Notes
INVASION OF NORWAY
- April 8 and 9 1940 Hitler invades Denmark and Norway
- Purpose is two fold for Hitler:
- 1) The British had landed in Norway declaring their help for Finland = Threatened the steel that came from Sweden
- 2) It provided a much more forward base for German U-boats
- Provides the word Quisling to the English dictionary
- All Norwegian shipping goes to the British
- Hitler begins his attack on the west in the neutral ‘Low Countries’ May 10, 1940
- Times to surrender:
- Netherlands = 4 days
- Belgium = 18 days
- Luxembourg = 2 days
- The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and French try to defend Belgium but arrive too late
Summary
Hitler invades Denmark and Norway in 1940 for a forward base for German U-Boats. He then invaded Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg -- they all surrendered in the first month of war.
Quote
"All great movements are popular movements. They are the volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotions, stirred into activity by the ruthless Goddess of Distress or by the torch of the spoken word cast into the midst of the people." - Hitler
subjunctive question
Could have countries stood up to Germany (like Stalingrad) to prevent the war from moving any more forward?