1. Nazi Aggression Leads to World War Two

2. The Weimar Republic ruled Germany from the end of WWI until Hitler rose to power

4. Nazi’s begin to rise to power in the early 1920s

5. In prison he writes about his political and social philosophies

7. 1933- Nazis Gain Power
One of Hitler’s first acts was to withdraw Germany from the League of Nations

9. 1935
Hitler openly declares that Germany will rebuild its military- in clear violation of the Versailles Treaty
French and British take no action

10. Germany Economy Rises

11. March 1936: The Rhineland in Germany, on border with France
Versailles Treaty had required it to be demilitarized to protect France
Hitler announced it would be re- militarized.
British and French took no action

12. October 1936: Rome-Berlin Axis
Germany & Italy form a military alliance known as the Axis (Hitler said the world would revolve on an axis from Rome to Berlin)
Japan joined the Axis soon after

13. March 1938: Union with Austria
Nazi forced march into Austria to claim it as part of the German “Third Reich”
Austrian government does not resist

14. September 1938: The Sudetenland
Sudetenland territory in Czechoslovakia
valuable territory: mining, good farmland, huge arms factories, heavily fortified to defend against possible German attack
3 million residents there were German-speaking
Hitler demanded it be given to Germany

15. September 1938: Munich Conference
British and French leaders meet with Hitler over Sudetenland
follow policy of appeasement: giving into demands in order to avoid war
allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland if he promises not to take any more land

16. March 1939
Nazis threaten the rest of Czechoslovakia and establish indirect control

17. August 1939: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Hitler & Stalin make secret agreement
if either goes to war, the other will not attack
when war happens will divide Poland between themselves
Other countries shocked, start to prepare for war, but take no action

18. August 1939: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

19. September 1, 1939 Nazis invade Poland
Blitzkrieg- lightning war- very swift, heavy invasion- planes, tanks, artillery, etc.
Sept 3rd -Britain and France declare war on Germany
World War Two has begun!