Hitler gains power in 1933

Occupies Rhineland in 1935

Hitler seeks further expansion

Austria’s German speaking majority favors unification

March 12th 1938 German troops march into Austria unopposed

March 13th Union announced

War in Europe

3 million German speaking people in Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland)

Hitler charges Czechs with abuse of Germans

German and France pledge protection

Chamberlain goes to Munich

War in Europe

Hitler claims Sudetenland last claim

Munich agreementGermans given Sudetenland

Appeasement

March 15th Hitler occupies rest of Czechoslovakia

War in Europe

Soviets and German sign non aggression treaty

Germans claim Poles mistreatment of Germans

Most thought bluff, Soviet response

August 1939 sign treatySecond treaty to divide Poland

War in Europe

September 1, 1939

Hitler’s Air Force, followed by troops invade Poland

Blitzkrieg

September 3, 1939

France and Great Britain declare war on Germany

Within 3 weeks Poland falls and ceases to exist

War in Europe

Phony War

September 3, 1939

France and Great Britain declare war on Germany

Not enough time to aide Poland

Defenses build along Maginot Line

Sitzkreig for several months

War in Europe

April 9th Hitler invades Denmark and Norway

By the end of May overruns Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg

War in Europe

Expecting invasion through Belgium, Nazis surprise by invading through French Ardennes Forest

Allied soldiers trapped near Dunkirk evacuated

Italy enters war and attacks France from the South

War in Europe

Hitler offers French terms of Surrender that they had to accept – June 1940

Germans occupied northPuppet Vichy government in South

DeGaulle sets up government in exile

War in Europe

Battle of Britain beginsNaval force assembled but air attack begins

Germans bomb Britain nightly for two months

British secret weapon – radar

Invasion called off

War in Europe