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Germany's Anschluss with Austria
There had been several years of pressure by supporters from both Austria and Germany for Germany to annex Austria. The leader of Austria wanted to stay independent and tried to hold a vote on the matter but there was a coup d'état and Germany was able to take control. -
Germany's Annexation of the Sudetenland
Sudetenland was a strategic part of Czechoslovakia's defenses but Germany was given control over the area. Only a few weeks after the annexation of Sudetenland, the Jews living there were persecuted and sent to concentration camps. About 300,000 Czech and Slovak jews were sent to concentration camps and either died or were killed. -
The Munich Pact
This was an agreement allowing Germnay to annx Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. Czechoslovakia was not invited to the conference but France, Italy, and the United Kingdom were all present and signed the agreement. -
Hitler's Annexation of Czechoslovakia
After Germany joined with Austria, or took conrtol of Austria, Hitler set his sights on annexing Czechoslovakia. The incorporation of Sudetenland into Germnay left Czechoslovakia weak and allowed Germany to easily take control of the country. -
The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Hitler did not want to have to fight a war on two fronts, which the Germans had done in World War I, since it would greatly weaken their offensive. He signed a non-agression pact with the soviets to ensure that he would not be forced to fight them along with the Allies. This pact stated that if there was a problem between the two contries then it would be handled diplomatically and was meant to last ten years but really lasted less than two. -
Germany's Invasion of Poland
The German-Soviet Pact allowed Germany to attack Poland without fear of Soviet retalliation since the pact stated that Poland was to be partitioned between the two powers. Germany defeated Polish troops within a few weeks and as a result the British and french troops declared war on Germany. -
The Phony War
The Phony War was a term used to describe the lack of military operations from the Allies against the Germans at the begining of the war. The allied powers had declared war but they had yet to actually take the offensive and come to Poland's aid as they had agreed to. -
The Miracle at Dunkirk
It was an evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France. After nine days a total of 338,226 British and French troops had been evacuated by 850 boats. -
The Fall of France
Germany launched a quick invasion of France and in just four days broke through France's lines of defense. The fall of France caused Italy to enter the war on Germany's side. -
The Battle of Britain
It was a Germany attack on the British in order to gain control of the British airforce. This battle was the first major campaign faught entirely by air forces.
