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HItler met secretly with his top military advisors. He stated that in order for Germany to grow it needed the land of its neighbors. He wanted to put Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich. Third Reich- the third regime or empire Hitler, " 'The German Question' can be solved only by means of force, and this is never without risk."
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The movement of German Expansion
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German troops marched into Austria unopposed. The majority of Austria's six million people were Germans who wanted to be unified with Germany.
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Germany announces a union with Austria. The world did nothing.
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French premier Eduard Daladier and British prime minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement. Munich Agreement- settlement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of porions of Czechloslovakia along the country's borders The fuhrer declared that the annexation of the Sudetenland would be his "last territorial demand."
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German troops invade Czechoslovakia. Hitler- "Czechoslovakia ceased to exist."
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With tensions rising in Poland, Stalin signed a Nonagression Act with Hitler. Also, Germany and Russia commited never to attack eachother. Germany and the Soviet Union also signed a pact to divide Poland between them.
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The German Airforce dropped bombs on Polands. Also, German tanks spread confusion and fear on the Polish countryside. This was a test to Germany's military power, the Blitzkrieg, or the lightening war.
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Britain and France declare war on Germany.
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Hitler launches a surprise attack invasion on Denmark and Norway. Planning to build bases along the coast to attack Great Britain. He then turned against the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which were over run by the end of May.
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At Compiegne, Hitler handed French officers his terms of surrender.
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The RAF (Royal Air Force) shoots down over 185 German planes, only loosing 26.
