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German Expansion
The important events of the German Expansion -
Hitler shows his true colors
Hitler secretly meets with some of his top military advisers and boldly discusses his plan to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich. One of the advisers stated that this action can provoke war, but Hitler replies by saying the Nazi plan can not succeed without taking risk -
Austria joins The Third Reich
Austria was Hitlers first target. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched on Austria, and a day later, Germany announced that its union with Austria was complete -
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The fight over Czechoslovakia
In this span of time, Hitler fights to gain control of the area of Czechoslovakia, known as the Sudetenland, which consisted of about three million German speaking people. Early in the crisis, Britain and France promised to protect Czechoslovakia, but didn't want to cause a war. When war seemed inevitable, Hitler invited the leader of Britain and France to a meeting. He tells them that the taking of the Sudetenland would be his last "last territorial demand", and to avoid war, they agreed. -
Czechoslovakia is taken over
Hitler send troops into what remained of Czechoslovakia. After taking over Czechoslovakia, Hitler turns his gaze to Poland. -
Hitler invades Poland
In the spring of 1939, Hitler uses the same tactic on Poland that he used on Czechoslovakia to attempt to bring them into the Third Reich. Some people thought he was bluffing because an attack on Poland might start conflict between Germany and the Soviet Union. It would also aggravate France and Britain, who were allied with Poland. If Hitler proceed, it would start a two-front war. -
The Soviet Union and Germany make an act
Stalin signs a nonaggression pact with Hitler stating that they would never attack each other. They also signed another secret act agreeing to divide Poland equally between the two countries. -
Germany bombs Poland
As day broke over Poland, German planes thundered over Poland and rained bombs over Poland's military bases, airfields, railroads, and cities. At the same time, tanks rolled across the country side causing havoc. Two days later on September 3rd, Britain and France declared war on Germany. -
World War 2 begins
After a month of havoc in the country of Poland, Germany fighting with Britain and France, and the destruction of Poland, World War 2 had officially begun. -
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The phony war
Many months of fighting took place involving many countries in the war. Many people die, countries destroyed, and battle remnants left behind. -
Word War 2 rages on
Britain and France Fight relentlessly to stop the movement of Germany, but Germany keeps fighting. The war will face many battles from this point until the war ends in 1945.
