Changes

In 1935 Hitler was rearming Germany, and in 1936 he moved German troops into the buffer zone separating Germany from France:  the industrialized Rhineland.  This violated the Treaty of Versailles but no one did anything to stop it, certainly not the powerless League of Nations.  Mussolini thought it best to ally Italy with Germany, and in October 1936 they formed the Rome-Berlin Axis.  Japan joined both the following month, unifying the Axis Powers.

In 1935 Hitler was rearming Germany, and in 1936 he moved German troops into the buffer zone separating Germany from France:  the industrialized Rhineland.  This violated the Treaty of Versailles but no one did anything to stop it, certainly not the powerless League of Nations.  Mussolini thought it best to ally Italy with Germany, and in October 1936 they formed the Rome-Berlin Axis.  Japan joined both the following month, unifying the Axis Powers.

Hitler was just warming up.  Next he wanted to combine Austria with Germany, as they had been combined in the past.  Hitler himself was born in Austria and many Austrians supported joining Germany.  So Hitler annexed Austria in November 1937 without much resistance, and this is known as the Anschluss (unification of Austria and Germany).  France and Britain had promised to defend the independence of Austria, but did nothing.

Hitler was just warming up.  Next he wanted to combine Austria with Germany, as they had been combined in the past.  Hitler himself was born in Austria and many Austrians supported joining Germany.  So Hitler annexed Austria on 12 March 1938 without much resistance, and this is known as the Anschluss (unification of Austria and Germany).  France and Britain had promised to defend the independence of Austria, but did nothing.

The more Hitler grabbed, the more he wanted. He turned to western Czechoslovakia, which had a large number of German speakers.  In September 1938 he demanded that this region, the Sudetenland, submit to Germany and join it.  But the Czech government refused and turned to France for assistance.

The more Hitler grabbed, the more he wanted. He turned to western Czechoslovakia, which had a large number of German speakers.  In September 1938 he demanded that this region, the Sudetenland, submit to Germany and join it.  But the Czech government refused and turned to France for assistance.