Age of Total War

Handout 10

Topic: Let the Shooting Begin 

OUTLINE: 

X. Let the Shooting Begin

A. Introduction.

B. The Situation in the Far East.

C. The Fall of Poland.

D. The Phony War.

E. The Fall of France.

F. The Equalizer.

G. The Battle of Britain.

H. The Fate of the Third Reich. 

QUESTIONS: 

1. Historians have argued and argued concerning the collapse of France during World War II. Why did the France fall in 1940? Could that have been avoided? Explain.
2. What accounts for the British victory in the Battle of Britain? Was it possible for the Germans to have invaded England in 1940? Would SEALION have worked if Hitler decided on the operation?
3. What was the Venlo Affair? How important was it for the Germans in the early days of World War II?
4. How significant was intelligence in World War II? Did Enigma make a difference?
5. What was Double-Cross? What role did it play in the war?
6. Why did Hitler decide not to finish the British off and instead decided to attack Russia? Why did he fail?

TERMS: 

Judenaction                                    Operation Willi

Venlo Affair                                   Walter Schallenberg

Enigma                                            Eagle Day

Ultra                                                Bletchley Park

Double-Cross                                  Arthur Scherbius

Heinz Guderian                               Abwehr

Manstein Plan                                 Barbarossa

Blitzkrieg                                        Kanalkampf

Luftwaffe                                        Hugh Dowding

Sealion                                            Edward R. Murrow

Edward VIII