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Period: to
German Expansion
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What Hitler was going to do?
Adolf Hitler secretly met with military advisers to discuss war plans for the future. These plans include annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia. The rest of the world is unaware of the possible German takeover. -
Germany takes Austria
German troops head into Austria unopposed. The United States along with the rest of the world does absolutely nothing. Hitler and his men take over the land with ease. -
Munich Agreement
Settlement permitted Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia along the country's borders mainly inhabited by German speakers, for which a new territorial designation "Sudetenland" was coined. -
Germany invades Czechoslovakia
Germany invaded the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia. Hitler brags, "Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist." The surrounding nations had little to no reaction. The German Invasion had been a breeze to accomplish. -
The Pact
Germany and the Soviet Union signed a nonagression pact. They also signed a second secret pact that vowed to divide Poland between them after the land was taken over. With these pacts in mind, Germany prepared to invade Poland. -
Germans invade Poland
Germany invades Poland using blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics. This is the first event in which a fast-paced and powerful military mindset is used. The Germans succeeded by taking Poland by surprise and crushing them with overwhelming force. The use of tanks was extremely beneficial to this military mindset. -
Europe takes a stand
Having vowed military support of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. The United States remained neutral. This was one of the first instances in which a supporting country has took action against the German invasion. -
Hitler tries to invade Denmark and Norway
The Germans already took over Poland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, and soon head for Denmark and Norway. Hitler planned to build bases along the coasts of Denmark and Norway in order to attack Great Britain. Soon after, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg fell to the Nazis. -
France Falls
Hitler gives French officers his terms of surrender. France falls and British troops retreat across the channel back to England. The only significant European land left to conquer for the Nazis is Great Britain itself. -
Germany bombs London
About 2,000 German planes bomb the city of London. This continues every night for two months straight. No countries assist either side of this tragedy.
