Prelude to WW2 By matthew.mcdonaldd 1919 Hitler joins German Workers Party 1921 Hitler becomes leader of German Workers Party (renames it to National German Workers Party) Nov 8, 1923 Beer Hall Putsch Nov 11, 1923 Hitler is arrested, put on trial, and jailed Sep 18, 1931 Manchurian Crisis 1933 Hitler was invited to become chancellor Feb 27, 1933 The Reichstag Fire Mar 23, 1933 The Enabling Act Jun 30, 1934 The Night of the Long Knives Aug 2, 1934 President Hindenburg dies, leaving Hitler as sole leader 1935 Abyssinian Crisis Period: 1935 to 1939 German Expansion Mar 7, 1936 Germany reoccupies the Saar Valley and Rhineland 1938 Germany takes over Sudetenland Mar 12, 1938 Anschluss Sep 30, 1938 The Munich Pact Aug 23, 1939 German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Sep 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland