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, including 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 1940, Italy, Germany, and Japan all joined together in the [[Tripartite Pact]] and officially created 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, including 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 1940, Italy, Germany, and Japan all joined together in the [[Tripartite Pact]] and officially created 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 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.

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 March 12, 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.

Mussolini requested the Munich Conference in September 1938 to address this crisis about Czechoslovakia.  Germany, Italy, Britain and France were invited, while Stalin’s Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were not.  In a classic example of making a deal with the devil, Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland in exchange for his promise to stop there and not invade Czechoslovakia further.  Britain Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in one of the worst blunders in the history of the world, insisted that appeasing Hitler was the best approach.  Chamberlain received a hero’s welcome on his return to England, and he declared that he had achieved “peace in our time.”  An English newspaper justified the appeasement by claiming that Germans were simply “going into their own back yard.”  But within six months, Hitler annexed all of Czechoslovakia and then Mussolini grabbed Albania.  Chamberlain was discredited, and his major critic (Winston Churchill) would rise to replace him.

Mussolini requested the Munich Conference in September 1938 to address this crisis about Czechoslovakia.  Germany, Italy, Britain and France were invited, while Stalin’s Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were not.  In a classic example of making a deal with the devil, Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland in exchange for his promise to stop there and not invade Czechoslovakia further.  British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in one of the worst blunders in the history of the world, insisted that appeasing Hitler was the best approach.  Chamberlain received a hero’s welcome on his return to England, and he declared that he had achieved “peace in our time.”  An English newspaper justified the appeasement by claiming that Germans were simply “going into their own back yard.”  But within six months, Hitler annexed all of Czechoslovakia and then Mussolini grabbed Albania.  Chamberlain was discredited, and his major critic (Winston Churchill) would rise to replace him.

Hitler was about to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion with courageous soldiers on horses.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

Hitler was now ready to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion with courageous soldiers on horses.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France, who promised to help Poland defend if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

===German Aggression in 1939-1940===

===German Aggression in 1939-1940===

The Germans, meanwhile, fortified their Siegfried Line on their side.  Then, on April 9, 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway.  Denmark surrendered quickly, and by June Norway had fallen also.

The Germans, meanwhile, fortified their Siegfried Line on their side.  Then, on April 9, 1940, the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway.  Denmark surrendered quickly, and by June Norway had fallen also.

By the middle of 1940 a real world war had begun again.  On one side were the Axis Powers of Japan, Germany and Italy.  On the other side where the Allied Powers of Great Britain and its colonies (commonwealth) countries of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, France and its colonies, and potentially the United States and Soviet Union.

By the middle of 1940 a real world war had begun again.  On one side were the Axis Powers of Japan, Germany and Italy.  On the other side where the Allied Powers of Great Britain and its colonies (commonwealth), the nations of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, France and its colonies, and potentially the United States and the Soviet Union.

===Hitler Takes Continental Europe===

===Hitler Takes Continental Europe===