Germany Circa WWII

Hitler takes office

Jan 30, 1933

Hitler finally becomes Chancellor of Germany after a long political rise. Hitler would soon make the Nazi Party the main political party of Germany; even though, it had only around 5% support among the German people.

Berlin Olympics

May 4, 1936

Germany hosts the 1936 Olympics. This provided Hitler with a showcase. He was able to show off his new country and his superior Aryan race.

Austria is incorporated

Mar 13, 1938

Germany diplomatically annexed Austria. (Anschluss)

Munich Agreement

Sep 29, 1938

Western powers agree to allow German to annex Western Czechoslovakia. (Sudetenland)

Pact of Steel

May 22, 1939

With this document Germany was now allied with Mussolini's Fascist Italy.

German Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Aug 23, 1939

Germany and The Soviet Union sign a 10 year non-aggression pact . This allowed Germany to attack Poland without Soviet interference. However, this would action would begin WW2

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland henceforth starting WW2

Invasion of Norway and Denmark

Apr 9, 1940

Within a months span between April 1940 and May 1940 Germany totally controls all of Norway and Denmark.

Western Europe falls to Germany

May 10, 1940

France and its surrounding nations all fall to Hitler's might within a six week period

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

Between July and October 1940 an air battle was raged over Britain with the intent of Germany establishing air dominance in the English Channel and Britain itself. Britain would succeed in defending its air superiority

Berlin Pact

Sep 27, 1940

Aligns Germany, Italy, and Japan together.

Invasion of Yugoslavia

Apr 6, 1941

Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria invade and dismember Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia surrenders on April 17.

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

All members of the Axis (except Bulgaria) declare on the Soviet Union.

Germany and its Allies declare war on U.S

Dec 11, 1941

Hitler declares his support for Japan by joining Japan's war against America

Advances in the East

Aug 28, 1942

Germany and her Axis partners launch a new offensive in the Soviet Union. German troops fight their way into Stalingrad on the Volga River by mid-September and penetrate deep into the Caucasus after securing the Crimean Peninsula.

First Major defeat to Germany

Oct 23, 1942

British troops defeat the Germans and Italians at El Alamein in Egypt, sending the Axis forces in chaotic retreat across Libya to the eastern border of Tunisia

Stalingrad

Jan 30, 1943

After the Soviets break through the Romanian and Hungarian lines they surround the German 6th Army. They later surrender on January 30th 1943

Axis out of Africa

May 13, 1943

Axis forces surrender to Allies in Tunisia ending the Axis presence in Africa.

Battle of Kursk

Jul 5, 1943

Germany launches a massive tank offensive near Kursk in the Soviet Union. Soviets successfully defend against attack and begin an offensive of their own into German territory.

Liberation of Kiev

Nov 6, 1943

Soviet troops liberate Kiev, and continue to push into German territory

Losses in Italy

Jun 4, 1944

Allied troops liberate Rome and surrounding area

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

Allied forces successfully land on the Normandy beaches of France, opening a “Second Front” against the Germans.

Battle of the Bulge

Dec 6, 1944

The Germans launch a final offensive in the west, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in an attempt to re-conquer Belgium and split the Allied forces along the German border. By January the Germans at in a full retreat

The Final Months

Apr 16, 1945

The Soviets launch their final offensive, encircling Berlin.

Hitler's end

Apr 30, 1945

Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker

German Surrender

May 7, 1945

Germany surrenders and the war in Europe is over