-
German Troops March into Austria
Austria was Hitlers first target. Many of Austria's 6 million people were German. One day later, Germany announced that it's union was complete with Austria. -
Period: to
Main Idea
Using the sudden mass attack called blitzkrieg, Germany invaded and quickly conquered many European countries. -
Austria and Czechoslovakia Fall
Hitler secretly met with his top military advisers. He planned to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich.
The Third Reich is also known as the Nazi state. -
The Signing of the Munic Agreement
French premier Edouard Daladier and British prime minister Neville Chamberlain, in their eagerness to avoid war, they signed the Munic Agreement. This turned the Sudetenland over Germany without a single shot being fired. -
German Offensive Begins
As dawn broke that morning, German troops marched into what was left of Czechoslovakia. -
Soviet Union Declares Neutrality
As tensions rose over Poland, Stalin surprised everyone by signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler.
The nonaggression pact basically said that Germany and the Soviet Union will not engage in military conflict between each other. -
Blitzkrieg in Poland
As day broke that morning, the German air force roared over Poland, raining bombs on military bases, aircraft, railroads, and cities. This invasion was the first test of Germany's newest military strategy, the BLITZKRIEG, or lightning war. -
Britain and France Declare War on Germany
Only two days after the invasion of Poland, Britain and France have declared war on Germany -
Hitler Orders Suprise Attack on Denmark and Norway
Suddenly Hitler launches a surprise invasion on Denmark and Norway in order to "protect those countries freedom and independence." -
France Surrenders to Germany
Hitler handed France officers his terms of surrender. -
The Battle of Britain
Hitler had 2,600 planes at his disposal. On a single day approximately 2,000 German planes ranged over Britain. Every night for two solid months, bombers pounded London. -
Britains Air Force Fights back
British pilots managed to accurately plot the flight paths of German bomber planes even in the darkness. The Royal Air Force managed to shot down 185 German planes; at the same time, they only lost 26 aircraft.
