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Hitler's first "saturday suprises"
This first "saturday suprise" took place on a weekend when the British leaders retreated to their country homes for rest. Hitler broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and announced that he was going to rebuild the German Air force, rearm the German Army, and bring back the draft. Hitler said it was in "defense" of Germany and gave a speech at the Reichstag saying that if "any nation starts a war with Germany that he will create chaos". -
Hitler's secret meeting with Austrian Pime minister
Hitler met with Austrian prime minister Kurt von Schuschning for eleven hours having heated conversations filled wilth insults and threats. Hitler said Austria must become part of the "greater Germany". The prime minister disagreed, Hitler gave him three days to make a choice and change his thoughts. The Prime Minister wanted his people vote on the event. Before the end of the vote the leader resigned. On March 9 the Germans invaded, Austrians took a vote and 99.7% approved Nazi rule. -
Appeasing Hitler
With secret funding from the Nazi's many Germans agitated for "a return to the Reich". That summer Hitler supported the demands. In fear, the Czechs turned to allies for help. Though their allies were the powerful Russia and France, an agreement was made to give Hitler part of western Czechoslovakia. -
Hitler tells nation's that they are being hypocritical about complaints of how Germans treat Jews
Hitler tells Reichstag that other nations and countries have been hypocritical in their complaints of how Germans treat Jewish people. Hitler said "I can not see a reason why the memebers of this race should be imposed upon the German nation, while in States, which are so enthusiastic about these "splendid people", their settlment should be refused with every excuse." He then said "The sooner this problem is solved the better; Europe can not settle until the Jewish question is cleared up." -
Targeting Poland
Nazis take a group of concentration camp prisoners to a town that borders Poland. The Nazi's then dressed the prisoners into Polish army uniforms and later killed them.(this made it look like the Polish army was attacking the Germans). The next day the German army and SS members marched into Poland and said that they were retaliating for the Polish attack on the border town of Gleiwitz. -
Conquests in the East
The Nazi's sent 167 professors from Crawcow University to a concentration camp called Sachsenhausen. A few days later Nazi's arrested one thousand Polish intellectuals. A month later Hitler sent out a statement saying anyone who questions German security will "vanish without a trace into the night and fog". -
Conquests in the West
France fell to the Nazi's. Hitler had controll of all Western Europe besides Britian. While Britian fought alone, the leaders of many defeated countries formed new governments in-exile in London in order to prepare for when their people would be free. -
Invasion of Russia
Hitler ordered an invasion on Russia. The Nazi's were ordered to desrtoy the "Jewish-Bolshevik menance" once and for all. Four SS units followed behind the German Army each having their own areas and each having orders to murder any enemies of the German state. -
United States enters the War
Hitler declared war on the United States of America. This happened three days after the U.S. declared war on Japan. When Hitler declared war on the United States he united three powerful countries the U.S., Britian, and the Soviet Union. These countries all had one goal; to defeat Nazi Germany.
