Pre-War Germany 1933-1939

Feb, 1933

Germany begins rearmament in secret - 300,000 men and 1,000 warplanes

Oct 14, 1933

Germany leaves League of Nations and World Disarmament Conference - Freed Hitler to continue rearmament which began in February earlier in the year

Jan 26, 1934

Germany non-aggression pact with Poland - Both countries agreed to have bilateral negotiations and to refrain from armed conflict for 10 years, effectively normalising the countries relations

Jun 14–15, 1934

Hitler visits Mussolini in Venice - They agreed to keep a "hands off policy" ensuring Austrian independence

Jul 25, 1934

Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss assassinated - Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in attempted coup. However, it failed as the military and police remained loyal to Dollfuss’ government

Jan 13, 1935

Saar Plebiscite according to the League of Nations - 98% turnout; 90.3% voted for German rule; important coal mine regained

Mar 9, 1935

Hitler announces the establishment of the Luftwaffe - Third military service of the German Reich

Mar 16, 1935

Hitler announces conscription - Men aged 18–25 conscripted into the army for at least two years

Apr 11–14, 1935

Stresa Conference (Stresa Front) - Britain, France, Italy united against German violation of Versailles (later broken)

May 2, 1935

Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance - Alliance aiming to contain Nazi Germany with threat of two-front war

Jun 18, 1935

Anglo-German Naval Agreement - Germany allowed navy up to 35% of Britain’s size, exceeding Versailles limits, Britain annoyed Italy with this Treaty as it broke the Stresa front

Oct 2, 1935

Italy invades Abyssinia - Britain & France appease Mussolini (Hoare-Laval Pact), League credibility damaged

Jan 6, 1936

Mussolini ends guarantee of Austrian independence - Shifted allegiance towards Hitler

Mar 7, 1936

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland - Broke Locarno Pact and Treaty of Versailles; Allies did not react; region held key industry

Jul 27, 1936

Germany sends military to Spanish Civil War - 19,000 German troops fought; 72 aircraft lost to combat, 160 in accidents

Oct 17, 1936

Goering in charge of 4-year plan - Rearmament, autobahns, public works, autarky, self-sufficiency

Nov 1, 1936

Rome-Berlin Axis announced - Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany unite in expansionist interests

Nov 25, 1936

Germany forms Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan - Alliance directed against Soviet Union

Apr 27, 1937

Luftwaffe destroys Guernica in Spain - Tested new planes (Heinkel He111, Stuka, Bf109 and Messerschmitt) and carpet bombing tactics

Jul, 1937

Japan-China War - Full-scale war between Japan and China begins

Sep 4–5, 1937

Mussolini visits Germany - Impressed by Hitler’s regime

Nov 5, 1937

Hossbach Memorandum - Hitler declares war for Lebensraum is near

Nov 6, 1937

Italy joins Anti-Comintern Pact - Strengthened alliance against Soviet Union

Feb 4, 1938

Ribbentrop becomes Foreign Minister - Generals Blomberg and Fritsch replaced

Feb 12, 1938

Hitler bullies Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg - Forced to include Nazis in his government

Mar 6, 1938

Austrian Plebiscite on Anschluss announced - Hitler sends troops hours before vote, rigging result

Mar 11, 1938

Germany invades Austria - Anschluss initiated

Mar 13, 1938

Anschluss is announced - Austria officially annexed into Germany

Apr 24, 1938

German Sudetens in Czechoslovakia demand autonomy - Konrad Henlein advocates separate German state

Aug 18, 1938

General Beck resigns - Opposed Hitler’s aggressive war plans

Aug, 1938

Great danger of war over Czechoslovakia - Tensions peak in Europe

Sep 29–30, 1938

Munich Conference - Britain, France, Italy grant Germany Sudetenland; Czechoslovakia excluded

Oct 1, 1938

Czechs cede Teschen to Poland - Czechoslovakia too weak to resist

Oct 1–10, 1938

Germany takes Sudetenland - Territory incorporated into Reich

Oct 6–8, 1938

Slovakia and Ruthenia granted autonomy - Prague government yields autonomy

Oct 21, 1938

Hitler orders plans to invade rest of Czechoslovakia - War preparation intensifies

Mar 14, 1939

Slovakia declares independence - Slovak People’s Party issues Žilina Manifesto, creating Slovak government

Mar 15, 1939

Germany occupies Czechoslovakia - Bohemia and Moravia occupied, violating Munich Agreement

Mar 23, 1939

Germany occupies Memel - Lithuania forced to cede German-speaking Memel territory

Mar 31, 1939

Britain and France guarantee Polish independence - UK and France pledge to defend Poland

May 22, 1939

Germany and Italy form the Pact of Steel - Military alliance focused against Britain and France (Japan excluded)

Aug 23, 1939

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) - Non-aggression pact with secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe; allowed Germany to invade Poland