-
Austrian Anschluss
In 1937 Hitler wanted the unification of German speaking people in Austria and Czechoslovakia. He believed that the only way that Germany could expand its territory was to take it by force. In 1938 he threatened to invade austria unless Austrian Nazis were given important government posts. There was a vote for the unification of Germany and Austria but Hitler had his troops go into Austria and they announced Anschuluss or unification of Austria and Germany. -
Munich Conference
`Hitler claimed the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia with a large speaking German population. The Czechs strongly resisted but France said they would fight if Germany fought and the Soviet Union also Promised aid. Britain and France agreed to Hitler's demands which is known as an appeasement. This was also know as an exchange for peace. -
Hitler Demands Danzig
A month after Munich Hitler demanded Danzig. It was more than 90% German and was part of Poland since WWI. He also demanded a highway and railroad across the Polish Corridor. This convinced Britain and France that war was inevitable. On March 31,1939 Britain announced that if Poland went to war to defend its territory Britain and France would come to its aid. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Stalin agreed to the nonagression treaty with Germany believing that this would protect the USSR safe while Germany went to war with Britain and France. This treaty was signed on August 23,1939 and it shocked the whole world. Germany invaded Poland on September 1,1939 and two days later Briatain and France declared wrar on Germany. A new type of warfare called blitzkrieg was used during this war. -
Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland and Briatain and France declared war on Germany. With the new war tactics Germany was able to to take down Pol\and. On september 27.1939 Warsaw the Polish capital fell to Germany. October 5,1939 the GEermans defeated the Polish army. -
Fall of France
Hitler launched a new blitzkrieg. While troops parachuted into the Netherlands and army of tanks roled into Belgium and Luxembourg. As soon as this happened British and French troops raced North to Belgium. The French didn'nt think tanks could travel through the mountains and left a small number of defense at the Ardennes Mountains and the German troops smashed right through the French lines. These troops were then trapped in Belgium because they could'nt turn back to France quickly enough. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk
There was only one way out of Belgium for Britain and France and that was Dunkirk. It was the only port that Germany had not captured. Hitler had ordered his troops to stop as his troops closed in on Dunkirk. This order gave the British three days to evactuate there troops and strengthen their line. During this evactuation Britain and France saved an estimated 338,000 troops. This is now known as "Miracle at Dunkirk". -
Battle of Britain
The German airforce called Luftwaffe began attacking British shipping in the English Channel. Germans accidentally bombed London the Capital of Britain and this enraged them so much they bombed Berlin the next night. Britain came out with radar which helped them know when German aircrafts were coming and where they were. Britain lost less pilots and fighter planes than Germany because of this. Hitler then canceled the invasion.
