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The Austrian Anschluss
Hitler thought it best that all German speaking people were unified, including Austria and Czechoslovakia. Austria's reaction to this was a democratic vote. Hitler was not confident in the outcome. As a result, he sent troops into Austria to announce the unification, or Anschluss, of Austria and Germany. -
The Munich Conference
Hitler wanted to take control over Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia. France, along with the Soviet Union and Britain, threatened to fight Germany if they decided to invade Sudentenland. The leaders of the country met to discuss the outcome, known as The Munich Conference. It was in agreement that Germany was right in their demands, and Czechoslovakia was forced to give up the land, or fight for it alone. -
Hitler Demands Danzig
Hitler decided Danzig should be returned to Germany, from Poland. He also decided there needed to be a highway and railroad across the Polish Corridor. France and Britain announced that if Poland decided to defend it's territory, they would come and help. Afterwards, Hitler ordered his troops to prepare to invade Poland, while negotiating with the USSR, to avoid one more group to fight. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Germany made a treaty with the Soviet Union to avoid fighting with the USSR. Shocking everyone, because of the Nazi and Communist agreement, Germany and the USSR signed the nonagression pact. Hitler also happened to be unaware that in the treaty, it stated that Poland would be split between Germany and the Soviet Union. -
The Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland, whose warfare was far too outdated to win a fight against Germany. The Germans also introduced blitzkrieg, or lighting war, a new type of warfare. The Polish army did their best, but could not overcome the Germans. The capital was taken over and within a month, Germany had defeated Poland. -
The Fall of France
Britain and France had sat quiety, waiting for the Germans to fight. In time, Hitler decided to attack by going around the Maginot Line, a defenseive wall put up by the French. Unexpectedly, the Germans sent a large amount of tanks through the Ardennes Mountains. They defeated the French quickly and trapped the British and French in Belgium. -
The Evacutation of Dunkirk
Whle being trapped in Belgium, the French and British decide to try and get out through the one port left, Dunkirk. Hitler stopped his forces, giving the troops a three-day delay. He thought it would be easier to sign a peace treaty if he did not destroy them. An estimated 338,000 British and French troops were saved. -
The Battle of Britain
Unlike the French, who'd surrendered, Churchill declared that Britain would never surrender. The German airforce attacked the English Channel. He then ordered his airforce to destroy the British Royal Airforce. The British technically won, and the air battle was known as The Battle of Britain.