Report

Six Steps to War

1 CONSCRIPTION & RE-ARMAMENT

Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (calling up men to the army). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France let him get away with it.

2 RHINELAND

Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a bluff Ð'- the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any resistance. But once again, Britain and France did nothing.

3 AUSTRIA

In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria. This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France did nothing.

4 MUNICH

In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First, Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade Czechoslovakia.

Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland.

5 CZECHOSLOVAKIA

In March 1939, Hitler's troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time when they realised that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war.

6 USSR/NAZI PACT & POLAND

In 1939, Hitler tried to take over Poland. First, the Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. Then, Hitler threatened war.

Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland.

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