Why World War 2 Happened? | The Real Reason | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

This video delves into the origins and impact of World War II, exploring the pivotal events leading to the conflict, starting with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It discusses Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, his military strategy of Blitzkrieg, and the early invasions of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. The video also highlights how international powers, like Britain and France, reacted to Germany's aggression. It offers an in-depth look at the war's early stages, setting the stage for future developments and promising a follow-up video for further exploration.

Takeaways

• 🌍 World War II had profound and lasting effects on global geopolitics and international relations.
• 🔥 The Treaty of Versailles, with its 'War Guilt Clause' and heavy reparations, sowed the seeds for economic hardship and political instability in Germany.
• 💸 Hyperinflation in Germany, exemplified by the skyrocketing cost of basic goods like bread, crippled the economy and fueled public discontent.
• 🗣️ Adolf Hitler's rise to power was facilitated by his ability to exploit Germany's economic and political turmoil, and his manipulation of the public through hate speeches and propaganda.
• 🚫 The Treaty of Versailles also imposed severe military restrictions on Germany, which Hitler openly defied by building an air force and expanding the navy.
• 🤝 The Munich Agreement and the subsequent annexation of Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia demonstrated the policy of appeasement, which failed to satiate Hitler's ambitions.
• 🇩🇪 Hitler's vision for a racially pure German Reich led to the persecution of Jews and Slavs, and the pursuit of Lebensraum for the Aryan race.
• ⚔️ The Blitzkrieg strategy, characterized by rapid, coordinated attacks using tanks and air force, allowed Germany to quickly overrun several European countries.
• 💊 The use of drugs like Pervitin (Crystal Meth) by German soldiers to enhance performance in battle was a desperate measure to maintain the pace of Blitzkrieg.
• 🏰 The fall of France and the establishment of puppet governments in conquered territories showcased Hitler's aggressive expansion and the effectiveness of his military strategies.

Q & A

What was the Treaty of Versailles and why was it significant in the context of World War II?

The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed in 1919 at the end of World War I. It was significant because it imposed heavy reparations on Germany, which led to economic hardship and hyperinflation, contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler and setting the stage for World War II.

How did the hyperinflation in Germany after World War I impact the country's economy and society?

The hyperinflation in Germany after World War I led to a rapid devaluation of the German Mark, making basic goods like bread extremely expensive. This crippled the economy, increased unemployment, and contributed to social unrest, which Adolf Hitler exploited to gain popularity and power.

What was Hitler's role in the political landscape of Germany during the interwar period?

Adolf Hitler was a young political leader who capitalized on Germany's economic and social instability after World War I. He used propaganda and hate speeches to gain support, blaming Jews and Socialists for Germany's problems, and eventually rose to power as the dictator of Germany in 1933.

What was the Munich Agreement of 1938, and how did it relate to the events leading up to World War II?

The Munich Agreement of 1938 was a pact signed by Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. It was an attempt to appease Hitler and avoid war, but it ultimately emboldened him to continue his aggressive expansion, leading to further conflict.

How did the German military strategy of Blitzkrieg contribute to the early successes of World War II?

Blitzkrieg, or 'lightning war,' was a military strategy that focused on speed and surprise. It involved rapid, coordinated attacks using tanks and air power, which allowed Germany to quickly overwhelm its opponents. This strategy was instrumental in the rapid conquest of Poland and other European countries at the beginning of World War II.

What was the significance of the invasion of Poland in 1939 for the start of World War II?

The invasion of Poland in 1939 by Germany was a key event that marked the official start of World War II. It prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, leading to a global conflict that would last for six years.

Why did the Soviet Union invade Finland in 1939, and what was the outcome of this conflict?

The Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939 to secure territory and buffer against potential German aggression. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Finland resisted fiercely in what became known as the Winter War. The conflict ended with the Moscow Peace Treaty in March 1940, where Finland ceded 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union.

What was the significance of the Battle of France and how did it impact the course of World War II?

The Battle of France was a major military campaign during World War II, where Germany invaded France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The swift German victory led to the fall of France, which significantly weakened the Allied position and allowed Germany to control much of Western Europe, altering the course of the war.

What was Operation Dynamo and why is it considered a significant event in World War II?

Operation Dynamo was the code name for the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. It was a significant event because it allowed the evacuation of over 300,000 soldiers, who later played a crucial role in the war, despite the loss of most of their equipment.

How did the geopolitical landscape of Europe change after the fall of France in 1940?

After the fall of France in 1940, Germany controlled most of Western Europe, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. Britain stood alone against Germany, while the Soviet Union maintained a non-aggression pact with Germany, leading to a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Origins of World War II

The paragraph sets the stage for World War II, highlighting its devastating impact on global geopolitics and cities. It introduces the Treaty of Versailles as a significant precursor, with its War Guilt Clause placing blame and financial burden on Germany. The economic hardships that followed, including hyperinflation and unemployment, set the stage for Hitler's rise. His manipulation of the public sentiment, blaming Jews and Socialists for Germany's woes, and the use of propaganda are discussed. The paragraph also covers Hitler's early political moves, including his failed coup and eventual rise to power, shaping the narrative for the war's onset.

05:01

🚩 Expansion and Militarization

This section details Germany's rearmament and territorial expansion under Hitler's regime. It discusses the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, allowing Germany to build a navy, and France's response with the Maginot Line. Hitler's annexation of Austria, the Munich Agreement, and subsequent violation are covered, illustrating his aggressive foreign policy. The paragraph also outlines Hitler's use of the Aryan race ideology and Lebensraum to justify his territorial ambitions. The narrative includes the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the strategic Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the invasion of Poland.

10:02

⚔️ The Outbreak of War

The paragraph describes the immediate lead-up to the full-scale outbreak of World War II. It recounts the UK's ultimatum to Hitler over the invasion of Poland and the subsequent declarations of war by multiple countries. The Phony War period is explained, noting the lack of immediate military action despite the declarations. The paragraph details the German invasion of Poland using the Blitzkrieg strategy, leading to a swift defeat. It also touches on the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland and Finland, as well as Hitler's further invasions of Norway and Denmark, highlighting the rapid changes in European power dynamics.

15:02

🏰 Fall of France and the Rise of Churchill

This section narrates the fall of France to German forces and the pivotal role of Winston Churchill. It discusses Neville Chamberlain's resignation and Churchill's rise to power, coinciding with Hitler's aggressive campaigns across Western Europe. The Maginot Line's ineffectiveness, the strategic surprise of the Ardennes Forest invasion, and the ensuing Battle of France are detailed. The paragraph culminates with the dramatic events at Dunkirk, where a massive evacuation saved thousands of Allied troops, despite the loss of much military equipment. The fall of France to Hitler and the formation of the Axis Powers are also covered.

20:04

🔄 The Turning Point and Propaganda's Role

The final paragraph sets the stage for the continuation of the story, focusing on Britain's determination to fight and the role of propaganda in Hitler's regime. It discusses the initial upper hand of Germany and the strategic non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. The paragraph also hints at the upcoming involvement of the United States and the significance of Britain's resolve, as encapsulated in Churchill's famous speeches. The video concludes with a teaser for the next part, which delves deeper into Hitler's use of propaganda and the broader context of the war, including the involvement of notable figures like Albert Einstein.

Keywords

💡World War II

World War II, often referred to as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war began with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequently led to bombings, battles, and atrocities that caused the deaths of tens of millions of people. In the video, World War II is the central theme, with discussions on its causes, key events, and the geopolitical impacts that continue to shape the world today.

💡Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty signed on June 28, 1919, that ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. The treaty included penalties for Germany, such as the loss of territory, military reductions, and reparations to be paid to the victorious nations. In the video, the Treaty of Versailles is highlighted as a significant precursor to World War II, as its harsh terms on Germany are considered to have contributed to the economic and political instability that allowed the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

💡Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party, Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and Führer of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. His ideologies, which led to the Holocaust and World War II, resulted in the deaths of millions of people. In the video, Hitler is a central figure whose actions and policies are explored in detail, including his rise to power, the manipulation of the German public, and the aggressive expansionist policies that led to war.

💡Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg, from the German words for 'lightning war', is a method of warfare whereby an attacking force, spearheaded by a dense concentration of armored and motorized or mechanized units with close air support, blasts through the enemy's front line by short, fast, powerful attacks and then proceeds behind the enemy's lines, disrupting their military command. The video describes Blitzkrieg as the revolutionary warfare strategy used by Hitler's Germany to swiftly invade and conquer several countries at the beginning of World War II.

💡Propaganda

Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. In the video, the use of propaganda by the Nazi Party is discussed as a tool to manipulate public opinion, spread nationalistic fervor, and justify aggressive actions. The script mentions how Hitler used propaganda to consolidate power and prepare the German populace for war.

💡Munich Agreement

The Munich Agreement was a settlement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of territories along the country's borders, primarily Sudetenland, from Czechoslovakia. The agreement was signed on September 30, 1938, by Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom during a conference held in Munich. In the video, the Munich Agreement is depicted as a failed attempt to appease Hitler and prevent war, which ultimately emboldened him to further territorial ambitions.

💡Neville Chamberlain

Neville Chamberlain was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. He is perhaps best known for his policy of appeasement towards Germany's Adolf Hitler before the Second World War. The video discusses Chamberlain's role in the lead-up to World War II, particularly his efforts to avoid conflict through diplomacy, which are now widely regarded as a failure.

💡Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was a British statesman, army officer, and writer, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders. The video script mentions Churchill taking over as Prime Minister from Neville Chamberlain, marking a significant shift in British policy towards a more combative stance against Hitler's Germany.

💡Dunkirk

The Battle of Dunkirk, also known as Operation Dynamo, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940, during World War II. The video describes Dunkirk as a significant event in World War II where a large number of British and French soldiers were evacuated under dire circumstances, marking a turning point and a moment of hope despite the ongoing war.

💡Maginot Line

The Maginot Line was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations that France built on its borders with Germany and Italy to deter invasion. The video mentions the Maginot Line as a symbol of France's defensive strategy during the early stages of World War II, which was ultimately bypassed by the German military, rendering it ineffective.

Highlights

World War II is considered the most devastating war in human history.

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, is often cited as the starting point for World War II.

Germany was held solely responsible for World War I losses and was required to pay a massive fine.

The hyperinflation in Germany led to economic collapse and skyrocketing unemployment rates.

Adolf Hitler's rise to power was marked by his ability to manipulate the masses and capitalize on Germany's discontent.

Hitler's Nazi Party used propaganda extensively to spread hate and consolidate power.

The Great Depression of 1929 further worsened Germany's economic and social conditions.

Hitler's vision for a racially pure German Reich led to the persecution of Jews and Slavs.

Germany's re-militarization, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, went largely unchecked by other European powers.

The Munich Agreement of 1938 aimed to appease Hitler by ceding the Sudetenland to Germany, but it failed to prevent war.

Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the official start of World War II.

The UK and France declared war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, but the Phony War period followed with little military action.

The Blitzkrieg tactic, characterized by speed and surprise, allowed Germany to quickly conquer several European countries.

The Battle of France in 1940 saw the use of Blitzkrieg on a large scale, leading to the fall of France.

The Dunkirk evacuation was a significant operation where hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers were rescued.

Winston Churchill's leadership and defiant speeches inspired the British people during the war.

Hitler's strategic errors and overextension of forces set the stage for Germany's eventual defeat.

Transcripts

Hello, friends!

World War II is the most devastating war in human history.

Numerous large cities were left crumbling after this war.

Today, nearly all geopolitical events

and international relations can be traced back

to this War.

Friends, I've told you many stories from WWII

in previous videos.

But in this video, come, let's understand WWII in depth.

Starting to end.

What happened exactly?

Why?

And what was its impact?

This is the story of World War II.

"It is difficult to track down

one single event

that sparked the conflict.

For ultimately, it was a series of events

that conspired together.

To eventually light a flame of war."

"The world's most hated treaty,

the Treaty of Versailles,

thus starting World War II in 1939."

"The whole world is

against Hitler and Hitlerism."

Let's begin this story in 1919.

The year when World War I ended.

And the famous peace treaty was signed

known as the Treaty of Versailles.

This treaty contained an important clause,

Article 231.

Which held that,

all the losses caused due to World War I,

Germany was to bear the responsibility for all such losses.

This clause is also known as War Guilt Clause,

because basically, it was trying to imply

that regardless of the countries participating in the war

Germany was to be blamed for it entirely.

France and Britain wanted

Germany to pay heavy costs for losing this war.

They wanted to recover their losses from Germany.

As a result, according to the Treaty of Versailles,

Germany was told to pay a fine of $33 Billion to the other countries.

In today's money, it amounts to around $270 Billion.

This is such a large amount that you won't believe that

it was only in 2010,

Germany made the final payment of this fine.

It took almost 100 years.

You'd wonder where this money comes from.

Obviously, from Germany.

From its citizens.

The first payment of this fine was made by Germany in 1921,

right after that, there was hyperinflation in Germany.

Germany's currency back then was the German Mark,

you can't imagine how rapidly it was devalued.

In 1922, in Berlin, a packet of bread cost 160 Marks.

The following year, in 1923,

the same packet of bread cost 200 Billion Marks.

Obviously, the economy was crippled.

And the rate of unemployment rose rapidly.

In such circumstances, in our story, entered

Adolf Hitler.

A young political leader,

who knew how to manipulate the masses with his speeches.

In 1923, Hitler's Nazi Party

tried to overthrow the German government.

By staging a coup.

Even though this attempt failed,

this caused Hitler's popularity among the masses to increase manifold.

Rumours were spread among the people

that the embarrassment faced by Germany

the international humiliation of Germany,

were because of the 'anti-national' elements living in the country.

People were distressed.

It was easy to manipulate them.

Hitler claimed that the Jews and Socialists living in the country,

were to be blamed.

They were the reason for Germany's disgrace.

Over the next 10 years, propaganda was used in abundance,

media organisations were paid, hate speeches were everywhere.

I won't go into its details

because I talked about these in the video on the rise of Hitler.

In case you haven't watched it, I'll add the link in the description below.

In 1929 came the Great Depression.

This worsened the already bad unemployment situation,

in 1933, 6 million people were unemployed in Germany.

Many people were homeless.

Children were starving to death.

As a result, in 1933,

Hitler declared himself the Dictator of Germany.

After taking over full control of the country,

Hitler started working on making his dream of a German Empire come true.

German Reich.

A state that would be racially pure.

Its residents would be people of the Aryan race only.

There would be no space for Jews and Slaviks.

To fill people with hatred,

they came up with the Judeo Bolshevism conspiracy theory.

According to this conspiracy theory,

the Russian Revolution in 1917,

was supposedly caused by the Jews.

Which eventually led to the formation of the Soviet Union.

In 1935, the rest of the world came to know that

Germany had an air force.

This might not seem like a big deal to you,

after all, every country has its air force.

But friends, the Treaty of Versailles laid down the condition

that Germany cannot have any form of military power.

This was an open violation of the Treaty of Versailles by Hitler.

But by this point in time, many people in Britain believed that

the contents of the Treaty of Versailles

were very unfair to Germany.

They were asking for such a large ransom,

that crippled the country.

And the country wasn't even allowed to have military

people consider it to be very demanding.

In June 1935, Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.

This formally recognised that

Hilter had the authority to form his navy.

Germany could have an independent navy.

But the growing militarisation in Germany

alerted France.

France built a 450 km long fortification on its Eastern border.

This was named the Maginot Line.

In 1938,

when Hitler believed that his military was sufficiently prepared,

he focused his attention on their neighbour Austria.

Austria was a must-have country for Hitler.

He wanted all German-speaking countries

to unite as one nation.

His ultimate goal was not only to

conquer as many countries as possible to satisfy his pride,

but also to acquire its resources

to advance his own country.

The people Hitler believed to be racially superior,

his Aryan race,

he wanted to give them Lebensraum.

To give them living space.

So that they could live freely.

In February 1938, Hitler met Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg,

he was forced into signing an agreement.

The agreement allowed Hitler to

place pro-Nazi people on the Austrian government.

The Austrian government was infiltrated

by appointing his own people

For example Dr. Hans Fischböck.

He was supposed to be the new finance minister of Austria.

He was a Nazi,

and the other Nazis who were in jail,

were set free by him.

Within a month, things were out of control.

Austrian Chancellor knew that if the infiltration was to be stopped

the people needed to be consulted first.

Whether Austria should be an independent country

or be a united country with the Nazis.

He decided to have a national vote for it.

As soon as Hitler found out about the national vote,

Hitler took his army and marched into Austria.

The German military entered Vienna.

But the Austrian Chancellor wanted no bloodshed.

He resigned from his seat.

Hitler used his propaganda ministry to spread fake news.

Of riots happening in Vienna.

And how the Communists were responsible for the riots.

And so the Austrian government asked the German army

to help them protect Austria.

The next day, the Austrian Parliament was dissolved

And Austria ceased to be an independent country.

This invasion was successful without any bloodshed.

A major reason for this was that

at this point, many people in Austria were in Hitler's favour.

They were victims of the propaganda.

They believed Hitler's invasion would help them.

That Hitler could make their country into a superpower.

After taking over Austria,

Hitler moved on to the next country.

Czechoslovakia.

On Czechoslovakia's border, there was the region

Sudetenland.

Of the people living here, around 3 million were Germans.

Hitler used that as an excuse to claim

that region as German's,

due to the Germans living there.

Here British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain came into the picture.

He wanted to avoid a war at all costs.

He believed that if Hitler was given what he wanted

he would stay calm, and there would be no wars.

This is why, in September 1938,

the Munich Agreement was signed.

"The settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem,

which has now been achieved,

is, in my view,

only the prelude.

There are larger settlements

in which all Europe may find peace."

Under this agreement, this region of the Sudetenland,

was to be given to Germany

only if Hitler promised that there would be no more wars.

Hitler gladly took this piece of Czechoslovakian land,

but not even 1 year passed

before he violated the Munich Agreement.

March 1939,

Hitler took his army to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia.

People fought for the first time.

But the German army won easily

and the country was split into 2.

One part was included in the German territerritory

and the second part was made a Nazi client state.

A puppet government was placed

under the name of the Slovak Republic.

British Prime Minister Chamberlain faced heavy criticism due to this

At this point in time, Winston Churchill famously said,

Hitler looked for the next country.

Poland.

To take control of Poland,

in a sly move, Hitler signed a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union,

in 1939.

At first glance, you'd think that Hitler hated

the Soviet Union and Communist ideology.

So why would he do this?

The only reason for this was

to invade Poland.

The Soviet Union wanted a part of Poland too.

In this situation, the interests of the two nations were aligned.

On 1st September 1939,

nearly 1 million German troops started moving towards Poland.

They planned on attacking from the North and South simultaneously.

Other countries were shocked at this.

The UK and France were at the edge of their patience.

If Hitler continued invading one country after the other,

the next number could be theirs.

How will the world cope?

They couldn't tolerate it any longer.

The UK gave an ultimatum to Hitler.

If they went ahead with Poland's invasion,

they would declare war against Germany.

Hitler ignored the ultimatum.

And with this, the UK officially declared

a war against Germany.

After this, France, Australia, New Zealand,

South Africa, and Canada declared war on Germany too.

UK's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

broadcasted this announcement on the radio.

But friends, at this point in time,

World War II hadn't actually begun.

This period is known as the Phony War.

Because there was no real war yet.

Though technically, these countries had declared war on Germany,

none of these countries

provided military support to Poland.

Poland's army was extremely old-fashioned.

Their army still used horses.

They couldn't last against Germany's military strategy.

Neither Britain nor France could save them.

Nearly 1.3 million people were mobilised in Poland,

but it didn't even take 1 week for the German army to defeat them.

On 8th September 1939,

German troops occupied Poland.

Friends, here it's important to mention

Hitler's revolutionary warfare strategy.

Known as Blitzkrieg.

Using this, Hitler successfully invaded several countries.

This military strategy focused on speed and stealth.

They used tanks to invade the countries so quickly

that their opponents didn't have the time to think.

And then their air force would join from above.

It was known as Luftwaffe.

And the invasion took place at a lightning speed.

In German, Blitz means lightning.

Hitler focused on making the wars as small as possible.

A war that could be wrapped up quickly.

Within less than a week.

To maintain this Blitzkrieg,

German soldiers were given drugs.

That's right.

A drug by the name of Pervitin was quite common.

Today, we know it as Crystal Meth.

"Confidential military communications

revealed that the Allies suspected that

the Nazis were using something

to supercharge their troops.

But they had no idea what it was."

When this drug is taken,

it takes away fatigue.

One doesn't need sleep.

It suppresses hunger and thirst,

reduces pain,

and gives a confidence boost to the user.

Giving such drugs to soldiers proved enormously advantageous.

Even if it was extremely harmful to their long-term health,

in the short term, it was very useful in winning these wars.

The defending soldiers would waste their time by sleeping at night,

while the German soldiers could fight day and night

and finish the task within 2-3 days.

As we move forward with the story, you'd see

how successful the Blitzkrieg military strategy was for Germany.

Now, back in Poland,

Not only was Poland invaded by Hitler,

but the Soviet Union was also invading it from the other side.

After it was defeated, it was partitioned into two.

Half of it went to Nazi Germany,

And the other half to the Soviets.

The logic used by the Soviets was that

before the Russian Revolution,

the area actually belonged to the Soviets.

And so they deserved it.

But from the Soviet's perspective, there was another country

which was a part of the Russian Empire before 1917.

Finland.

Stalin was worried that Germany would invade Finland.

Stalin couldn't really trust Hitler.

The worst problem with it would've been that

the city of Leningrad, where Stalin resided,

was only 50 km from the Finnish border.

Had Finland been actually occupied by Nazi Germany,

they would've been too close to Stalin's home.

So without waiting for Hitler to try to occupy Finland,

the Soviet Union asks Finland to hand over their territory to the Soviets.

Obviously, Finland refused.

And so the Soviets launched military action

Soviet Union's army was much larger than Finland's.

They had better equipment too.

But this war lasted for more than 2 months.

And the Soviets couldn't gain much.

Finally, in March 1940, this battle was over.

And the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed.

According to this, 11% of Finland's land,

would be handed over to the Soviet Union.

In the meanwhile, Hitler's focus wasn't actually on Finland.

He was looking at Norway and Denmark.

In April 1940, Hitler prepared his plans

on how he could establish control over Norway and Denmark.

On 9th April 1940,

Hitler used his Blitzkrieg strategy

to invade Norway and Denmark.

This invasion didn't last long either.

Both were small countries.

How could they compete against the German Army?

The Norwegian government fled to London

and in London, a Government in Exile was set up.

In Norway, Hitler established his puppet pro-Nazi government.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

accepted his failure.

The failure to protect so many neighbouring countries

from the Nazi invasion.

Due to this, on 10th May 1940,

he resigned from the position of Prime Minister.

The seat of the Prime Minister and its responsibilities

were handed over to the infamous Winston Churchill.

On the same day, 10th May,

Hitler launched an attack on

France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

This was a declaration of an all-out war.

Everyone could see that Hitler didn't intend to stop.

At the beginning of the video, I told you

how France had built the Maginot Line because they were worried

that Hitler would attack their country.

They were building a wall at the border.

The French troops lined the wall

to protect their country.

"...is the fate of Holland and Belgium,

like that of Poland

and Czechoslovakia,

and Austria

will be decided by the victory

of the British Empire."

On the borders of Belgium and Luxembourg

the Allied forces were stationed to protect them.

Hitler used his trademark Blitzkrieg strategy.

More than 1,000 fighter bomber airplanes

around 3 million soldiers on the ground as the offence for Germany,

this was known as the Battle of France.

The German troops were divided into 3 groups.

A, B, and C.

Group B was to attack the Netherlands.

And then enter Belgium to fight the Allied forces.

Group C was to attack the Maginot Line.

And are you wondering what was Group A supposed to do?

Group A was the master plan.

Group C's attack on Maginot Line

was merely a distraction

so that Group A could sneakily execute the master plan.

Entering France through the Ardennes Forest.

This was a vast forest

was believed to be a strong fortress by France's military experts.

They assumed that the German army would never be able to come through it

because it would be too difficult.

They didn't expect the German army to invade via this forest.

More than 40,000 military vehicles were used.

by Group A to enter France through this forest.

On 15th May 1940,

they captured Sedan

and started travelling Northwards.

The British army fighting Group B in Belgium

were shocked to see the suddenness

with which the large force attacked them from behind.

The soldiers were surrounded by the Nazi army from three sides.

They had only 1 way to escape.

Through the sea.

Near the port of Dunkirk.

So they planned to escape from there.

What happened in Dunkirk was a historical turn of events in WWII.

Nearly 400,000 allied troops were stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk.

When I'm using the term 'Allied'

it basically refers to the British and French armies.

The countries fighting Hitler

their group or their collation is known as the Allies.

And the countries fighting in support of Hitler,

are known as the Axis Powers.

It was crucial to save the Allied soldiers in time

because the Nazi army was moving towards them at great speeds.

They had no other way of escape.

They could evacuate only through the sea.

If this couldn't be done in time, 400,000 troops could be killed there.

It would've been a huge drawback for Britain and France.

They might have lost their countries forever.

Winston Churchill made a plan to evacuate the soldiers.

On 26th May 1940,

Operation Dynamo was launched.

The biggest evacuation in military history.

On land, the German army had reached the beaches.

They were firing at the troops.

The German airforce was attacking from above.

Christopher Nolan made the amazing film Dunkirk

which masterfully depicts the events that took place there.

This film focuses on 3 areas of evacuation.

First, British Royal Air Force's counter attack.

The British ships which were coming to evacuate the Allied soldiers

were given cover by the British air force.

To protect the ships.

Second, some private fishing boats in the English Channel

and the common civilians joined in to help in the evacuation.

And third, the events that took place on Dunkirk's beach.

The soldiers trying to save themselves

and helping each other.

4th June 1940.

Nearly 350,000 soldiers were successfully evacuated.

As you would've seen in the film as well.

But the bad news was that

most of the military equipment of the Allied forces was used up in this evacuation.

Some days later, on 22nd June 1940,

France surrendered to Hitler.

By this point in time, in Italy,

was under the rule of Dictator Mussolini.

He formed an alliance with Hitler

to wage war against France.

The alliance of Italy and Germany

was known as the Pact of Steel.

The two countries declared war against France and Britain

on 10th June.

By July 1940, the situation was that

Hitler had established control over nearly all neighbouring countries.

Austria, Poland, Denmark,

Norway, Belgium,

Luxembourg, the Netherlands,

and France.

At this point in time,

Hitler's Germany, Britain, and the Soviet Union.

Germany and the Soviet Union had a Peace Agreement.

So Hitler needn't be wary of the Soviet Union.

He believed that the Soviets wouldn't attack Germany.

He thought that Britain was the only remaining fighting Germany.

You'd be wondering about America's role.

Friends, America wasn't involved in WWII yet.

America was standing back

because after World War I,

America wasn't interested in

interfering with Europe's situation.

It was clear that

had they stopped fighting at this point in time,

Hitler would've been the clear victor.

Hitler had a major upper hand.

So how did the situation take a U-turn?

And Britain could defeat Germany?

"We shall fight on the landing grounds,

We shall fight in the fields

and in the streets,

We shall fight in the hills,

We shall never surrender!!"

Friends, let's talk continue this story in the next video,

part 2 of the video on World War II.

I know what you're thinking,

this might sound vague to you,

that you'd have to wait months for the part 2,

don't worry about that,

I won't torment you with the suspense for too long.

Because this time around, both videos were shot together,

and edited together.

Till then, you can watch this video,

in which I explained how Hitler used propaganda

to brainwash German citizens.

Basically, the way Hitler took over the government and control.

There's an interesting angle to this story

involving Albert Einstein.

You can click here to watch it.

And I'll see you in the next video.

Thank you very much!