Events relating to germany

Neville Chamberlain makes the first of three flights to Germany, this time to negotiate with Adolf Hitler at Berchtesgaden

Neville Chamberlain and Édouard Daladier fly to Munich to discuss Hitler's designs on the Czech Sudetenland

Chamberlain and Daladier agree at Munich that Hitler may annexe the Czech Sudetenland, with its largely German population

Adolf Hitler makes unacceptable demands upon Poland, including the transfer of the free port of Danzig to Germany

Nazi gangs smash the premises of Jews throughout Germany and Austria in a night that becomes known as Kristallnacht, the night of cut glass

The new German technique of blitzkrieg ('lightning war') is demonstrated with devastating effect against Poland

German physicists, led by Otto Hahn, announce their discovery of nuclear fission

A secret protocol, attached to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, divides Poland and the Baltic states between Germany and Russia

The He-178, designed by Hans von Ohain, becomes the first jet engine to fly, with a test flight lasting five minutes

Britain and France, receiving no answer from Hitler to their ultimatum over his attack on Poland, declare war on Germany

French troops rush to defend France's border with Germany, along the heavily fortified Maginot Line

Adolf Hitler orders the 'mercy killing' of all those with specified categories of infirmity, beginning with newborn babies and young children

William Joyce, broadcasting in English from Germany, becomes notorious in Britain as Lord Haw-Haw

Inactivity during the Phoney War prompts Neville Chamberlain to assure the House of Commons that Hitler has 'missed the bus'

Page 18 of 24