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Germany's Anschluss with Austria
Majority of Austria's population was in favor of unification with Germany. Only took a day to unify Austria and Germany. -
Germany's Annexation of the Sudetenland
About 3 million German-speaking people lived in the western border regions of Czechoslovakia called teh Sudetenland. Hitler lied about the Czechs to be able to annex them. -
Hitler's Annexation of Czechoslovakia
Hitler wanted to annex Czechoslovakia in order to provide morel iving space for Germany as well as to control its importanat natural resources. He charged the Czechs with abusing the Sudeten Germans, and he began massing troops on the Czech border. -
The Munich Pact
Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain composed and signed the Munich Pact in Munich, Germany. Turned the Sudetenland over to Germany without a single shot being fired -
The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Joseph Stalin signed the pact. Fascist Germany and Communist Russia now committed never to attack each other. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The German Luftwaffe, or German air force, roared over Poland, raining bombs on military bases, airfields, railroads, and cities. This invasion was the 1st test of Germany's newest military strategy, the blitzkrieg. -
The Phony War
Also known as the sitzkrieg, or "sitting war" because neither side did anything for a couple months. Hitler did launch a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway in order "to protect freedom and independence" or those countries, but HItler wanted to build bases along the coasts to strike at Great Britain. -
The Miracle at Dunkrik
German offensive trapped almost 400,000 Biritsh and French soldiers as they fled to the beaces of Dunkirk on teh French side of the English Channel. In less than a week, a makeshift fleet of fishing trawlers, tug-boats, river barges, pleasure craft ferried about 330,000 British, French, and Belgian troops to safety across the Channel -
The Fall of France
William Shirer the rest of the world watched, 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 -
The Battle of Britain
Approximately 2,000 German planes ranged over Britain. Every night for 2 solid months, bombers pounded London. The Battle of Britain lasted on through the summer and the fall.
