Events Leading to World War II

Czechoslovakia and World War II

• Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, effectively annexing the country.
• The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938, allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland.

Key Agreements and Non-Aggression Pacts

• The Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression Pact was signed by Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939.
• This agreement included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

Outbreak of War

• Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, following Germany's invasion of Poland.
• The declaration marked the official start of World War II in Europe.

British Political Changes

• Neville Chamberlain served as Prime Minister before the Munich Conference; he was succeeded by Winston Churchill in May 1940, after the initial phase of the war.

The Battle of Britain

• The Battle of Britain took place from July to October 1940, marking a significant air campaign waged by the German Luftwaffe.

Axis Victories Phase

• The period marked by significant Axis victories began with the invasion of Poland in September 1939 and led to rapid conquests across Europe.

Germany and Austria

• Germany and Austria signed the Anschluss agreement in March 1938, formally uniting the two nations under Nazi influence.

Phoney War

• The 'Phoney War,' lasting from September 1939 until April 1940, was characterized by a lack of major military operations on the Western Front, despite the state of war declared.

Munich Conference Outcomes

• A major event during the Munich Conference in September 1938 was the concession of the Sudetenland to Germany, which was agreed upon by Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.

Consequences of Anschluss

• The immediate consequence of Germany's 'Anschluss' with Austria was the strengthening of Nazi Germany's position in Europe, accelerating further territorial expansions.