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Austria and Czechoslovakia Fall
The majority of Austria's 6 million people were German spo they wanted to unite with Germany. Hitler thought to make Germany stronger he needed to take over alll of its neighbor countries. -
Union with Austria
Austria became "Ostmark." The United States did nothing to prevent the union, they did not see it as a threat. -
Bargaining for the Sudetenland
Hitler wanted to annex Czechoslovakia to make more living space for the German people and to control natural resources. The moutainous region along Czechoslovakia's border was their primary defense against attack from Germany. -
The German Offensive Begins
German trrops took over what remained of Czechoslovakia. The night Hiter said "Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist." Now he had his eye on Poland. -
The Soviet Union Declares Neutrality
Stalin and Hitler who used to be sworn enemies b0oth signed a nonaggression pact to never attack each other again. Communist Russia and fascist Germany were now neutral. -
Blitzkrieg in Poland
Poland was the first country to experience new military strategies by Germany called the Blitzkrieg. The Luftwaffe made hundreds of bombs rain over Poland which imposed terror and confusion on the Polish. -
Declaration of War
Two days later, Poland, France and Britain declared war on Germany. The Blitzkrieg tactics blew France and Britain away. Poland was defeated before they even had a achance to set up defense. World War II had begun. -
Surprise Attack
Hilter launched a surprise attack on Denmark and Norway. Hitler did this so he could set up bases along its coast to attack Great Britain at a better vantage point. The Phony War ended by the end of May. -
France Falls
Italy entered the war as an ally to Germany and helped them make the French surrender. Italy invaded from the south as Germany invaded from the North. De Gaulle proclaimed "France has lost a battle but not the war." -
Britain Won't Give Up
The Blitzkrieg attempted to take full control of the sky by destroying the Royal Air Force. Britain was bombed for two whole months. On 15 September, 1940 the RAF shot down 186 German plab=nes while Germany only took down 26 of the RAF's so Hitler called off the war with Britain indefinitely.
