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Hitler has a plan
Hitler announced his plan to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich. -
Anschluss
German troops marched into Austria unopposed. A day later, Germany announced that its Anschluss, or "union", with Austria was complete. The United States and rest of the world did nothing. -
Munich Agreement
Hitler and the Nazis were publishing lies about the Czechs to rally support against them. Both France and Great Britain promised early on to protect Czechoslovakia. Then, Hitler invited French Premier Edouard Daladier and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to meet with hime in Munich. Hitler told them that the annexation of the Sudetenland is his "last territorial demand". Eager to avoid war, they both agreed and signed the Munich Agreement, handing him Czechoslovakia. -
German Offensive Begins
German troops took over what was left of Czechoslovakia. At nightfall Hitler gloated, "Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist." -
Nonaggression Pact
Tension rose in Poland and it seemed as if Germany might have another two-front war on its hands. However, Germany and Russia commited to never attack eachother. Germany and the Soviet Union also signed a second, secret pact, to divide Poland. With the danger of a two-front war eliminated. polands fate was sealed. -
Blitzkrieg
The German Luftwaffe, or German air force, bombed Poland cities, railroads, and military bases while tanks raced across the country side spreading terror and confusion. This was the test of the blitzkrieg, Germanys newest military strategy. Britain and France declared war but major fighting was over in three weeks, long before they could get their forces together. In the last week of fighting, the Soviet Union attacked Poland from the east grabbing some territory. World War II had begun. -
Phony War Ends
The phony war ends when Hitler attacked Denmark and Norway to "protect their freedom." In reality it was to build bases along the coasts to strike against Great Britain. Next he turned against the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg which were overrun by the end of May. -
The Fall of France
After many attacks on France, William Shirer watched Hitler hand over his terms of surrender to French officers. After France fell, a French general named Charles de Gaulle fled to England. There he declared, 'France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war." -
Germany Bombs Britain
On a single day approximately 2,000 German planes ranged over Britain. For two months, bombers attacked Britain. The RAF fought back with a radar. On September 15, 1940 the RAF shot down over 186vGerman planes.
