
 Over 4 million soldiers on an
1800-mile-wide front.
Fi n.
No.
Hitler’s
Atlantic Wall.
Sw.
D
N
B
GB
G
Ger.
USSR
Po l.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Yug.
A
Sp.
8)
Es.
La.
Li.
Ro m.
Bu.
Gr.
Fin.
No.
Hitler’s
Atlantic Wall.
Sw.
D
N
B
GB
G
Ger.
Es.
La.
Li.
Pol.
USSR joins
the Allies.
Cz.
Au. Hu.
Fr.
It.
Yug.
A
Sp.
US SR
Rom.
Bu.
Gr.