Called by the Nazis Der Verteidigungskrieg ( War), Der Befreiungskrieg (War of ) and Der Krieg gegen den Bolschewismus (War Against ).
Early Triumphs (1939–1941)
Invasion of (Sep 1939): Hitler surprised by Britain declaring war despite Ribbentrop's assurance of no intervention. Blitzkrieg success boosted Nazi confidence.
Fall of (Jun 1940): Major triumph, humiliating for France. Hitler paraded in Paris & overturned Treaty of Versailles.
Battle of (Jul–Oct 1940): Failed to invade; Blitz failed to force British surrender. Britain was weak, but Nazis still appeared dominant.
Invasion of Denmark & (Apr 1940): Secured iron ore & access to N Atlantic.
Pact (Sep 1940): Formalized Axis alliance w/ Italy & Japan, creating a global super-bloc.
Invasion of Balkans & (Apr 1941): Supported failing Italian invasion; successful but opened a two-front war.
Capture of (Jun 1942): Supported failing Italian N African campaign; extended war further.
Turning Points (1941–1943)
Invasion of Russia: Largest military op in history, implementing Lebensraum policy, but turned disastrous.
• Operation (Jun 1941):
Rapid advances stopped by Soviet resistance.
• Battle of (Oct 1941–Jan 1942):
1st major Nazi failure in USSR.
• Battle of (Aug 1942–Feb 1943):
Catastrophic loss; entire 6th Army destroyed. Axis casualties: 1m.
(Dec 1941): Hitler, uninformed, declared war on the US, hoping Pacific war would distract America. US entry turned war into global conflict Nazis couldn't win.
Conference (Jan 1942): Implemented ‘Final Solution,’ diverting military resources to the Holocaust. Nazis viewed Jews as a ‘fifth column’ & war justification.
Fall of (May 1943): After El Alamein (Nov 1942), Axis lost 250k soldiers & North Africa, giving Allies control of Mediterranean.
Collapse and Defeat (1943–1945)
Defeat at (Jul–Aug 1943): Largest tank battle in history; ended Nazi hope to regain Eastern Front initiative.
Armistice (Sep 1943): Mussolini fell; Allies gained control of Italy & invaded southern Europe.
Invasion (Jun 1944): Opened Western Front feared by Nazis.
(Sep 1944): Home Guard of older men & boys (as young as 11); refusal to fight meant execution.
Offensive (Dec 1944): Failed
Nazi counteroffensive at Battle of the Bulge.
Hitler’s & Fall of Berlin (Apr–May 1945):
Total regime collapse.
(8 May 1945): Flensburg govt surrendered unconditionally; Allies took all power & disarmed Germany.
Why did the Nazis fight to the bitter end?
1. Feared trial & execution for war crimes.
2. Ideological war (esp. SS): viewed WWII as light vs darkness.
3. Allies demanded unconditional surrender.
4. Believed Soviet forces would massacre/rape them.
5. Hoped for war between USSR & USA/Britain to save Germany.
Called by the Nazis Der Verteidigungskrieg (DEFENSIVE War), Der Befreiungskrieg (War of LIBERATION) and Der Krieg gegen den Bolschewismus (War Against BOLSHEVISM).
Early Triumphs (1939–1941)
Invasion of POLAND (Sep 1939): Hitler surprised by Britain declaring war despite Ribbentrop's assurance of no intervention. Blitzkrieg success boosted Nazi confidence.
Fall of FRANCE (Jun 1940): Major triumph, humiliating for France. Hitler paraded in Paris & overturned Treaty of Versailles.
Battle of BRITAIN (Jul–Oct 1940): Failed to invade; Blitz failed to force British surrender. Britain was weak, but Nazis still appeared dominant.
Invasion of Denmark & NORWAY (Apr 1940): Secured iron ore & access to N Atlantic.
TRIPARTITE Pact (Sep 1940): Formalized Axis alliance w/ Italy & Japan, creating a global super-bloc.
Invasion of Balkans & GREECE (Apr 1941): Supported failing Italian invasion; successful but opened a two-front war.
Capture of TOBRUK (Jun 1942): Supported failing Italian N African campaign; extended war further.
Turning Points (1941–1943)
Invasion of Russia: Largest military op in history, implementing Lebensraum policy, but turned disastrous.
• Battle of MOSCOW (Oct 1941–Jan 1942):
1st major Nazi failure in USSR.
• Battle of STALINGRAD (Aug 1942–Feb 1943):
Catastrophic loss; entire 6th Army destroyed. Axis casualties: 1m.
PEARL HARBOR (Dec 1941): Hitler, uninformed, declared war on the US, hoping Pacific war would distract America. US entry turned war into global conflict Nazis couldn't win.
WANNSEE Conference (Jan 1942): Implemented ‘Final Solution,’ diverting military resources to the Holocaust. Nazis viewed Jews as a ‘fifth column’ & war justification.
Fall of TUNISIA (May 1943): After El Alamein (Nov 1942), Axis lost 250k soldiers & North Africa, giving Allies control of Mediterranean.
Collapse and Defeat (1943–1945)
Defeat at KURSK (Jul–Aug 1943): Largest tank battle in history; ended Nazi hope to regain Eastern Front initiative.
