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Austrian Anschluss
Hitler announces a union between Germany and Austria. A union between Germany and Austria had been a dream of Hitler's, since he is a native of Austria, and a dream of Austrian social democrats. At first, the president of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, refused to appoint a Nazi chancellor. In response, Hermann Goering faked a crisis within the Austrian government and asked for German assistance. -
Period: to
WWII
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Munich Conference
Hitler, Mussolini, Daladier, and Chamberlain sign the Munich Pact. This pact sealed the fate of Czechoslovakia, giving it to the German's. It only gave Hitler part of the country known as the Sudentenland which is wher around 3,000,000 ethnic German's lived. It also gave Germany 66% of Czechoslovakia's coal, 70% of the nations iron and steel, and 70% of it's elictrical power, leaving the nation vulnerable to complete German domination. -
Hitler Demands Danzig
Hitler intended to use Danzig as a catalyst to provoke war with Poland. Around 1,000 Waffen SS soldiers created a sporting contest, however, this sporting contest was actually boot camp for the German Wehrmacht. Hitler proceeded to build many German installations throughout the city and claimed it to be part of the Reich. He did this solely to aggravate the Polish into war. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Stalin changes sides from the Allies, to the Axis. Signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact meant that Stalin would help Hitler overthrow Poland. It also agreed to split the country so the Nazi's and the Soviet's both gained land. This pact also stated that the two nations wouldn't go to war or fight eachother. This pact left Britain and France to fight the Germans on their own. -
Invasion of Poland
German troops overran the Polish with their new fighting style, blitzkrieg, or "lightning war." They rushed through Poland on September 1st, 1939. Followed by the Soviet invasion of Poland which began on Spetember 17th, 1939. This whole invasion became known as The September Campaign. The entire country was overrun within five weeks last from Spetember 1st, until October 6th. -
Fall of France
German Fallschirmjager invade Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. They invade France through the Ardenne Forrest. By June 22nd, 1940, France signs a ceasefire with the Nazi's. -
Evacuation of Dunkirk
The rapid advance of German forces left thousands of Allied soldiers trapped in the French port of Dunkirk. Between May 26th and June 4, 340,000 Allied troops were evacuated by a fleet of ships before the port fell. -
Battle of Britain
After the fall of France, Britain stood alone against the Nazi's. The new leader of Britain, Winston Churchill, ruled out peace-dealing with the Germans. Hitler proceeded to perform bombing raids on RAF airfields to cripple Britain, thus beginning the battle. The British had less than 500 fighters to combat the 1,500 Nazi Luftwaffe assault.