Timeline (WFAC)

1918

 * October 28: Czechoslovakia proclaims its independence.


 * November 3: The Austro-Hungarian Empire capitulates.


 * November 11: Germany capitulates, ending the First World War.

1933

 * January 30: Adolf Hitler is appointed chancellor of Germany.


 * March 23: The Enabling Act is passed in the Nazi-controlled Reichstag with 444 votes, to the 94 of the remaining Social Democrats. The act gave the government (and thus effectively the Nazi Party) legislative powers and also authorized it to deviate from the provisions of the constitution for four years. With these powers, Hitler removes the remaining opposition and turns the Weimar Republic into the "Third Reich".


 * July 14: Germany is officially declared a one-party state with the passing of the Law against the formation of parties.

1934

 * January 30: The Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reichs (Act to rebuild the Reich) is implemated. The act changed the highly decentralized federal Germany of the Weimar era into a centralized state. It disbanded state parliaments, transferring sovereign rights of the states to the Reich central government and put the state administrations under the control of the Reich administration.


 * June 30: On the night of June 30, Hitler initiates the violent Night of the Long Knives, a purge of the leadership ranks of Röhm's SA as well as hard-left Nazis (Strasserists), and other political enemies, carried out by the Schutzstaffel (SS).


 * August 2: German President Paul von Hindenburg dies at the age of 86. The Nazi-controlled Reichstag merge the offices of Reichspräsident and Reichskanzler and reinstalls Hitler with the new title Führer und Reichskanzler. All officers and soldiers of the German armed forces swear a personal oath of allegiance to the Führer.

1935

 * March 16: Adolf Hitler reintroduces compulsory military conscription in Germany and rebuilding the armed forces. This included a new Navy (Kriegsmarine), the first full armoured divisions (Panzerwaffe) and an Air Force (Luftwaffe). For the first time since the war, Germany's armed forces were as strong as those of France.


 * October 15: The existence of the Wehrmacht is officially announced.


 * November 5: Milan Hodža is elected Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, succeeding Jan Malypetr.


 * December 14: Edvard Beneš is elected President of Czechoslovakia, succeeding Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

1936

 * March 7:14,500 German troops supported by 22,000 local policemen reoccupyies the demilitarized zone in the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles.


 * October 18: Adolf Hitler's government announces the Second Four-Year Plan, a comprehensive plan to transform the entire nation's economy to prepare for war. The Four-Year Plan included: Reduced Unemployment; increased synthetic fibre production; public works projects, headed by Fritz Todt; called for increased automobile production; initiated numerous building and architectural projects; and further developed the Autobahn system. The plan also placed an emphasis on building up the nation's military defenses, which was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.


 * October 25: Treaty of friendship is signed between Italy and Germany. Mussolini declares that the two countries would form an "axis" around which the other states of Europe would revolve.


 * November: Italy and Germany announce the Rome-Berlin Axis, a secret treaty on joint foreign-policy aims.


 * November 25: Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact.

1938

 * January 27: German War Minister Field Marshal Werner von Blomberg resigns, due to allegations against his new wife. He suggests Adolf Hitler assume the post of War Minister, which he does.


 * February 4: Adolf Hitler announces a reorganization of the army, abolishing the post of minister of war, appointing Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel as chief of the armed forces high command (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - OKW), and appointing Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief of the Army (Oberkommando des Heeres).
 * February 11: Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg meets with Adolf Hitler in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria. Adolf Hitler demands that Austria become a protectorate of Germany, governed by him. Schuschnigg signs in agreement.


 * February 20: Adolf Hitler makes a speech in which he demands self-determination for Germans of Austria and Czechoslovakia.


 * March 9: Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg calls for a public vote for March 13, to decide if the country should remain independent, or join Germany.


 * March 10: Adolf Hitler orders a plan for the military occupation of Austria (Sonderfall Otto).
 * March 11: Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 1 for the occupation of Austria. Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 2 for the bloodless invasion of Austria. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigns.
 * March 12: German troops march into Austria, annexing the country with the Anschluss.


 * March 14: In the British House of Commons, Winston Churchill makes a long speech, warning that now is the time to collectively resist Hitler.


 * March: Adolf Hitler begins military preparations to take Czechoslovakia. Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 1 for the occupation of Memel in the event of the Poles invading Lithuania.


 * March 28: Sudeten German leader Konrad Henlein offers the Sudeten German Party (SdP) as the agent for Hitler's campaign. Henlein meet with Hitler in Berlin, where he was instructed to raise demands unacceptable to the Czechoslovak government led by president Edvard Beneš.


 * April 24: The SdP issues the Carlsbad Decrees, demanding autonomy for the Sudentenland and the freedom to profess Nazi ideology. If Henlein's demands were granted, the Sudetenland would then be able to align itself with Nazi Germany.


 * May 20: In response to rumours of German troop movements and rising tensions with Germany, Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš orders partial mobilization of the Czechoslovak army.


 * May 30: Adolf Hitler issues a directive for Fall Grün (Case Green), for the occupation of Czechoslovakia.


 * June 9: Adolf Hitler demands to know more detailed information on Czech military strength and armaments.


 * June 18: Adolf Hitler issues "General Guiding Directive" for Case Green, claiming no danger of Allied intervention.


 * June 22: The German government initiates civil defense measures.


 * August 18: German General Ludwig Beck submits his resignation as Chief of General Staff to Walther von Brauchitsch. Adolf Hitler agrees to accept it only if Beck keeps it secret.


 * August 27: German General Ludwig Beck resigns as Chief of General Staff, in opposition to a planned invasion of Czechoslovakia.


 * September 2: Beneš submits the Fourth Plan, granting nearly all the demands of the Carlsbad Decrees.


 * September 7: With intent on obstructing conciliation, the SdP holds demonstrations that provokes police action in Ostrava. (Evening) Theodor Kordt, a counselor in the German embassy in London meets secretly with British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax at 10 Downing Street. He appeals desperately to British government to stand firm against Hitler's planned aggression into Czechoslovakia. He promises action by German army leaders opposed to Nazis.
 * September 12: Adolf Hitler says the Sudeten problem is an internal matter to the German minority in Bohemia and the Czechoslovak government.


 * September 13: The Sudeten Germans breaks off negotiations, after which violence and disruption ensued. As Czechoslovak troops attempted to restore order, Henlein flies to Germany.


 * September 14: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces in the House of Commons that he would meet with the Adolf Hitler the next day.


 * September 15: Heinlein issues a proclamation demanding the takeover of the Sudetenland by Germany. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Adolf Hitler in the Berghof in Germany. Hitler meet with Chamberlain at Berchtesgaden and demands the swift takeover of the Sudetenland by the Germany under threat of war. The Czechs, Hitler claims, is slaughtering the Sudeten Germans. Chamberlain agrees to Hitler's demand to annex the Sudetenland.
 * September 17: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with the Cabinet. He states that Adolf Hitler appears to be "a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word".


 * September 18: An Anglo-French communiqué is written proposing the Czech government give up the Sudetenland. If not, Great Britain and France could not be expected to help versus a German invasion.


 * September 20:The Czech government refuses to accept the proposal to give up the Sudetenland, arguing that Hitler's proposal would ruin the nation's economy and lead ultimately to German control of all of Czechoslovakia.

Winston Churchill warns of the futility of appeasing Adolf Hitler: "The belief that security can be obtained by throwing a small state to the wolves is a fatal delusion.".
 * September 21:(0200 hours) British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain replies to Czech President Edvard Beneš saying the British-French proposal is the only way to avoid war, the Czech reply places full responsibility for war on the Czechs, and that Britain would not fight for Czechoslovakia. The Czech government decides to capitulate.


 * September 22: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Adolf Hitler at Godesberg. Hitler says the British-French proposal is not acceptable, that Hungary and Poland must also have their claims against Czechoslovakia settled. He must receive agreement to these terms, or German forces would march on Czechoslovakia on October 1.


 * September 23: The Czechoslovak capitulation precipitates an outburst of national indignation. In demonstrations and rallies, Czechs and Slovaks calls for a strong military government to defend the integrity of the state. Prime Minister Milan Hodža and his cabinet resigns. A new cabinet, under General Jan Syrový, is installed. A decree of general mobilization is issued.


 * September 26: The British Foreign Office issues a statement saying if Germany attacks Czechoslovakia, France would assist, and Great Britain and Russia would stand by France. Adolf Hitler makes speech to the Nazi party in Berlin, saying that once the Czech/German problem is solved, there would be no more territorial problems for Germany. And once Czechs settle with minorities peacefully, he will have no more interest in the Czech state. Quote by Adolf Hitler, on the desire to annex part of Czechoslovakia: "It is the last territorial claim which I have to make in Europe, but it is the claim from which I will not recede."


 * September 27: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain makes a national radio broadcast, essentially saying that Britain would not go to war over Czechoslovakian independence.


 * September 29: In Germany, a two-day conference begins, held by Adolf Hitler, Italy's Premier Benito Mussolini, Britain's Neville Chamberlain, and France's Édouard Daladier, to discuss German demands on Czechoslovakian territory. Hitler renounces plans to destroy Czechoslovakia; Chamberlain and Daladier agree to allow the German annexation of the Sudetenland.


 * September 30: (shortly after 0100 hours) The Munich Agreement, allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland portion of Czechoslovakia, is signed, by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Premier Édouard Daladier, Italian Premier Benito Mussolini, and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. In further demonstrations and rallies, Czechs and Slovaks calls for president Beneš not to abide by the agreement. After further pressure from both the cabinet under General Syrový and the Czechoslovak population, Beneš declares that they will not abide by the agreement. As a result, the Soviet Foreign Minister, Maxim Litvinov, reassures the Czechoslovak government that the Soviet Union is willing to come to Czechoslovakia's assistance. Adolf Hitler, furious by the Czech refusal, orders that the Fall Grün, the invasion of Czechoslovakia, should be initiated the following morning.

1939

 * March 15: Czechoslovakia officially capitulates. German troops march into Prague, celebrating their victory.


 * April 23: Hungary formally annex former Slovakia and Carpatho-Ukraine.


 * May 1: Nazi Germany formally annex Bohemia, Moravia and the Sudetenland.