Start of World War IIStart of World War II

1938-19401938-1940

1938 March 12,1938 March 12, Anschluss: Austria is annexed to the Anschluss: Austria is annexed to the

"Greater German Reich "Greater German Reich Groszdeutschland" ("Blumenkrieg")Groszdeutschland" ("Blumenkrieg"). On 15 . On 15 March Hitler in Vienna.March Hitler in Vienna.

1938 May 20,1938 May 20, Czechoslovakia mobilizes its military.Czechoslovakia mobilizes its military.

1938 June,1938 June, Chinese forces breach the dykes along the Yellow Chinese forces breach the dykes along the Yellow

River to slow the Japan advancing forces. Over River to slow the Japan advancing forces. Over 1.000.000 Chinese peasants dies in the floods and 1.000.000 Chinese peasants dies in the floods and fighting.fighting.

1938 July,1938 July, Soviet and Japanese forces battle near Lake Hassan Soviet and Japanese forces battle near Lake Hassan

on the border of Manchukuo.on the border of Manchukuo.

1938 September 30,1938 September 30, Munich ConferenceMunich Conference (Agreement): Britain (Agreement): Britain

(British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain) (British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain) France (Daladier) and Italy (Mussoline) grant France (Daladier) and Italy (Mussoline) grant Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland to Hitler to Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland to Hitler to avoid war; Hitler gives Chamberlain his avoid war; Hitler gives Chamberlain his personal word on future cooperationpersonal word on future cooperation

1938 October 1,1938 October 1, Germany owns the Sudetenland of Germany owns the Sudetenland of

Czechoslovakia.Czechoslovakia.

1938 November,1938 November, Japan proclaims a "New Order in East Asia", with Japan proclaims a "New Order in East Asia", with

Japan as the lead nation.Japan as the lead nation. 1938 November 9,1938 November 9,

"Kristallnacht" (Night of Broken Glass)"Kristallnacht" (Night of Broken Glass): Nazi : Nazi authorities orchestrate a nationwide pogrom against authorities orchestrate a nationwide pogrom against Germany's Jewish population. Nazi destroy the Germany's Jewish population. Nazi destroy the homes, shops and synagogues of Jews in Germany homes, shops and synagogues of Jews in Germany following the murder of German diplomat Ernst vom following the murder of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath, a diplomatic assistant, by Herschel Grynszpan Rath, a diplomatic assistant, by Herschel Grynszpan a French Jew in the German Embassy in Paris.a French Jew in the German Embassy in Paris.191 synagogues burns, 76 destroyed, 20.000 Jews 191 synagogues burns, 76 destroyed, 20.000 Jews arrested.arrested.

Ernst Vom RathErnst Vom Rath

Herschel GrynszpanHerschel Grynszpan

1938 November 10,1938 November 10, Adolf Hitler set to press the task, to Adolf Hitler set to press the task, to

prepare the German people for a very long prepare the German people for a very long war.war.

1938 November 28,1938 November 28, Limitation freedom of movement for Jews; Limitation freedom of movement for Jews;

forbid drivers’ liscense, visiting theatres, forbid drivers’ liscense, visiting theatres, concerts and cinemas for the Jews.concerts and cinemas for the Jews.

January 1939,January 1939, Hitler predicts in a speech to the "Reichstag" Hitler predicts in a speech to the "Reichstag"

that a war in Europe would lead to "the that a war in Europe would lead to "the annihilation of the Jewish race in annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe":"The destruction of the JewsEurope":"The destruction of the Jews

Reichstag SpeechReichstag Speech

1933-19401933-1940

18 March 1939,18 March 1939, Stalin ask for coalition against Hitler, Chamberlain Stalin ask for coalition against Hitler, Chamberlain

refusedrefused

28 March 1939,28 March 1939, The Spanish Civil War endedThe Spanish Civil War ended

April 1939,April 1939, Great Britain and France guarantee help to Greece Great Britain and France guarantee help to Greece

and Romania, should they be attacked by and Romania, should they be attacked by Germany or ItalyGermany or Italy

7 April 1939,7 April 1939, Italian troops invade Albania,Italian troops invade Albania,

14 April 1939,14 April 1939, Roosevelt ask Hitler and Mussolini to stop the Roosevelt ask Hitler and Mussolini to stop the

violence and make a proposal to hold a violence and make a proposal to hold a conference.conference.

May 1939,May 1939, From May to September 1939 From May to September 1939 Japan and the Japan and the

Soviet Union fought a fierce, large-scale Soviet Union fought a fierce, large-scale undeclared warundeclared war on the Mongolian plains that on the Mongolian plains that ended with a decisive Soviet victory with two ended with a decisive Soviet victory with two important results: Japan reoriented its important results: Japan reoriented its strategic emphasis toward the south, leading strategic emphasis toward the south, leading to war with the United States, Britain, and the to war with the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands; and Russia freed itself from the Netherlands; and Russia freed itself from the fear of fighting on two fronts, thus vitally fear of fighting on two fronts, thus vitally affecting the course of the war with Germany.affecting the course of the war with Germany.

22 May 193922 May 1939, ,

Germany Germany and Italy and Italy sign "The sign "The Pact of Pact of Steel," a Steel," a formal formal alliance.alliance.

MP 38/40MP 38/40

MP-40 (Germany)MP-40 (Germany)

Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para Weight: 4.7 kg loaded, 4.03 kg emptyWeight: 4.7 kg loaded, 4.03 kg emptyRate of fire: 500 rounds per minuteRate of fire: 500 rounds per minuteMagazine capacity: 32 roundsMagazine capacity: 32 roundsEffective range: ca. 100 meters Effective range: ca. 100 meters

Burned hands during extended fireBurned hands during extended fire

1.2 million manufactured prior to and during 1.2 million manufactured prior to and during WWIIWWII

15 August 1939,15 August 1939, Indian troops arrive in Egypt to reinforce Indian troops arrive in Egypt to reinforce

British forces around the Suez Canal.British forces around the Suez Canal.19 August 1939,19 August 1939,

Fourteen German U-boats are sent to patrol Fourteen German U-boats are sent to patrol the North Atlantic Ocean.the North Atlantic Ocean.

Relative Strength at Sea before WW IIRelative Strength at Sea before WW II

Germany Great-Britain FranceGermany Great-Britain France

Aircraft carriersAircraft carriers -- 77 11

CarriersCarriers -- 22 11

Battle-shipsBattle-ships 22 1515 77

Armoured shipsArmoured ships 33 -- 77

CoastersCoasters -- 33 --

Heavy cruisersHeavy cruisers 22 1515 77

Germany Great-Britain FranceGermany Great-Britain France

Light cruisers Light cruisers 6 6 49 49 11 11Torpedo boats 38 230 81Torpedo boats 38 230 81/destroyers/destroyersMinelayers/cruisers -Minelayers/cruisers - 7 4 7 4Mine sweepers 72 46 16Mine sweepers 72 46 16Escort vessels 10 55 8Escort vessels 10 55 8Torpedo motor-boats 25 44 50Torpedo motor-boats 25 44 50Submarine/U-boats 57 62 79Submarine/U-boats 57 62 79

23 August 1939,23 August 1939, Germany and the Germany and the

Soviet Union Soviet Union signed a non-signed a non-aggression pact aggression pact in Moscowin Moscow

September 1, 1939September 1, 1939

"Operation Weiss": German troops "Operation Weiss": German troops invade Poland. German tanks invade Poland. German tanks thundered across the Polish border at thundered across the Polish border at precisely 0445 hoursprecisely 0445 hours

2 September 1939,2 September 1939, Italy declares neutrality in the German/Poland Italy declares neutrality in the German/Poland

conflict.conflict.The ocean liner S.S. Athenia is torpedoed by The ocean liner S.S. Athenia is torpedoed by the German U-boat U30. Over 112 civilians the German U-boat U30. Over 112 civilians died at sea, 69 women, 16 children and 28 died at sea, 69 women, 16 children and 28 men. America and Canada were popular men. America and Canada were popular destinations, trying to escape from War.destinations, trying to escape from War.

3 September 1939,3 September 1939, Begin of World War II.Begin of World War II. Iraq and Saudi Arabia Iraq and Saudi Arabia

break diplomatic relations, break diplomatic relations, Great Britain and Great Britain and France, follow by India, Australia, South France, follow by India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, declare war on Africa and New Zealand, declare war on GermanyGermany

17 September 1939,17 September 1939, Russian troops invade eastern Poland.Russian troops invade eastern Poland.

24 September 1939,24 September 1939, Began of the bombing of Warsaw with 1150 bombers. Began of the bombing of Warsaw with 1150 bombers.

Warsaw is blitzed from the air as the German ground Warsaw is blitzed from the air as the German ground forces prepare for an assault on the capital.forces prepare for an assault on the capital.

25 September 1939,25 September 1939, Warsaw again bombed by 400 German aircraft Warsaw again bombed by 400 German aircraft

dropping incendiary, highexplosive bombs. The water dropping incendiary, highexplosive bombs. The water pipes ruptured and its fire-fighters evacuated, the fires pipes ruptured and its fire-fighters evacuated, the fires cannot be quenched.cannot be quenched.

27 September 1939,27 September 1939, Warschau (Poland) surrenders to Nazi GermanyWarschau (Poland) surrenders to Nazi Germany

2 October 1939,2 October 1939, The Pan-American Conference sets up the The Pan-American Conference sets up the

300 mile security and neutrality zone around 300 mile security and neutrality zone around the American coast agreed on 23 September. the American coast agreed on 23 September. Within this zone all hostile actions by the Within this zone all hostile actions by the belligerent powers is forbidden.belligerent powers is forbidden.

14 October 1939,14 October 1939, The British Royal Navy battleship HMS Royal The British Royal Navy battleship HMS Royal

Oak sunk by the German U-boat U47Oak sunk by the German U-boat U478 November 1939,8 November 1939,

The first murder attempt on Adolf Hitler is The first murder attempt on Adolf Hitler is made in a Bürgerbräukeller (a Munich beer made in a Bürgerbräukeller (a Munich beer hall) in Munchen by carpenter George Elserhall) in Munchen by carpenter George Elser

The wreckage caused by The wreckage caused by the bomb explosion in the the bomb explosion in the Munich beer-hall. Hitler Munich beer-hall. Hitler left the hall 27 minutes left the hall 27 minutes before the explosion took before the explosion took place. Then the ceiling place. Then the ceiling collapsed and the collapsed and the platform from which Hitler platform from which Hitler had been speaking was had been speaking was buried 10ft under debris. buried 10ft under debris.