28^th June 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles signed. Germany loses territory and money.

Early 1930s – Berlin one of the most open and tolerant cities in the world (major cultural centre of Europe)

1933 – Hitler and his armies (e.g. SA) seize control of Germany through intimidation and violence.

30^th January 1933 – Hitler came to power, perfectly legally. Within a few months his dictatorship was firmly in place – he became the Fuhrer.

1936 – US Congress passed a neutrality law (they wouldn’t get involved with another European war) Hitler had nothing to fear from the US.

1938 – Austria annexed. Submitted to the same reign of terror as Germany.

Czechoslovakia next victim – under protection of England and France. Crisis followed.

September 1938 – Munich Temple of Nazism – 11^th hour peace conference. Mussolini and Hitler opposite Neville Chamberlain (British PM) and Edward de Lidia (France) – the western democracies. Czech province given up in exchange for Hitler to promise not to make anymore claims on European territory.

March 1939 – Hitler prepared a democratic coup. German-Soviet pact meant war for the rest of the World. Hitler had nothing to fear form the Soviet Union.

Friday 1^st September 1939 – Danzig – first shots of the Second World War.

3^rd September 1939 – Ambassador for Britain declares war. France also declares war.

20^th September 1939 – Hitler ordered the bombing of Warsaw. He wanted to strike fear into the hearts and minds of his enemies.

8^th November 1939 – Hitler narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

Autumn 1939 – Siedkrieg (Setting war) or ‘Phoney war’ – strange waiting period.

Winter 1939 – 41 – one of the coldest winters recorded.

Hitler launched a surprise attack against Denmark and Norway – a Blitzkrieg. He captured Oslo in 2 days. Blitzkrieg – intended to give the enemy no time to attack.

9^th May 1940 – Hitler left Berlin on his private train heading for Norway. Then halfway there the train switched direction and took him to his new headquarters on the French border. He planned to trap the French/ British armies in Belgium.

10^th May 1940 – German paratroopers jump over Holland to capture the airfields and bridges around Rotterdam. At the same time Hitler released his war machine on Belgium.

German soldiers invaded France – life would never be the same again. Millions of civilians had their homes destroyed and lives disrupted as they were caught in the war.

Gamelin (French) ordered British/French armies to advance through Belgium. He moved the elite armies into Belgium; these were the best soldiers he had.

11^th May 1940 – Daybreak – German paratroopers were dropped into Belgium their goal was to capture the linchpin of the Belgium defence system – Fort Eban Emael, on the Albert Canal – reputed to be impregnable. Fort Eban Emael was captured in less than 24 hours.

Things took a sudden turn for the worse in France – in just 3 days the Germans had swept through Ardennes and had advanced towards the defence line on the Murs River. Closing the net with a pincer movement the Germans trapped the Allied troops in Belgium.

13^th May 1940 – Germans built bridge to cross the Murs River. Although the French fought back the Germans neutralised the French artillery. German tanks attacked with force.

Paris late May 1940 – French authorities struggling to cope with increasing numbers of refugees.

28^th May 1940 – Allies were encircled. Belgium King surrenders. British withdraw towards the coast. Allied armies were on the brink of disaster.

Dunkirk – 224,000 British and 114,000 French troops were successfully evacuated, rescued from death/ capture. British army was saved but in tatters. The French were sent back to make a final attempt at saving their country. British sent off to be re-equipped. All of Britain held Dunkirk as an extraordinary feat. It was then, in those first days of June 1940, that the Dunkirk spirit was born.

4^th June 1940 – Germans took Dunkirk.

10^th June 1940 – Mussolini declared war on Britain and France.

14^th June 1940 – Daybreak – Germans entered Paris. The Swastika flew triumphant over the French capital. Germans seized records from the abandoned ministries – lists of spies and freemasons. They also obtained the original copy of the Treaty of Versailles, which was sent off to Hitler.

17^th June 1940 – Petain (French) seeking an armistice.

22^nd June 1940 – Hitler in Paris to accept the French surrender. Everything was designed to humiliate the losers. The diatribe accused France of starting the war with no reason – Hitler left. Catastrophe for Britain – lost major ally.

British removed nameplates – Germans took France because of good maps. Children evacuated. Young women enlisted. Every woman had to defend their homes. All men joined the army. America supplied weapons – soldiers prepared for war. Battle of Britain begins. RAF principle weapon – excelled in electronics; invented radar. Pilots joined by air men who had fled their countries.

Germany commanded an aerial offense against Britain – convoys in the channel, on the shores and then airfields. Hitler forced to postpone plans to invade Britain.

The Blitz – fatal mistake on Hitler’s part. Bombing cities relived the pressure on the RAF. British people now in the firing line: shelters. People rarely lost confidence of good humour. London was bombed for 76 consecutive nights. 40,000 civilians killed and 200,000 homes damaged. Determined spirit became legendary.

Jessica