The terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany at the end World War I sowed the seeds of World War 2 by stripping Germany of territory and requiring her to pay huge reparations to the victorious powers. The demands in Germany for vengeance were given added stimulus when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power in January 1933. By early 1939 Germany had thrown off the shackles of the Versailles treaty, remilitarised the Rhineland introduced conscription, annexed Austria and occupied Czechoslovakia. The seeds of war were almost ripe!

1933

30/01/1933 Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg.

03/02/1933 German Chancellor Adolf Hitler tells his top generals of his determination to conquer land, to the east.

27/02/1933 German Reichstag burns down. Four Communists are tried and executed for setting the fire.

12/03/1933 First Concentration Camp opened at Oranienburg outside Berlin.

13/03/1933 Joseph Goebbels is made Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.

23/03/1933 Enabling Act passed by the Reichstag allowing Hitler to assume dictatorial power.

01/04/1933 Nazis Boycott of Jewish owned shops.

10/05/1933 Nazis burn books in Germany.

14/07/1933 Nazi party declared official party of Germany; all other parties banned.

14/10/1933 Germany withdraws from the Disarmament Conference at Geneva, Switzerland.

21/10/1933 German Chancellor Adolf Hitler withdraws Germany from the League of Nations.