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Hitler's defiance to the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler marched German troops into the Rhineland. The gorvernment of France considered sending troops to stop the Germans but they decided to take no action. -
The Maginot Line
It was proposed by André Maginot, a Member of the French Parliament, to protect France from a German attack. -
Weakening the Red Army
The purges reached the Red Army. Stalin destroyed almost his entire military leadership: 35000 leading officers were excuted, including nealr all his top military experts. -
The Austrian Nazis
It was discovered by the Austrian authorities that there was a plot by Austrian Nazis to create chaos by killing the German ambassador. -
The visit of the Austrian leader
The Austrian leader, Schuschnigg, visited Hitler for crisis talks in Germany. Hitler raved and shouted at him for two hours. -
The Plebisctie
Schuschnigg announced that there would be a plebiscite in Austria. He fixed the lowest age of voting at twenty-four. -
Avoiding the plebiscite
The German army invaded Austria. -
Hitler in Austria
Hitler himself crossed into Austria. He was greeted by cheering crowds. -
The Sudeten Germans
Hitler met Henlein, the Nazi leader of the Sudeten German Party, to give him instructions, saying that he should keep making demands to the Czechoslovak government. -
Change of government
There's a change of government in France, Édouard Daladier was the new Prime Minister. -
Smash Czechoslovakia
Hitler let his generals know that he had decided to attack Czechoslovakia. -
The separation
Lord Runciman was sent ti work out a settlement between the two sides. He recommend that the Sudetenland should be separated from Czechoslovakia. -
Tension rose
Tension rose in early September as a result of Henlein's order for Local Nazis to attack on Czech and Jewish targets. (Henlein left Czechoslovakia on 15 September) -
The meeting at Berchtesgaden
Chamberlain met Hitler in Germany at Berchtesgaden. Chamberlain agreed with him that the Sudetenland shoulb be annexed by Germany. -
The French leaders agrees
Daladier and Bonnet came to London and agreed to support the partition. -
The Czech President also agrees
The Czech President, Benes, agreed to the take-over, realizing he didn't had no other choice. -
New demands
Hitler changed his mind and made new demands:
-The German take.over should be immediate
-There should be votes on whether to stay in Czechoslovakia in additional areas.
-The claims of Hungary and Poland to other parts of Czechoslovakia needed consideration. -
Find a peaceful solution.
Chamberlain tried to get Hitler to find a different solution. He sent Sir Horace Wilson to talk to Hitler on 26 and 27 September, but Hitler wasn't in a mood for negotiation. -
The Munich Conference
The Munich Conference began. Britain and France agreed to give Hitler what he wanted. -
The Pact of Munich is signed
German troops marched into the Sudetenland unopposed. The Czech President, Benes, was forced to go into exile. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Germany invaded what was left of Czechoslovakia. The fall of the country had conviced the British and the French that appeasment had failed. -
Preparing
The British government stated that Britain would stand by Poland in case of war. -
Trying to join sides
The Soviet Foreign Minister, Litvinov, outlined the basis for a treaty to France and Britain. -
Talks in Leningrad
British, French and Soviet military leaders met for talks in Leningrad. The Soviet delegates asked if they could ensure a right of passage for Soviet troops through Polish and Romanian territory, but they denied. -
A letter
Hitlet took the step of writing a personal letter to Stalin offering high level talks in Moscow. -
Then Non-Aggretion Pact
Hitler sent Ribbentrop, his Foreign Minister, to Moscow. There, Ribbentrop met Stalin and began bargaining. The Soviet Union was offered control of vast areas of territory. The pact was soon signed. -
The beginning of War
German forces entered Polish territory on 1 September, and two days later, on 3 September, the British and the French government declared war on Germany.
