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The Hossbach Memorandum
Adolf Hitler meets with the top military advisers in secret. Hitler declares that he is planning to expand the Third Reich by taking over Austria and Czechoslovakia. -
Anschluss
Germany storms into Austria unopposed. Later, Hitler announced that Germany's union with Austria was complete, claiming Austria as a part of the Third Reich. -
Munich Pact
The Munich Agreement allowed the Sudetenland to be turned over to the hands of Germany without the use of force. The deal was made between French Premier Daladier, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, and Adolf Hitler. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
The German troops march into what remained of Czechoslovakia,taking over Bohemia and Moravia. Czechoslovakia now ceased to exist. -
The Hitler-Stalin Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union come together in order to create an agrrement to not attack each other. Both sides used this for their own political needs. -
Invasion of Poland
Germany decides to head into Poland to take control of it. This was the first test of blitzkrieg which is the use of fast and powerful military vehicles to take enemies by surprise to crush all opposition with overwhelming force. German tanks roared acroos the Polish countryside and aircraft dropped bombs onto military bases, airfields, railroads, and cities in Poland. -
Britain and France Take Action
In response to Germany's attack on Poland, France and Britain decide to wage war against Germany. -
Germany Lauches Surprise Attack
Hitler launches a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway, planning to build bases along the coasts in order to strike against Great Britain. By the end of May, the Netherlands, Belguim, and Luxemburg were overrun. -
France Surrenders
At, Compiege, Hitler hands French officers his terms of surrender. Germany would occupy the northern part of France, while Nazi-controlled puppet government (leaded by Marshal Philippe Petain) would be set up at Vichy. southern France. -
Britain Retaliates
The RAF (Royal Air Force) shot down oveer 185 German planes, with only a loss of 26 aircrafts. After six weeks, Hitler calls of the invasion.
