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Hitler's Realization
(The general year of 1933 is meant)
Hitler realizes that he can use the crippling Treaty of Versailles to his own advantage. Hitler will use the Treaty of Versailles to justify his ensuing actions -
Germany leaves the League of Natoins
Germany leaves the League of Nations using the Treaty of Versailles to justify the withdrawal. Many leaders knew that the treaty had nothing to do with Hitler's withdrawal but this was largely ignored. Most leaders were afraid of starting another war or admired Hitler. -
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U.S. passes Nuetrality Laws
The U.S. becomes devoted to staying out of European affairs. Congress starts to pass a series of nuetrality laws pledging to stay out of foreign wars and not to be involved with warring nations. -
The First "Saturday Suprise"
Hitler announced that for Germany's own defense they would be restarting the draft, rearming the nation, and creating a new airforce. Hitler promised that Germany would limit its weapons to defensive purposes. None the less, this was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles but it was ignored or even celebrated in Germany and all across Europe. -
The Second "Saturday Suprise"
Hitler ordered troops into the the Rhineland another direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. His generals thought that Hitler was pushing things too far but German troops marched into the Rhineland unopposed.This exposed France, Belgium, and Holland to attck but again the international community did nothing. Leaders such as Winston Churchill who called for punishments against Germany were written off as war mongers. -
Germany allies itself with Italy
Hitler creates an alliance with a fellow Fascist leader Benito Mussolini. With a few give and takes both sides offered the other military support. This alliance helped Hitler engineer the later Anschluss. -
Hitler meets Austian prime minister
Hitler held a secret meeting with Austian Prime Minister Kurt von Schuschnigg. In this meeting Hitler tells Schusschnigg that Austria has to join a "Greater Germany" but Schuschnigg won't have it. Hitler gives Schusschnigg his ultimatum telling Schusschnigg that Austria had three days to decide, The Austrian government uses the time to organize a national election. However, note that Germany and Austria uniting was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. -
The Anschluss
Before the voting could happen, Hitler had German troops invade Austria because he wanted to "restore order in a chaotic country". While Austrian leaders tried to defuse the situation, German troops marched in unopposed. The world remained silent. When the Anchluss was taken to a vote it was passed with 99.7% of the popular vote. -
Germany takes Czechoslovakia
Hitler, Mussolini, Daldier, and Chamberlin met to decide how to answer Hitler's demands for the Sudentenland a German speaking part of Czechoslovakia. In the end, it was decided that Germany could take the Sudentenland. This conference led to Neville Chanberlin's famouse "peace in our time" speach. Leaders were praised for appeasing Hitler. -
Hitler addresses the Reichstag
Hitler addresses the Reichstag telling them about the other countries hypocrisy of Germany's mistreatment of Jews. He warned the Reichstag about Jews in power and the eventual extermination of the European Jewry -
Roosevelt meets Hitler
In January, President Roosevelt asked for Hitler to leave some small countries alone. Hitler retorted that Germany had no colonies or territories and occupied no non-German lands. Hitler then made his final land request, he asked for the city of Danzig and part of Poland. -
Germany justifies invading Poland
Nazis took prisoners from concentration camps and brought them to the German town Gleiwitz. Nazis then put the prisoners in Polish miltary uniforms and shot them. Germany was then able to justify marching into Poland as retaliation to the "Polish" attack. -
German troops attack Poland
German troops attack Poland from the West apparently in retaliation to a Polish attack on a German town. At the same time the Soviet Union attacks Poland from the East as agreed in Germany and Russia's non-aggression pact. -
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. Both countries have finally given up the idea of "peace in our time". -
Hitler conquers Poland
Germany defeats the Polish army and the world is forced to acknowledge his military genius. Using Blitzkreig tactics and new and advanced weaponry he took Poland in 18 days. -
Restrictions on Jews
By the end of 1939 Nazi anti-Jewish laws from Germany had been brought to Poland. Jews were forced to wear yellow stars. 400 ghettoes and 437 labor camps had been created. -
Nazi leaders decide the fate of Polish children
Henrich Hiddler decided to censor the education of non-German children. Non-German children would not recieve more than a fourth grade education and wouldn't know how to read. Arayan appearing children would be kidnapped and sent to Germany to be "Arayanized". -
Churchill is elected British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill is elected British Prime Minister after Neville Chamberlin failed to deal with Hitler effectively. Churchill was wary of Hitler since 1936 and had wanted to be harsh on Germany since it first broke the Treaty of Versailles but a war weary Great Britain had accused him of war mongering. -
Germany conquers Western Europe
By June 1940 Germany had conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxenbourg, and France. Only Britain remained an Allied nation free from German occupation. Many groups started governments outside the country and there were many liberation movements, but the Nazis had installed their own puppet governments in German territories. -
Hitler accomplishes his Goals
Hitler has acheived most of his goals by 1941. He has conquered most of Europe, Jews and othe "subhuman" races have been sent to concentration camps, and his "superior" soldiers have proven themselves. -
Germany Invades Russia
In June 1941, Hitler invades Russia breaking a earlier non-aggression pact. Stalin is shocked but Russian soldiers and people stay to Communist Russia. Russia was much stronger than Hitler had anticipated. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and the US is caught off guard. Millions rush to join the armed services and Congress declares war on Japan on the 8th. This ends the United States' period of isolation. -
Germany Declares War Against the US
After being asked by their ally Japan, Germany declares war against the US. This was one of the few times that Japan communicated with the European Axis. However, the Axis had only waken a sleeping tiger. Now three of the world strongest countries, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the US, were allied against the Axis powers
