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Hitler Appointed As Chancellor
Following inconclusive elections, President Hindenburg invited Hitler to become chancellor of Germany. -
The German-Polish Non-Aggression-Pact Is Agreed
Germany and Poland signed a 10-year non-aggression pact. -
Jehovah’s Witnesses Banned
The German government issued a ban on all organisations of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. -
Reoccupation Of The Rhineland
The German army reoccupied the Rhineland. This action directly broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. -
German Invasion Of Austria And Anschluss
The German Army invaded and annexed Austria. This became known as Anschluss. -
Exhibition Of ‘Degenerate Art’ Opens
The ‘Degenerate Art’ exhibition opened in Munich. It presented paintings, sculptures and books from Germany’s public galleries that were considered to be ‘un-German’ and therefore unacceptable -
Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino took place from the 17 January 1944 to the 18 May 1944. It was a series of four offensives carried out by Allied troops in central Italy (who was a key ally of Germany) in an attempt to breakthrough the Winter Line and occupy Rome. On the 18 May, Polish troops captured the Abbey at the top of Monte Cassino. The Battle for Monte Cassino was over. -
Germany Invades Czechoslovakia
Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia and occupied Prague, breaking the Munich agreement which was agreed just six months prior. -
Germany Invades France
The German army invaded France. After six weeks of battle, the French surrendered and signed an armistice with the Nazis. -
Auschwitz-Birkenau Constructed
The construction of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the second camp of Auschwitz, began. It soon became the most brutal and overcrowded of the camps at Auschwitz. -
The Wannsee Conference
Fifteen members of the German Civil Service and Nazi Party met at the Wannsee Conference in Berlin. They discssed and agreed the measures needed to implement the ‘Final Solution’ – the complete annihilation of the European Jews. Image courtesy of David Allthorpe. -
German Army Surrender At Stalingrad
The German Army surrendered to Soviet forces at Stalingrad, Russia, after 90.000 German soldiers had been encircled for several months. This was a key turning point in World War Two. -
Death March From Auschwitz
Due to the approaching Soviet Army, 58,000 prisoners of Auschwitz were forced on marches to the concentration and labour camps in central Germany. These marches became known as death marches. Image courtesy of USHMM.