-
The Austrian Anschluss
Hitler called for the unification of Germans, including those from Austria and Czechoslovakia. He threatened to invade Austria unless Nazis were given government posts. The chancellor gave in but then decided to put the issue to a democratic vote. Scared, Hitler invaded Austria and announced the unification of Austria and Germany -
The Munich Crisis
Hitler announced German claims to the Sudetenland. The Czechs resisted the demands of Germany. France then threatened Germany if they invaded Czechoslovakia, and so did the Soviet Union. Reps of France, Germany, Italy, and Britain met in Munich to decide the Czechs fate. Britain and France agreed to Hitlers demands. They made concessions in exchange for peace. People felt if they gave Hitler what he asked, they'd avoid war. Czech had to give up Sudetenland or fight Germany. -
Hitler Demands Danzig
Hitler demand Danzig to be returned to German control. It was 90 percent German, but apart of Poland since WWI. He also demanded a railroad and highway across the Polish corridor, that separated western Germany from East Prussia. This convinced Britain and France that war was inevitable. Britain said if Poland went to war to defend its territory, they would be at aid. Therefore, Poland refused Hitlers demands. Germany prepared an army to invade Poland and Hitler negotiated with the USSR. -
The Nazi Soviet Pact
Stalin agreed to the nonagression treaty with Germany. He believed to protect the USSR, you had to turn capitalist nations against each other. Germany would go to war with Britain and France, and the USSR would be safe. The pact shocked the world because communism and nazism were suppose to oppose each other. What people didn't know was the pact had a secret deal to divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union -
Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Poland resisted Germany, but its army was outdated. -
The Fall of France
Britain sent troops to France, waiting for the Germans to attack. Britain and France waited behind the Maginot Line for the Germans. Germany then focused on Poland before turning west for Britain and France. Hitler also went around the Maginot Line, which protected France's border with Germany, but not Belgium. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk
After trapping the Allied forces in Belgium, Germany drove them toward the English Channel. The only way Britain and France could get out was to evacuate by sea. Germany captured all but one port, Dunkirk in northern France. -
The Battle of Britain
German air force, called the Luftwaffe, began attacking British shipping in the English Channel.Then the Lutwaffe launched an all out air battle to destroy the Royal Air Force
