Key facts and dates

In the late 1930s, Adolf Hitler's increasingly bold actions challenged the post-First World War order, while Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement to avoid conflict. These events culminated in the invasion of Poland, sparking a truly global war that involved major powers and ended with Allied victory in 1945.

Timeline of key events

• 1935 – Hitler announces rearmament, expanding Germany's army, navy, and air force beyond Treaty of Versailles limits.
• 1936 – German troops occupy the Rhineland, a demilitarised zone near the French border.
• 1936 – Germany forms alliances with Italy and Japan.
• 1938 – Anschluss unites Austria with Germany, defying the Treaty of Versailles.
• 1938 – Germany invades the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.
• March 1939 – Germany seizes the rest of Czechoslovakia.
• 1 September 1939 – Germany invades Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war.
• 1941 – USSR joins Allies after German invasion; USA enters after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
• 1945 – War ends with Germany's surrender in May and Japan's in August.

Hitler's aggressive actions in the 1930s

During the late 1930s, Adolf Hitler, as Chancellor of Germany, pursued policies aimed at expanding German territory and military power. These actions directly violated the Treaty of Versailles, which had imposed strict limits on Germany after the First World War. Hitler grew bolder as he tested the reactions of other nations, particularly Britain and France, who were keen to avoid another major conflict.

Key aggressive moves by Hitler

• Rearmament (from 1935) - Hitler began rebuilding Germany's armed forces, announcing expansions to the navy and air force, and growing the army to hundreds of thousands of soldiers, far exceeding treaty restrictions.
• Remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936) - German troops entered this demilitarised zone near the French border, which was rich in coal and factories; no soldiers had been allowed there to prevent threats to neighbouring countries.
• Alliances with Italy and Japan (1936) - Hitler formed pacts with these nations.
• Anschluss with Austria (1938) - This union merged Austria into Germany, banned under the Treaty of Versailles; although presented as peaceful, it involved threats and the forced resignation of the Austrian chancellor.
• Invasion of the Sudetenland (1938) - Hitler seized this German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia, claiming it for Germany.
• Occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia (March 1939) - German forces took control of the entire country.

Allied responses and the policy of appeasement

Britain and France, the main Allied powers in the 1930s, adopted a policy of appeasement – making concessions to Hitler in hopes of preventing war. They believed diplomatic solutions could maintain peace, but this approach did not stop Hitler's aggression.

Allied reactions to Hitler's actions

Invasion of Poland and the outbreak of war

On 1 September 1939, German troops invaded Poland. This prompted Britain and France to act, and they declared war.

Events leading to the declaration of war

• German invasion - Troops advanced rapidly, bombing cities like Warsaw and annexing areas such as Danzig.
• Allied declaration - On 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the start of World War Two.
• Initial phase - There was little fighting in Western Europe until Germany's invasion of France in May 1940.
• Soviet involvement - The USSR, initially allied with Germany via a non-aggression pact, invaded eastern Poland in 1939 but switched sides in 1941 after Germany attacked it in Operation Barbarossa.

Newspapers like the Evening Standard captured the shock, with headlines announcing mobilisation and bombings, reflecting the sudden shift to global conflict.

Key alliances in World War Two

Main Allied and Axis powers

Global theatres of World War Two

World War Two was truly global, involving battles across multiple continents and oceans, and fighting occurred in distinct theatres – major regions of conflict.

Main theatres of the war

• Western theatre - Involved France, Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands; key events included the Battle of Britain and D-Day landings.
• Eastern theatre - Covered Poland, the USSR, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe; intense fighting erupted with Germany's 1941 invasion of the USSR.
• Pacific theatre - Featured Japan, China, the USA, and British territories such as Burma, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
• North African theatre - Saw German and Italian troops battle British, French, and American forces for control of Egypt.
• Mediterranean theatre - Included Italy, Malta, and Greece; Italy's surrender in September 1943.
• Atlantic theatre - German U-boats targeted supply ships to Britain.

End of the war in 1945

World War Two concluded in 1945 with the defeat of Germany and Japan.

Key events in the war's conclusion

• Italy's surrender (September 1943) - Italy surrendered in September 1943, and leader Benito Mussolini was killed by Italian rebels on 28 April 1945.
• Germany's defeat - Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945; Hitler committed suicide in Berlin on 30 April 1945.
• Japan's surrender - The USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, prompting Japan's surrender.