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The Austrian Anschluss
In 1937, Hitler tried to unify German speaking nations in an attempt to expand German territory. In February, Hitler invaded Austria. Austria and Germany were unified under the announcement of Hitler, even though the Treaty of Versailles forbid the unification of Austria and Germany. -
The Munich Crisis
Hitler launched an annexation on Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia. France threatened Germany with the aid of the Soviet Union. Britain, France, Italy, and Germany organized the Munich Conference, where Britain and France agreed to Hitler's demands in order to avoid war. In March of the next year, peace failed and Slovakia was under German rule. -
Hitler Demands Dazig
Not long after the Munich Conference, Hitler demands that Germany regains control over the city of Dazig. Dazig is a part of Poland. On March 31, Britain and France tell Poland that they would assist them if they went to war. Germany prepared to invade in May. -
The Nazi-Societ Pact
Germany believed that the best way to protect the USSR was to pass a treaty to the Soviets. Stalin agrees, and the Nonaggression pack is signed. -
The Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France declare war on Germany and World War II begins. Poland puts up a fight, but is slaughtered. Their army is outdated and weak compared to Germany's. Warsaw, the Polish capital, falls to Germany on September 27. -
The Fall of France
Britain and France both sat still, awaiting Germany's attack. After World War I, France had built the Maginot Line along the German boarder. France waited behind the Maginot Line, but Hitler invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg instead in order to get around them. After careful planning, the Germans managed to ambush France and Britain, and corner France in Belgium. -
The Evacuation of Dunkirk
Instead of moving in, Hitler ordered his men to stop before Belgium. This gave them 3 days to evacuate 338,000 British and France troops. Three weeks later, France surrenders on June 22, 1940. -
The Battle of Britain
Expecting negotiation, Hitler waited for surrender. Britain does not surrender, and ensues an air battle. Germany is strong, but Britain had just developed the radar. Britain easily stopped any forces Germany had sent in. On October 12, 1940, Hitler canceled the invasion of Britain.
