Hitler's Germany: 1920-1945

A fire that broke out at the Reichstag building was blamed on the Communist Party (KPD), on a man named Marinus van der Lubbe. As a result, the KPD, which was the second largest party in Germany, was banned.

With the Communist Party banned, Hitler ordered a new election at which the Nazi Party gained 44% of the vote.

The Enabling Act gave Hitler the power to make laws without consulting the Reichstag for a period of four years.

The Gestapo (the Nazi Secret Police) were formed.

The Nazis take-over the local government.

Trade Unions were banned.

25,000 'un-German' books burned in the movement that was encouraged by Joseph Goebbels, head of the Nazi Party's propaganda.

All political parties except the Nazis were banned.

Germany withdrew from the League of Nations (LoN).

150 leaders of the SA were executed. Many members of the SA were committed socialists and demanded that Nazi policy embrace socialist aims. This was not a direction the Nazis wanted to take so the SA were eliminated.

President Hindenburg dies. Hitler declared himself as 'Fuhrer'; combining the post of President and Chancellor.

In a speech to the National Socialist Women's Organisation, Hitler defined women's role, stating a woman's "world is her husband, her family, her children and her home." He later developed this into the three Ks: Kinder, Kuche, Kirche. (Children, Kitchen, Church).

Hitler ordered Hermann Goering to establish the Luftwaffe (German airforce) in defiance to the terms of the ToV.

Hitler publicly announced that the German army was to be expanded. Conscription was then introduced.

In contravention of the terms of the ToV, Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland with, surprisingly, no backlash from the allies.

Anti-Comintern Pact concluded between Germany and Japan.

Law made membership of the Hitler Youth compulsory for all German boys.

The Anschluss with Austria was formed. Hitler made a triumphant entry into Vienna.

Allies agreed that Germany could have the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in return for world peace.

Hitler invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia in contravention of the Munich Agreement.

Britain issued a statement guaranteeing Poland's independence. The issuing of this statement meant that if Germany invaded Poland, then Britain would come to the aid of the Poles.

Alliance between Hitler and Stalin which agreed to divide Poland between the two countries.

Hitler invaded Poland. Although the Poles fought back, they were quickly defeated and Poland was occupied.

Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Denmark and Norway invaded and occupied by Germany.

Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France invaded and occupied by Germany.

German Luftwaffe attempted to gain control of British airspace through defeat of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Bomb raids on Britain (The Blitz) by the Luftwaffe were abandoned. Hitler also delayed and later abandoned plans to invade Britain.

Yugoslavia and Greece invaded and occupied by Germany.

Three million German troops invaded Russia.

Hitler declared war on the United States. Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December, the US had declared war on Japan. Under the terms of the Anti-Comintern Pact, Hitler was bound to declare war on the US.

Wannsee Conference approved plans for the 'Final Solution'.

German troops defeated at the Second Battle of El Alamein in North Africa.

First Allied bombing raid on German cities.

Operation Neptune was the codename for the many landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord (the Battle of Normandy).

July Bomb Plot failed attempt to assassinate Hitler.

Germany surrendered ending the war in Europe.