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Adolf Hitler declares his plans
On November 5 1937,Hitler met secretly with his top military advisers. He boldly declared that to grow and prosper, Germany needs to take over Austria and Czechoslovakia. -
German Troops march into Austria
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria unopposed. A day later, Germany announced that its "union", with Austria. -
Munich Agreement
On September 30, 1938, German Hitler, France premier Edouard Daladier, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement. The Munich Agreement provided "cession to Germany of the Sudeten German territory" of Czechoslovakia. -
Czechoslovakia Takeover
As dawn broke on March 15, 1939, German troops poured into what remained of Czechoslovakia. , German troops occupied Czech Bohemia and Moravia and Chancellor Hitler traveled to the Czech capital, Prague. The next day, Hitler decreed: “The Bohemian-Moravian countries belonged for a millennium to the living space of the German people." -
Nonaggression Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, or the Nonaggression Pact was signed August 23, 1939- fascist Germany and communist Germany and communist Russia now committed never to attack each other. -
Invasion of Poland
As Day broke on September 1, 1939, the German Air Force, roared over Poland, raining bombs on military bases, airfields, railroads, and cities. At the same time, German tanks raced across the Polish countryside, spreading terror and confusion. This was called blitzkrieg or lightning war. -
Britain and France declare War
On September 3, 1939, in response to Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Britain and France, both allies of the overrun nation declare war on Germany. -
Operation Weserübung
On April 9, 1940 Hitler launched a surprise invasion on Denmark and Norway in order "to protect their freedom and Independence". In truth, Hitler planned to build bases along the coasts to strike Great Britain. -
The Armistice of Compiègne, France
On June 22, 1940, at Compiègne, Hitler handed French officers his terms of surrender. Germans would occupy the northern part of France, and a Nazi-controlled puppet government, headed by Marshal Philippe Petain, would be set up at Vichy, in southern France. -
Battle of Britain Day
The Battle of Britain raged in through the summer and fall. . On September 15, 1940 the The Royal Air Force shot down over 185 German planes: at the same time, they lost only 26 aircraft of their own. Six weeks later Hitler called off the invasion of Britain indefinitely.
