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The invasion of the Rhineland
Under the Treaty of Versailles the land along the Rhine was to be demilitarised. However Hitler decided to re occupy the Rhineland. German military forces moved into the Rhineland. This forces consisted of only a few infantry battalions and a artillery battery. If the French moved in to stop the occupation the Germans had orders to retreat. -
The Anschluss with Austria
Anschluss - means “joining or union”. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany and Austria were forbidden to merge. Under Hitlers rule, Austrian Nazis killed the Austrian chancellor and tried to take over the government. Hitler ordered the Austrian Nazi Party to begin a campaign for Austria to be united with Germany. Schuschnigg was forced to resign and Hitler was invited into Austria were he then united both countries together. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Agreement was the agreement signed on 29 Sept 1938 between Chamberlain, Daladier ( France ), Hitler and Mussolini ( Italy ). Britain and France had allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, this was a strip land in Czechslovakia bordering Germany where there was a large number of ethnic Germans back into Germany. In return Hitler promised that this would be the limit of his territorial ambitions. -
The invasion of Poland
After becoming annexed with Austria and Czechslovakia, Germany realised that they had no one that was going to stop them from invading Poland. This was the start of World War 2 in Europe as Poland’s western allies, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, declared war on Germany. -
The Allied Declaration if War
Hitler was intent on conquering the sovereign nations of Europe. He had already annexed Austria when they allowed him to annex the sudetenland of Czechoslovakia in the Munich Agreement. When he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia it proved appeasement had failed. The only other choice Britain and France had was to declare war. -
Japan Enters the War
The Japanese entered the war, and along with their many victories, they bombed Darwin. -
Kokoda Track
Japanese land forces tries to reach Port Moresby using the Kokoda track who are stopped by the Australian troops. -
Australian Hospital Ship Sunk
Australian Hospital Ship, Centaur, sunk by a Japanese submarine off the south Queensland coast. The ship was crewed by members of the Australian Merchant Marine and only 64 of the 333 people on board survived -
First Victory Loan
Australian Government launched First Victory Loan aimed at raising £150 million ($300 million) for the war effort. Twelve major Government war loans were offered to the Australian public during World War II. -
Australian Women's Army Service
The Government approved sending members of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) to New Guinea to replace men for service in forward areas. Members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) and the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) were already serving in New Guinea.
