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Entering the Rhineland
In 1936 Hitler took back military control over the Rhineland area on the borders of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg under the direct defiance of the Treaty of Versailles. 3000 German Troops crossed the border and took control of the area. The Untied Kingdom gave a diplomatic grievance and France signed a non-aggression pact with Germany. -
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German Expansion Across Europe
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Annexation of Austria
Under threat of invasion, the Austrian Government under Kurt Schuschnigg formally joins Germany and is annexed into the Third Reich. German Troops crossed the border into Austria on the 12 of March and Hitler formally announces to the Annexation on the 13. -
Annexation of the Sudetenland
On 29 of September Italian, British, and French leaders agree that the Sudetenland will be annexed to Germany. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at first was okay by the demands by Germany to annex the Sudetenland, but the French Government was set against the act and put their army on partial mobilization. -
Take-over of Czechoslovakia
In March the rest of Czechoslovakia, Bohemia and Moravia, was taken over by Germany. The pro German area of Ruthenian declared independence and asked Hitler for support. Hitler gave no response and the area was later taken by Hungary in late March. -
The Pact Of Steal
On this day, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini formed a closed relationship between the two powers to establish the Rome-Berlin Axis. Military and politics were linked. -
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
A pact signed by the Germans and the Soviets. This pact carved up Europe and was the basis for the Invasion of Poland. The Soviets would gain Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Eastern Poland while the Germans would take Lithuania and Western Poland. -
Invasion of Poland
At 4 in the morning, a German Battleship opens fire on a Polish military barracks in Danzig officially starting the Invasion of Poland. The United Kingdom and France both declare war on Germany and the Second World War Begins. -
Poland Capitulates
On the 27th the siege of Warsaw ends and the Government of Poland is sent to exile in France. Germany splits Poland with the Soviets and moves its troops to the French border. -
The Invasion of France
This date marks the German invasion of France or better known as the Fall of France. German forces defeated Allied forces by mobile operations, taking France fast with the use of Blitzkrieg. -
The Capitulation of France
Using swift operations, German forces were able to defeat the Allied forces in the French regions. The Fall Gelb and the Fall Rot were the two main operations used to gain full control of France. These were German operations used to defeat the allies as quick as possible.
