CA H-SS 10.8.3/10.8.

Name____________________________ Date_____________ Period ______________

WORLD WAR II BATTLES WEBQUEST

Directions:
Click on the link(s) below each section heading and carefully read though the webpage to analyze both primary and secondary sources
to get the information that you will need to answer the questions.
Essential Question:
Which event/battle could be considered the turning point of World War II?

The Axis Advances

The Allies took no action against Hitler in 1938 when he annexed Austria to combine it with Germany and
created the Anschluss. Nazi Germany became increasingly more powerful as long as the Allies were continuing
with their appeasement policy and overlooking the acts of aggression. Soon enough, Germanys expansion
overwhelmed the entire European continent and German forces invanded Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain
and France finally realizes that Hitler needed to be stopped and declared war on Germany two days later.
1. The Invasion of Poland, (September 1, 1939)
(#1a) http://www.kingsacademy.com/mhodges/03_The-World-since-1900/06_Dictatorship/pictures/map_Nazi-Germany-expansion_1936-39.jpg
(#1b-c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B63DPFxZ4Ns

a.

List the regions of Europe invaded by Nazi Germany from 1936 through 1939.

b.

What was the tactic that Hitler used to attack Poland?

c.

How would this tactic change the way World War II was to be fought?

2. The Miracle of Dunkirk (May-June, 1940)

Background: Germans broke through Frances Maginot Line in May 1940 and German troops began to pour into France. The
British forces that were sent to help France were trapped at Dunkirk. In a desperate gamble, the British sent all available
resources to rescue more than 300,000 troops off of the beaches of Dunkirk and returned them back to saftey in Britain.
(#2a) http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/dunkirk.htm

a. According to Arthur D. Divine, a rescuer in the evacuation, how might the rescue be considered
as a victory for the British despite losing much of their war supplies and risking imminent death
in their efforts?

3. France Falls (June 22, 1940)

(#3a-b) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/frgearm.asp

a. Did the terms of the Franco-German Armistice humiliate France as much as the Treaty of
Versailles had humiliated Germany?

CA H-SS 10.8.3/10.8.4

b. Who was winning the war at this point?

4. Battle of Britain (July 10-October 31, 1940)

(#4a+e) http://www.history.com/interactives/inside-wwii-interactive Click on Europe & Africa Battle of Britain

(#4b) http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111chur.html
(#4c) http://s134542708.websitehome.co.uk/pillboxes/assets/images/Sealionplan.jpg
(#4d) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2skgtuUpeOo

a. How did Hitler hope to force Britain to surrender?

b. What is the main message of Winston Churchils We Shall Fight the Beaches speech that was
given before the HiCommons on June 4, 1940?
c. Why do you think the air strikes were important to Germanys plan to invade Britain?
d. What did the London citizens go through in the Blitz of London? How did they survive the war?
e. Was the result of the Battle of Britain? How did it shift the course of war?
5. Africa and the Balkans (September 1940)
Beginning in September of 1940, Axis armies began pushing into North Africa and the Balkans. By 1941, the Axis and their allies controlled most of
Europe.
(#5a) http://glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/socialstudies/in_motion_10/gwh/GWH_865.swf

a. Which regions fell under Axis rule between 1939 and 1941?
6. Battle at Stalingrad (June 1941)
(#6a) Primary Source: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11342758
(#6b-c) Secondary Source: http://schoolworkhelper.net/battle-of-stalingrad-strategy-events-people/

a. When and how does the battle begin?

b. When and how does the battle end?
c. What was the number of casualties for both sides?
7. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)
(#7a-c) http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/videos/attack-pearl-harbor

a. What did FDR call this day?

b. What was the immediate effect of the attack?

CA H-SS 10.8.3/10.8.4

The Allies Push Back

The Allies were in deep trouble the start of 1942. German bombers continued their incessent raids over Britain
in the West. In the East, the German army were advancing deeper into the Soviet Union. In the Pacific, the
Japanese seemed unstoppable. The Allies realized that defeat would be inevitable if they didnt turn the tide
soon.
1. The Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942)
(#1a-c) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-the-coral-sea-begins

a. Why was this battle significant in terms of naval warfare?

b. Which countries were involved?

c. How long did this battle last? Who won?

2. The Battle of Midway (June 1942)

(#3a-b) http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/at-a-glance/battle-of-midway-fact-sheet.pdf.
(#3c-e) http://combinedfleet.com/battles/Battle_of_Midway

a. How long did this battle last?

b. Who were the Generals for both sides?
c. How many carriers, destroyers, and planes did each side have at the beginning?
d. How many did each side have at the end?
e. Who won the Battle of Midway?
3. Allied Victory in North Africa (November 1942 - May 1943)
(#3a) http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_el_alamein.shtml

a. What did the victory in North Africa mean for the Allies?
4. Allies Advance Through Italy (July 1943)
(4a-b) http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_italy/index_embed.shtml

a. How did the British and American forces invade Italy?

b. What did the Allied defeat of Italy mean for Hitler?
5. The Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942-January 1943)
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(#5a-d) http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
a. How was this battle fought?
b. What were the total number of casualties?
c. How far did the Germans get in this battle?
d. How did the Allies push back the Axis powers on four fronts?
6. The Battle at Normandy (June 6, 1944)
(#6a-b) http://www.nationalww2museumimages.org/web-assets/images/where-in-the-world1.jpg
(#6e-f) http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day

a. Who was the Supreme Allied Commander?

b. How did geography pose a challenge for the Allies?
c. What were the two types of landings?
d. How many amphibious landings were there?
e. When was the planned original date of this invasion?
f. What did the Allied victory mean for Germany?
7. The Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945)
(#7a-d) http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bulge.htm

a. What was the state of German troops before this battle?

b. Describe the weather of the battle site.
c. How long did this battle last?
d. What was the total number of casualties in this battle?