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The Austrian Anschluss
Hitler threatened to invade the German-speaking Austria unless Austrian Nazi's were given important government posts. This demand was gave into but then Austria's chancellor tried to put the matter of unification with Germany to a democratic vote instead. Being afraid of what might happen, Hitler sent troops into Austria in March and announced the unification of Austria and Germany. -
The Munich Conference
Representatives of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany agreed to meet in Munich to decide Czechoslovakia's fate. Britain and France agreed to Hitler's demands which is also known as appeasement. They all made concession in exchange for peace. They gave Hitler what he wanted so that they can avoid another war. -
Hitler Demands Danzig
Hitler's demanded that the city of Danzig be returned to German control. His demands convinced Britain and France that war was inevitable. Britain soon announced on March 31, 1939, that if Poland went to war to defend themselves, Britain and France would come help. In May 1939, Hitler ordered Germany to prepare to invade Poland and ordered his foreign minister to start negotiations with the USSR. -
The Fall of France
On May 10, Hitler launched a new blitzkrieg. The British and French expected the German attack and as soon as it began, the British and French forces raced north into Belgium. Instead of sending their tanks through the countryside of central Belgium, the Germans sent their main force though the Ardennes Mountains of Luxembourg and eastern Belgium. The French thought that larger numbers of tanks couldn't move through the mountains. Quickly the British and French armies were trapped in Belgium. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
This act was signed by Germany and the USSR. This shocked the world because communism and Nazism were supposed to be completely against each other. Hitler made a deal to free himself for war against Britain, France, and Poland. Not knowing later that the treaty contained a secret deal to divide Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union. -
The Invasion of Poland
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany, which began to be World War ll. -
The Evacuation of Dunkirk
The only hope for Britain and France was to evacuate their surviving troops by sea. As German forces closed in on Dunkirk, Hitler ordered them to stop. His order gave the British time to strengthen their lines and begin their evacuation. Some 850 ships of all sizes headed to Dunkirk from England, many of them making the 48 mile trip multiple times. The British were hoping to rescue about 45,000 troops but instead evacuated about 338,000 British and French troops. -
The Battle of Britain
In June 1940, the German air force called Luftwaffe attacked British shipping in the English Channel. Then in mid August, the Luftwaffe launched an all- out air battle to destroy the Royal Air Force. Thus lasted into the fall of 1940.
