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The Treaty of Versailles is Signed
Negotiated between Austria-Hungary and the allies of the first World War. The treaty dismantles Weimar Germany and redraws the European map. Germany isn't allowed to participate, this created grievances and weaknesses that later would form causes of WWII -
Treaty of Munich
Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier of France and Mussolini of Italy met in Munich and agreed that Hitler should have the Sudetanland of Czechoslovakia. Hitler assured that this was his extent of his ambitions for expansion -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht or the night of broken glass was a massive, coordinated attack on Jews throughout the German Reich. Nazis in Germany torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses, killing around 100 Jews. -
Russia and Germany Sign Pact
Hitler and Stalin signed a non aggression pact which included secret clauses for the division of Poland -
Hitler Invades Czechoslovakia
Despite assurances given to Hitler in the Treaty of Munich, he marched into Czechoslovakia and occupied the country. -
Hitler Invades Poland
1.5 million troops invade Poland along it 1,750 mile border with German controlled territory. The German Luftwaffe bombed polish airfields, warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea. Hitler claimed the massive invasion was a defensive action. -
Britain and France Declare War
Britain and France declare war on Germany following the invasion of Poland. -
Hitler Invades Denmark and Norway
Invaded them to safeguard supply routes of Swedish ore and establish a Norwegian base from which to break the British naval blockade on Germany. -
Blitzkrieg
Hitler launched his lightening war against Holland and Belgium. Rotterdam was bombed almost to extinction. Both countries were occupied. -
France signs armistice with Germany
The French, Marshall Petain, signed an armistice with Germany taking France, which had been devastated, out of the war and into German occupation. -
Operation Barbarossa
The largest military operation called Operation Barbarossa. Nazi Germany and its axis allies began a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
Was the most major confrontation of World War II. Nazi Germany and its allies fought the soviet union for control of the city Stalingrad in Southern Russia. Germany surrendered which marked Germany's first major defeat. -
D-Day
The battle of Normandy resulted in the allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany's control. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
The German leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker with his mistress. -
German Forces Surrender
German forces in northwest Germany, Holland, and Denmark surrendered to Montgomery. Hitler's successor tried to reach an agreement to surrender to the western allies but continue to fight the Russians, his request was denied.
