The Start of World War 2

The Key Events of World War 2 for Germany

During the war, German fortunes changed significantly. In the beginning, Hitler experienced success but the Allies went on to secure several important victories that helped them regain the initiative.

Early Nazi victories and success in Europe

A string of early successes helped to maintain the German public's support back home:
- Between September 1939 and June 1940, the Germany army and German Air Force (the Luftwaffe) invaded Norway, Denmark and Poland.
- In 1940, Germany managed to invade France, Belgium and Holland, all in the space of 6 weeks (although Belgium and Holland are both quite small geographically).
On the 22nd of June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had been annexed (seized) by the Soviet Union in the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and were having the Soviet regime imposed on them. They actually welcomed German soldiers invading.

Resurgence of the Allies

The fortunes of Germany took a turn for the worse after November 1942.
In 1943, the Soviet Red Army managed to re-capture the city of Kiev from German forces.
In 1944, British and American forces were gaining control of Europe. On the 25th of August 1944, German troops in Paris surrendered to the Allies.
Public morale and support for the war and the Nazi party fell with these defeats.
This dissatisfaction led to resistance like Operation Valkyrie.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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