German expansion

German Expansion Timeline

  • Declaration from Hitler

    Declaration from Hitler
    Hitler secretly met with his top military advisors. Speaking to them, he declared that to prosper as a country, Germany must conquer Austria and Czechoslovakia.
  • German Troops March Into Austria

    German Troops March Into Austria
    Austria was Hitler's first target. 6 million people in Austria favored unification with Germany. On this day, Germany marched into Austria unopposed. A day later, Germany announced its union with Austria.
  • Munich Agreement

    Munich Agreement
    Hitler invited Edouard Daladier and Neville Chamberlain to Munich, Germany. Here he declared that the annexation of Sudetenland would be his "last territorial demand". To avoid war, they believed Hitler and signed the document. This gave Germany Sudetenland without shots being fired.
  • Expanding the Third Reich

    Expanding the Third Reich
    German troops entered what remained of Czechoslovakia. Hitler wanted to expand the Third Reich. That night, Hitler exclaimed "Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist." Next, Hitler's eyes were on taking over Poland.
  • Germany and Russia Make a Deal

    Germany and Russia Make a Deal
    With tensions rising over Poland, Stalin and Hitler sign a nonaggression pact. This pact stated that Russia and Germany would not attack eachother.
  • Attack over Poland

    Attack over Poland
    The German air force rained bombs over military airbases, airfields, railroads, and cities of Poland. German tanks were also racing across the Poland countryside. This was the first test of Germany's new military strategy.
  • Surprise Invasion

    Surprise Invasion
    Hitler began a surprise invasion in Denmark and Norway in order to "protect [those countries] freedom and independence". Hitler was ctually planning on building bases along Great Britain.
  • Surrender

    Surrender
    Italy entered war on Germany's side and invaded France. Hitler handed French officers his terms of surrender. The Germs would have control over the northern part of France.
  • The RAF

    The RAF
    The RAF began to strongly fight back. The RAF shut down 185 planes, and lost only 26 planes. A little later, Hitler called off the invasion.