Question: What were the important events of World War II in Europe from 1940-1942? (scroll down for answer)       Answer: 1. France fell to Germany quickly in 1940. Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, evacuated to Britain. Other Allies escaped as well after the Battle of Dunkirk. 2. Germany bombed England in 1940, but stopped in 1941 after strong resistance from the RAF (Royal Air Force). Much of London's population, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill, hid underground to stay safe. 3. In 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, thus breaking the nonaggression pact. The Germans never took over Moscow. After the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, the Soviets pushed back the German offensive. The harsh Russian winter played a great part in this victory. Like Napoleon over a century earlier, the German army had a hard time mobilizing.   Click here for next flash card.      Back to eFlashcard headquarters