The European War Begins

Last Lesson:

Australian Involvement in WWII

Enlistment
Indigenous Service

This Lesson:

Phoney War
Blitzkrieg
The Evacuation of Dunkirk
 Phoney War
Phoney war is the name given to the period of time
from September 1939 to May 1940.

After the Blitzkrieg attack on Poland, seemingly

nothing occurred throughout the area of Western
Europe. So little actually happened that evacuated
children were returned to their families.

Phoney War was an American term, Winston Churchill

referred to this period as the Twilight War while
Germans named it, Sitzkrieg.
 Blitzkrieg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYgRsgdqjB8

The definition of Blitzkrieg: A German term meaning

Lightning War. Used as a military tactic, designed to
create disorganisation among enemy forces.
Completed using mobile forces and firepower.
Successful execution results in short campaigns.
 Background Info on Dunkirk
Main cause of evacuation was Germanys invasion of
the low countries and Northern France, May 1940.
The surrender of the Dutch army to Germany.
Breaking of the Belgian front, causing German tanks
to move west, forcing the allies to fall back in line.
General Kleists surprise advance through the hilly
and dense Ardennes forest proved a huge success.
May 15, Germans break the French defenses, leading
to open country, then moving west again to the
English Channel.
Germany reach the English Channel, successfully
cutting off allied forces, finally leading to evacuation.
 Evacuation from Dunkirk
British, French and Belgian troops stationed on the
port of Dunkirk, found themselves surrounded as well
as blocked from potential support by German forces.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the call

for anyone with a boat, to travel across the English
Channel and bring home the allied troops.

Over a 9 day period people came in fishing boats,

lifeboats, marine ships and all kinds of sea craft to
successfully rescue over 338 000 individuals
 Personal Account

Q. Using Source 2, imagine you are being evacuated

from the Port of Dunkirk in 1940. Talk about what you
see, hear and how you feel?

* You might also like to talk about what has happened

before your evacuation or how you came to be in this
position as a soldier in WWII.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcX8NvJPOFc