How Hitler's Foreign Policy Led to WWII: A Simple Animation

In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of significant changes in German foreign policy.The Treaty of Versailles had imposed strict limitations on Germany after World War One.Upon becoming Chancellor, Hitler immediately began implementing his aggressive foreign policy agenda.In October 1933, Germany withdrew from the League of Nations, signaling Hitler's rejection of international oversight.By 1934, Germany had stopped paying war reparations, directly violating the Treaty of Versailles.In 1935, Hitler began secretly rebuilding the German military, violating one of the treaty's key restrictions.The international community's response to these violations was limited, consisting mainly of diplomatic protests.These early policy decisions set the stage for Hitler's more aggressive actions in the years to come.In 1936, Hitler made his boldest move yet by remilitarizing the Rhineland.This region, which had been demilitarized by the Treaty of Versailles, was strategically crucial as it bordered France.When Britain and France failed to respond to this clear violation of the treaty, Hitler became more confident. The German military began to grow at an unprecedented rate.During this period, Hitler also began forming powerful alliances. In 1936, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact.Italy joined the pact in 1937, creating what would become the foundation for the Axis Powers.These events marked a crucial period in Hitler's expansion of power.These developments had three major outcomes: The Versailles Treaty was effectively broken, German military power was restored, and crucial international alliances were established.These successes would embolden Hitler to pursue even more aggressive expansionist policies in the coming years.In 1938, Hitler began his territorial expansion with the annexation of Austria.The Anschluss, or union with Austria, occurred on March 12th, 1938, adding over six point seven million people to the German Reich.Later that year, Hitler turned his attention to the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German population.Through the Munich Agreement of September 29th, Britain and France agreed to let Germany annex the Sudetenland, hoping to preserve peace through appeasement.These territorial acquisitions marked key moments in Hitler's expansion strategy throughout 1938.Britain and France's policy of appeasement convinced Hitler he could continue expanding without facing serious consequences.By the end of 1938, Germany had significantly increased its territory, population, and industrial capacity through these annexations.These successes would embolden Hitler to pursue even more aggressive expansionist policies in the following year.In March 1939, Hitler shattered the Munich Agreement by occupying the remainder of Czechoslovakia.The German army quickly moved into what remained of the Czech state, completely absorbing it into the Reich.Hitler then turned his attention to Poland, demanding the return of Danzig and access through the Polish Corridor.While making these demands, Hitler secretly negotiated with Stalin, leading to the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.The pact included secret protocols for dividing Poland and the Baltic states between Germany and the Soviet Union.These aggressive actions finally convinced Britain and France that war was inevitable, leading them to guarantee Poland's independence.The stage was now set for the outbreak of World War Two.On September 1st, 1939, Nazi Germany launched its invasion of Poland.The invasion began under the false pretext of Polish aggression, orchestrated through Operation Himmler.Germany deployed massive forces, including one and a half million troops, two thousand tanks, and two thousand aircraft.German forces attacked in a pincer movement, with Army Group North advancing from Prussia and Army Group South from Slovakia.As the invasion unfolded, crucial events took place over the next three days.On September first, German forces crossed the Polish border, beginning World War Two in Europe.The following day, the British cabinet met in an emergency session to discuss their response.Finally, on September third, Britain and France honored their guarantees to Poland and declared war on Nazi Germany.Hitler's aggressive foreign policy had finally pushed Europe into the Second World War.