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The Japanese Chinese war is renewed
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Roosevelt renounces the neutrality policy towards Japan
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Italy leaves the League of Nations
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German troops enter Austria which is annexed one day later.
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Munich Conference. Hitler assures the world that this is his last territorial demand. British Prime Minister Chamberlain and French Premier Daladier cede Czech territories to Germany, Poland and Hungary.
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"Reichskristallnacht" in Germany. In an organized progrom, most Synagogues are ravaged and many jews are killed.
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Slovakia and Carpatho-Ukraine declare independency from Czechoslovakia (strongly encouraged by the Axis-countries). A day later, German troops occupy the rest of the state.
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German-Russian non-agression pact. A secret protocol divides Europe into spheres of influence.
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World War Two begins with the German attack on Poland
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France, Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries declare war upon Germany.
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Poland is dismembered. Large parts of it are incorporated into Germany or the Soviet Union. The remainder on the German side with the core of the old Polish lands become the "Generalgouvernement". From the start, the German government systematically tries to eliminate the polish intelligentsia and educated classes.
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An assassination attempt of Elser on Hitler fails. One of the consequences is that another attempt planned by the recistance movement has to be cancelled.
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With operation "Weserübung" Germany occupies Denmark and Norway.
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After several months of "Drôle de Guerre" (Phoney war, Sitzkrieg) the Germans finally attack in the west. After six weeks of heavy fighting, the Netherlands and Belgium are occupied, France capitulates after Paris falls and the British withdraw from the continent.
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The armistice between Germany and France is signed in the Compiègne wagon-lit. A French government of the unoccupied territories is formed in Vichy with General Pétain as head of state.
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Hitler signs order 21, Barbarossa. The planning has to be completed by May 15th.
