Germany 1930-1945 Annotated Timeline - Ayla Saruhan
Category: Other
Updated: 21 Nov 2018
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Created byAyla Saruhan
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Events
The Great Depression
Germany’s economy was already suffering
since they had to pay reparations as part of
the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S. made
a deal to provide Germany with money so
that they could pay off their debt but then
the U.S. stock market crashed and the U.S.
wanted all their money back from Germany.
Germany started printing a lot of money in
order to pay back the U.S. and then their
currency became close to worthless which
led to everyone starving and becoming
desperate.Unemployment rate peaks in 1932 at over 30%
Many people were poor and desperate because
they didn’t have jobs and even those that had
jobs were struggling financially. Hitler promised
the people that if they elected him as chancellor
he would fix the unemployment rate. People
who were saving money for years realized they
were now poor because of inflation.Hitler elected as chancellor of Germany
Hitler promised the people bread, work,
and money and in turn, he was elected as
Chancellor of Germany. This led to the rise
of the Nazi party in Germany.Germany leaves the League of Nations
Germany leaves the LoN because the Western
countries don’t meet their needs/demands.
This led to Germany’s military buildup, which
broke international agreements.German President, Hindenburg, dies and
Hitler becomes Fuhrer of Germany
As a dictator, with no figurehead in Germany
other than himself, Hitler has absolute power
over Germany due to the Enabling Act of 1933.Germany announces that their army will
be expanded.
Hitler announces that the German army will
be expanded, including the creation of the
German air force, known as Luftwaffe. This
directly breaks the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles.Rhineland is re-occupied by Hitler and
the Nazis.
Hitler reoccupies the demilitarized Rhineland
which is against the agreements of the Treaty
of Versailles.Kristallnacht
German Nazi leaders went around during the
night and destroyed Jewish business,
synagogues, and homes. Later on the Nazi’s
would demand an “atonement tax” to be paid
by the Jewish community for the damage. On
this night, around 30,000 Jewish males were
rounded up and sent to concentration camps.Hitler takes over Czechoslovakia.
Hitler invaded and took over Czechoslovakia
and broke the Munich agreement, an
agreement Germany had signed with France,
and Great Britain only a year ago. This led to
the French and British leaders believing that
Hitler couldn’t be trusted and that the French
and British armies would have to be stopped
by force.Hitler invades Poland.
Hitler invades Poland using Blitzkrieg
tactics (lightning tactics). Poland fought
back but was quickly occupied by
Germany. Later one of the biggest
concentration camps to exist, Auschwitz,
was built in Poland around where around
1.1 million people were killed. Two days later,
France and Great Britain declared war on
Germany and triggered the start of WWII.Battle of Britain begins.
British and German air forces fight in the sky
over the U.K. U.K. won this battle in the skies
and defeated the German Luftwaffe.Operation Barbarossa
Nazi military campaign to invade Soviet Russia,
3 million German troops invade Soviet Russia.
This broke the German-Soviet non-aggression
pact that was made in 1939. The fact that the
Soviets beat the German troops in the
campaign was a signal of a turning point in
the war.Battle of Stalingrad
When the Soviets successfully defended the
city of Stalingrad and stopped the advance
of the German army and was a crucial turning
point in the war. This turned the tables of the
war and gave the advantage to the Allied
powers.The Battle of Kursk
Germany’s last chance to fight back and regain
control of the Eastern front of the war. They
had an elaborate plan with artillery, heavy
tanks, and air forces but when the attack got
postponed, it gave the Soviets time to prepare
for the attack. Both sides experienced heavy
casualties but in the end the Soviets’ Red Army
came out on top.Hitler commits suicide
Hitler commits suicide while in his bunker,
which leads to Germany surrendering 2 days
later that ends the war in Europe. Leads to
the Nuremberg trials in November.
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