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Treaty of Versailles
The germans signed the treaty on this day at the end of world war 1. Although, the treaty was not recongized by the League of nations for another three months. The protagonist of the story, Helmuth, describes the treaty as an embarrassment to Germany -
Hitler Youth is formed
A group that the protagonist , Helmuth, was forced by his step father to join, is formed in support of Hitler and the National Socialist Party. It is a program for youth to learn to grow up to be a proper Nazi -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
As stated in the book, Hitler is voted as Chancellor along side the National Socialist Party on this day. His rise to power promised the end of inflation and unemployment although many elderly, such as Helmuth's grandparents, feared his violent mentality. -
Reichstag Fire
In the book, the protagonist is told that the Reichstag parliament building in berlin is burned down due to a Communist attack. This is accurate as Hitler took this fire as a threat, but it was later discovered that it was due to arson. -
Hitler becomes Fuhrer
The protagonist, being a young boy, does not take this event into much concern although it does effect much of his future. President Hindenburg's death causes Hitler to become Fuhrer. -
Germany Annexes Czechoslovakia
The book is once again correct in the description of the events in spring of 1939. Germany takes over Czechoslovakia and also demands Danzig and the Polish corridor. This causes Britain and France to send Hitler a stern warning which promises to support Poland if an invasion occurs. *The day stated above is an approximation -
War is Declared on Poland
Hitler invaded Poland despite threats from Britain and France. This caused a wave of laws, such as a radio law "intended to protect the fatherland from enemy propaganda". This was just a way to keep German citizens from hearing the truth about war.
British planes dropped leaflets over Helmuth's city warning them about the war Hitler was leading them into. He also talked about a new kind of warfare called Blitzkreig. This meant taking out Poland quickly, bombing cities quickly as possible. -
Warsaw Surrenders
After only a month Poland surrenders to Germany. Helmuth's Nazi step father says "The war would be over as soon as this matter with Poland is settled.. and now it is" but as the boy suspects, he is wrong and Germany is back at war with France soon enough. -
Paris Falls to Germans
This was an exciting moment for the Germans, the novel describes many French prisoners being shipped to Germany for labor on the countryside. -
War Declared on Russia
The novel explains the Germans invasion of Russia through a newscaster. The radio talked of german tropps crossing the soviet border until the war was officially declared on russia at 6 A.M.
