Fall of France and Battle of Britain

Series of fortifications built by France along the France and German border

German invasion through the Line practically impossible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMPkVRfWc04&ab_channel=SimpleHistory

German words that mean "Lightning War"

When you attack your opponent before they get a chance to defend themselves

France said the Ardennes forest was "Impenetrable" meaning Germany could not go through it

Germany went through it and surrounded the French army

France was not prepared

https://youtu.be/LAGZpJ8FCaU?t=1601

The Germans sent their tanks through the Ardennes Forest and surrounded the Allies( France & Britain)

The German would push in on the Allies forcing them to the coast where they would be stuck at Dunkirk

over 400,000 soldiers were stuck on the beaches in Dunkirk and the Germans were closing in

However, Hitler ordered his tanks to stop so that the infantry(foot soldiers) could catch up

This pause gave the Allies a chance...

German Airforce

Hitler used a new type of plane called a Dive Bomber to attack the soldiers stuck on the beach

Very effective and caused fear in the Allied soldiers

https://youtu.be/2W3KDB0yHYM

The Allied leader used ever boat they had and asked the citizens to use any boat they could find.

The boats crossed the English Channel in the cover of Darkness and rescued Over 338,000 soldiers

Over 338,000 soldiers were saved

https://youtu.be/ZOrx1WqgmUU

Soon after the Miracle of Dunkirk, France surrenders to Germany and Great Britain is alone fighting the Axis Powers

Now with France under Germany control Hitler turns his attention North to Britain

The Germans had a problem. Britain is an island country and water lies between it and France.

Hitler could not use his Blitzkrieg strategy to overrun Great Britain so her turned to bombing using the Luftwaffe

The Battle of Britain in World War II was between Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe, Nazi Germany’s air force, and was the first battle in history fought solely in the air.

July 10 through October 31, 1940

https://youtu.be/DTk4DU46WDQ

Hitler spread his Luftwaffe out to far and although the Germans had a scary aiforce, they could could not keep up with the superior technology of the British planes

Eventually Hitler withdrew his Luftwaffe and gave the British a huge victory

If Britain would have lost then Germany would have invaded Britain