The War in Europe
Lebensraum Third Reich’s future depended on Lebensraum Set sights on Austria and Czechoslovakia
Union with Austria Hitler meets with Austrian Chancellor-Kurt von Schushnigg Hitler is demanding and angry with him Demands Schushnigg appoint Nazis to Austrian govmt Schushnigg eventually agrees
Union with Austria On return home-Schuschnigg changes his mind Informed Hitler
Union with Austria Schuschnigg forced to resign Germany announced Anschluss or union with Austria was complete
Bargaining for the Sudetenland Hitler then turns to Czechoslovakia Sudetenland-northern Czech. Along German border
Bargaining for the Sudetenland Hitler said Czechs were abusing Sudeten Germans Began massing troops on Czech border
Bargaining for the Sudetenland Hitler invites French Prime Minister and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to Munich Germany Hitler promised Sudetenland would be his last territorial demand
Bargaining for the Sudetenland French and British PMs believe Hitler Sept. 30, 1938 sign Munich Pact
Bargaining for the Sudetenland “My friends…there has come back from Germany peace with honor. I believe it is peace in our time.” Neville Chamberlain
Bargaining for the Sudetenland Winston Churchill-
Soviets Declare Neutrality An attack on Poland would also provoke a declaration of war from France and Britain-both promised military aid to Poland
Soviets Declare Neutrality Stalin decides that he has more to lose than to gain in a war against Germany
Soviets Declare Neutrality Nonaggression Pact- Soviet Union and Germany would not fight each other
Blitzkrieg in Poland September 1, 1939-Germany invades Poland 1st test of new Germany military strategy-Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg in Poland Britain and France declare war on Germany on Sept. 3 Blitzkrieg worked
Blitzkrieg in Poland During the last week of fighting-the Soviet Union attacks Poland from the east
The Phony War Quiet for the next few months French and British stayed behind Maginot Line
The Phony War Germans stayed in Germany Quiet broken by Soviets
The Phony War April 9, 1940 Germany invades Denmark and Norway Then Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg-overrun by May
Fall of France Allied British and French forces outnumbered and outgunned
Fall of France Italy enters war on side of Germans and invades southern France
Fall of France Nazis occupy northern 2/3 of France
Fall of France French general Charles de Gaulle flees to Britain
Battle of Britain Nazis assemble an invasion fleet along the French coast in preparation for invasion of Britain
Battle of Britain German Luftewaffe begins bombing British cities
Battle of Britain British Royal Air Force(RAF) fight excellently