a project by:

Bordignon Maria Grazia

Bucatariu Dragos Constantin
Munteanu Stefana
Tibichi Iulia
Vladianu Teodora
 Some say it was simply a
continuation of the First World War that
had theoretically ended in 1918. Others
point to 1931, when Japan seized
Manchuria from China. Others to Italy’s
invasion and defeat of Abyssinia
(Ethiopia) in 1935, Adolf Hitler’s re-
militarization of Germany’s Rhineland
in 1936, the Spanish Civil War (1936–
1939), and Germany’s occupation of
Czechoslovakia in 1938 are sometimes
cited. The two dates most often
mentioned as “the beginning of World
War II” are July 7, 1937, when the
“Marco Polo Bridge Incident” led to a
prolonged war between Japan and China,
and September 1, 1939, when Germany
invaded Poland, which led Britain and
France to declare war on Hitler’s Nazi
state in retaliation. From the invasion of
Poland until the war ended with Japan’s
surrender in September 1945, most
nations around the world were engaged
in armed combat.
In the summer and fall of
1940, German and British air
forces clashed in the skies over
the United Kingdom, locked in
the largest sustained bombing
campaign to that date. A
significant turning point of
World War II, the Battle of
Britain ended when Germany’s
Luftwaffe failed to gain air
superiority over the Royal Air
Force despite months of
targeting Britain’s air bases,
military posts and, ultimately, its
civilian population. Britain’s
decisive victory saved the
country from a ground invasion
and possible occupation by
German forces while proving
that air power alone could be
used to win a major battle .
 Norwegian campaign
Norway loomed large in German strategy because of the great iron ore deposits in
northern Sweden and the long seacoast that would preclude a blockade of the sort that hurt
Germany in the First World War. Predicting correctly that the UK would make a preemptive
move against neutral Norway to stop the flow of ore from Narvik, Hitler ordered an invasion
to begin on 9 April 1940. The Wehrmacht succeeded in their mission, landing a large force at
vital strategic points in Norway. British land forces were quickly sent to Norway, landing in
the centre at Åndalsnes and at Namsos and in the north of the country at Narvik.
The Luftwaffe deterred landings farther south.
British troops made amphibious landings at Namsos during April 1940 in an effort to
stop the Germans advancing North. The British Forces' attacks south were stopped and they
were soon surrounded in the town of Namsos. The British were faced with attacks from the
Luftwaffe and increasing difficulty with landing fresh troops and supplies from the sea.
General De Wiart was given orders to evacuate his forces on 28 April. All British troops
were evacuated by 4 May 1940.
In central Norway, Royal Navy aircraft-carriers and RAF fighter squadrons could not
keep the established bases secure, and the British had to evacuate them. In the north, the
Germans were driven out of Narvik after they had captured it. However, as Luftwaffe aircraft
came into range with the German advances, it was again found to be impossible to sustain
bases in the face of aerial threat. British forces in Narvik were withdrawn as well.
As a consequence of the loss of Norway and Denmark, the Royal Navy commenced a
pre-emptive occupation of the Faroe Islands on 12 April 1940.
On 10 May 1940, the Royal Navy occupied Iceland to install naval and air bases on this
Atlantic island.
Great invasions
In late 1942 Operation Torch, the first large
Allied combined operation, was launched. The
British and Americans landed in force invading
French North Africa, but far enough west that the
Germans were able to invade Tunisia (owned by
France) and make it their base of operations.
Torch was followed by Operation Husky the
invasion of Sicily, and Operation Avalanche, the
invasion of southern Italy. Again the naval forces
escorted the invasion fleet and heavy cover was
provided against Italian interference. In the
aftermath of Avalanche, the Italian surrender was
announced and the British naval forces escorted the
Italian fleet to Malta under the terms of the
surrender. The main threat to Allied shipping around
Italy during these invasions was not the Italian fleet
but German guided weapons which sunk or damaged
a number of Allied units.
After the surrender of the Italian fleet, naval
operations in the Mediterranean became relatively
mundane, consisting largely of supporting ground
troops by bombardment, anti-submarine missions,
covert insertions of agents on enemy coast and
convoy escort.
Britain at war
Britain still had friends. The British Empire sent help.
People from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand left home to fight alongside Britain.
Churchill used radio to tell the world Britain was not
beaten. His speeches helped keep up people's spirits.
'We shall never surrender' he told Parliament.

Keeping up spirits
Churchill led Britain through the Battle of Britain and
the Blitz. He walked through towns damaged by bombs. He
met pilots, sailors and soldiers. He visited factories.
Everywhere he went he gave the 'V for Victory' sign.

The Big Three

From 1941, America was in the war. So was Russia.
Britain, America and Russia were now Allies.
Churchill became a friend of America's President
Roosevelt. He met Russia's leader, Josef Stalin. The three
leaders were called 'the Big Three'.

The war ends

On D-Day (6 June) 1944, the Allies landed armies in
Winston Churchill
France. Churchill wanted to go too, but had to wait until it
was safer. (1874-1965)
The war in Europe ended in May 1945. Crowds cheered
Churchill. He stood with the King and Queen.
Britain had an election. The Conservative Party lost. The
Labour Party won. Churchill (a Conservative) gave up
being Prime Minister.