wwII+nc

Prelude... WWI led to the fall of the democratic institutions in Germany. Being weak and vulnerable, Germany soon adopted a new leader. In 1933, Adolph Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party -- the Nazi Party. Hitler ended parliamentary government and assumed dictatorial powers. The Nazi government increased the strength of the German armed forces and sought to overturn the Versailles Treaty, in order to recover German territory lost at the peace settlement. Also to return to the German-speaking minorities within the borders of surrounding countries. Hitler stated his goal was to secure "living space" for the German "master race." In March 1938, Germany invaded and annexed Austria. In March1939, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. In August 1939, Germany and the USSR signed a secret non-agression pact dividing up Poland. On September 1, Germany invaded Poland. On September 3, 1939, Britain, France, Austria and New Zealand declared war on Germany. World War II had begun.