DK - World War II Map by Map

WAR IN EUROPE 37

France’s surrender

a few weeks later

was followed by

the creation of

the Vichy French

government—a

regime dedicated to collaboration with the Nazis. Hitler

and his allies had control of almost all continental Europe.

In Britain, the recently appointed prime minister,

Winston Churchill, resolved to fight on. In summer

1940, Germany fought for control of the air over southern

England while preparing for a seaborne invasion. Known as

the Battle of Britain, the aerial conflict ended in stalemate,

and Hitler’s invasion plans were abandoned. However,

throughout the following fall and winter, Britain’s cities

were battered by German bombers attacking at night in

the “Blitz.” At sea, German U-boats took a heavy toll on

merchant shipping.

There was little that Britain could do at this stage to take

the war to its enemy. Instead, Churchill opted for “economic

warfare,” consisting of ineffectual attempts to bomb German

cities from the air and stir up resistance in occupied Europe.

▽ Victory in Europe

Seen here at a parade on his 50th

birthday a few months before the

war, Hitler seemed to be fulfilling his

promises in the war’s early stages, as

Poland and then France fell to the Nazis.

◁ Rallying support

Issued soon after Winston Churchill

became prime minister in May 1940,

this British poster was intended to

encourage national unity.

“What the world did not deem possible,

the German people have achieved ...”

ADOLF HITLER, SPEECH, APRIL 6, 1941

Sep 7, 1940

Mass German

air raid on

London marks

start of Blitz

Mar 11, 1941 Lend-Lease

Act provides for supply of

arms to Britain from US

May 27, 1941

German battleship

Bismarck sunk

JUL SEP NOV JAN MAR MAY AUG

May 11, 1941

Blitz ends

Aug 14, 1941

Atlantic Charter

statement of British

and US war aims

Nov 5, 1940

Reelection of

Roosevelt for

third term

Nov 14, 1940

Coventry destroyed

by bombing

Jun 22, 1940

France signs

armistice with

Germany

Jul 10, 1940

Battle of

Britain begins;

Vichy France

established

Jul 3, 1940

Royal Navy

sinks French

warships at

Mers el-Kebir

Sep 2,

1940 US

pledges to

transfer 50

destroyers

to UK

Sep 16, 1940

US introduces

limited conscription

US_036-037_N_War_in_Europe.indd 37 24/05/19 1:15 PM