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The Austrian Anschluss
Hitler Believed that Germany could expand it's territory only by resorting the to force with it's attendant powers. In the late 1937 he called for the unification of all German speaking people and threatened to invade Austria unless Austrian Nazis were given important government posts.
Austria's chancellor gave in to this demand but wanted to solve this by democratic vote. Hitler feared the outcome so he dent troops to Austria and announced the Aeschylus. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
When the Germans proposed a treaty with the Soviet Union, Stalin agreed. Hitler wanted this treaty because he needed some aid if he's going to declare war on Poland and probably Britain and France.
This treaty shocked the world, because communism and Nazism were supposed to oppose each other.
France and Britain knew that Hitler needed the aid to fight them, but they didn't know about the secret deal to divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union. -
The Munich Conference
Hitler announced German claims to Sudetenland an area of Czechoslovakia. The Czechs resisted, they were supported by France, Soviet Union, and Britain. Germany agreed to meet in Munich. Britain and France agreed to Hitler's demands to avoid war. This appeasement Did fail to keep the peace and Hitler dent troops to Czechoslovakia and divided the country. It became a German protectorate. -
Hitler Demands Danzing
Hitler demands the city of danzing be under his control. He also requested a highway and railroad across the polish corridor.
At this point Britain and France know that war cant be avoided.
Britain then announces that if Poland went to war it will be aided by Britain and France. Poland refuses Hitler's demands.
In May 1938 Hitler orders to invade Poland.Her also ordered his prime minster to negotiate a treaty with the USSR.
" Danzig was and is a German city" Hitler -
The invasion of poland
Germany started to invade Poland in September 1939, Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany. Poland resisted German attacks but their army was outdated. Their army rode horses and carried lances against German tanks which was supported by waves of aircraft that bombed enemy positions and cut their supply lines.
The Germans used a new type of warfare called blitzkrieg or "lightning war". By October 1939, the Germans had defeated the Polish military. -
The Fall Of France
Both Britain and France remained on the defense in France. They stayed at the Maginot border waiting the Germans to attack. That decision gave Germany the opportunity to concentrate its forces on Poland only.
Germany knew that it had to invade Belgium and Luxembourg to avoid the borders of France. On May 10 Germany attacked Belgium sending his troops through the Ardennes Mountains. German troops smashed through the French lines, British and French armies by that time were trapped in Belgium. -
The Miracle at Dunkrik
Germany trapped the Allied forces in Belgium and started to take over every port there. Before the Germans took over the last port "Dunkrik" Hitler ordered his troops not to attack the port. He thought maybe Britain would surrender and stop fighting him.
Some 850 ships headed to Dunkirk to evacuate it from the Allied troops.Three weeks later Hitler accepted the French surrender and installed a puppet government in France. Britain however refused to surrender. -
The Battle of Britain
Britain made it clear that it won't surrender without a war. Hitler tries to invade Britain, but he needs to defeat the royal Air force first to cross the English canal.In mid August the Luftwaffe lunched an air battle to destroy the Royal Air force. German bombers bombed London accidentally as they attacked the Royal Air force. Britain responded by bombing Berlin. Although they were outnumbered, the royal force defeated the Luftwaffe's. In October 1940 Hitler canceled the invasion.
