References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1936

February 12

• Adolf Hitler decides the time is right for Germany to re-occupy the Rhineland. [24.245]

February 27

• The French chamber ratifies the Franco-Soviet pact. (Adolf Hitler considers this pact as the main pretext for abandoning the Locarno pact.) [24.246] (March [486.17]) (never ratified [409.23])
• French ministers decide that in the event of German violation of the Rhineland Zone, they would not act alone, but only with co-signatories of the Locarno Pact. [486.18]

March 2

• Adolf Hitler issues final orders for troops to re-occupy their former garrison posts in Rhineland towns. If French forces take action, the troops are instructed to withdraw. [24.245]

March 5

• French Foreign Minister Pierre Flandin tells British Anthony Eden that France will not act alone in the event of German violation of the Rhineland Zone. [486.18]

March 7

• Adolf Hitler denounces the Rhineland provisions of Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Treaty. 14,500 German troops march in to join with 22,000 local police to re-occupy the Rhineland. [78.241,317] [84.5] [166.283] [248.E5] [293.E4] [373.72] [486.18] [801.xiii] [839.76]
• German representatives inform foreign ministers and ambassadors of the German re-occupation of the Rhineland, and outline a peace plan including 25-year non-aggression pacts for all countries bordering on Germany. [24.247]
• French General Staff of Army reports German forces in the Rhineland as 295,000, exaggerated to eight times the actual number. [486.18]

March 11

• German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop reports to Adolf Hitler that Britain's King Edward VIII had issued a directive to the British Government that "complications of a serious nature are in no circumstances to be allowed to develop." Hitler declares "The king of England will not intervene. He is keeping his promise." [839.76]

March 12

• The Soviet Union and the Mongolian People's Republic sign a mutual assistance pact, allowing Russian troops to be posted at key locations. The Soviet Union commits to the defence of Mongolia from aggression. [444.242]

March

• Robert Vansittart, the Permanent Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Great Britain, writes a memorandum warning that Germany's rearmament program would serve Adolf Hitler's plan to annex Austria, the Sudetenland, the Baltic states, and the Polish Corridor to East Prussia. [691.58]

March 22

• Quote by Adolf Hitler, regarding the re-occupation of the Rhineland: "We and all nations have a sense that we have come to the turning point of an age.". [486.15]

(month unknown)

• The Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway issue a joint declaration of neutrality. [109.246]
• Sweden begins a re-armament program. [109.246]
• The British government announces it will manufacture gas masks for the entire civilian population. [51.14]
• Construction of the battleship Bismarck begins at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. [112.629]
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July

• US President Franklin Roosevelt tells Canadian Prime Minister William King that some US senators favor occupying British Columbia in the event of war with Japan. [714.20]

August

• Adolf Hitler orders the economy and armed forces be made ready for war in four years. Hermann Göring is put in charge of it. [394.14]

October

• Adolf Hitler's government announces the Second Four-Year Plan, a comprehensive plan to transform the entire nation's economy to prepare for war. [141.s27]
• The Joint Planning Committee of the Chiefs of Staff in England declares: "We are convinced that Germany would plan to gain her victory rapidly. Her first attacks would be designed as knock-out blows" referring to London being heavily bombed over a few weeks. [364.8]
• The King of Belgium declares that Belgium would in the future avoid leaning on any great power, and would pursue a policy independent of groups of powers. [292.4] [356.E3]

October 25

• Italy and Germany announce the Rome-Berlin Axis, a secret treaty on joint foreign-policy aims. [78.242] [801.xiii]

November

• Quote by Adolf Hitler: "There are two possibilities for me: To win through with all my plans, or to fail. If I win, I shall be one of the greatest men in history. If I fail, I shall be condemned, despised, and damned.". [373.101]

November 25

• Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, to cooperate in defense against Communistic International. Germany and Japan will share information on Comintern activities, and invite other states to adopt anti-Comintern defensive measures. Secret clause: both agree that if one is attacked or threatened, the other would not relieve the position of the Soviet Union, and both would not conclude political treaties with the Soviet Union that did not conform with spirit of the pact. The pact is in effect for five years. [78.242] [248.E5] [293.E4] [406.168] [444.159] [801.xiii]

1937

March

• In the USA, a Gallup poll reveals that 94% of Americans wish the US to keep out of all foreign wars. [503.1762]

May 1

• The Polish Military Attaché in Paris, France, agrees to cooperate with Belgian General Staff in exchanging information concerning the German Army. [292.4]

(month unknown)

• The German Army establishes a Research and Experimental Station at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast, east of Rostock. The Luftwaffe also establishes an airfield there to protect the installation. The purpose is to develop long-range rockets. [84.197]

July 7

• In North China, Japanese soldiers provoke the Chinese near the Marco Polo Bridge, starting a war. [330.257] [444] [479.17]

July

• Quote of Hotzumi Ozaki, member of a Soviet spy ring in Japan: "Now world capitalism has reached a deadlock, and imperialistic countries are compelled to find their way in reallocation of the world market by their strong military power to open their way out of their deadlock. This means that a world war is inevitable and unavoidable. The outbreak of the China Incident is nothing but the beginning of such a world war.". [444.179]

October 13

• The German Government pledges to respect the neutrality and territorial integrity of Belgium. [292.6] [293.E4] [356.E3]

November 5

• Adolf Hitler meets with Minister of War Field Marshal von Blomberg, General von Fritsch, Admiral Erich Raeder, General Hermann Göring. He speaks of Germany's objectives in the world, to secure and preserve racial community. He announces his plans for an expansion of Germany over the next five years, in particular, into Austria and Czechoslovakia. (Those in attendance who voice their opposition are removed from their positions within five months. A microfilm copy of the written record of this meeting is used at the 1946 Nuremburg trial as evidence of conspiracy to wage aggressive war.) [78.242] [80.296] [394.11] [448.26] [528.2056] [806.99]

November 6

• Italy signs the Anti-Cominterm Pact, joining Germany and Japan. [248.E5] [293.E4] [406.174] (September [78.242])

December

• Nine Japanese naval planes sink US gunboat Panay off Shanghai, machine-gunning survivors. (Japan later agrees to US demand for compensation.) [444.182]

December 21

• The German General Staff's strategy plan, Plan Green, is completed, anticipating an aggressive war with Czechoslovakia. [80.296]

1938

January

• Senior American commanders suggest to senior Canadian commanders that Canada's west coast be incorporated into the American military command system. [714.20]

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. [691.36]

February 4

• Adolf Hitler announces a reorganization of the army, abolishing the post of war minister, appointing General Wilhelm Keitel as chief of the armed forces high command (OKW), and appointing Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. [80.297] [149.307] [373.107] [691.36] [801.xiii]

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. [78.245]

February 16

• Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg accepts Adolf Hitler's ultimatum, names Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of the Interior, and other pro-Nazi ministers in control of foreign affairs. [440.13] [775.E10]

February 20

• Adolf Hitler makes a speech in which he demands self-determination for 10 million Germans in Austria and Czechoslovakia. [248.E5] [293.E4] [775.E10]
• British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden resigns to protest Premier Chamberlain's policy of appeasing dictators. [775.E10]

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. [78.245] [80.299] [373.109]

March 10

• Adolf Hitler orders a plan for the military occupation of Austria. [80.300]

March 11

• Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 1 for the occupation of Austria. [149.24]
• Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 2 for the bloodless invasion of Austria. [149.24]
• Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigns. [78.245]

March 12

• German troops march into Austria, annexing the country. [54.145] [78.245,318] [80.300] [166.283] [248.16,E5] [277.4] [293.E4] [373.109] [801.xiii] (March 11 [775.E10])

March 13

• The Union of Austria and Germany is proclaimed in Vienna. [775.E10] [801.xiii]

March 14

• In the British House of Commons, Winston Churchill makes a long speech, warning that now is the time to collectively resist Hitler. [448.68]

March

• The Swedish Premier tells parliament he had decided on an immediate strengthening of defences. They approve a substantial increase in military appropriations. [110.442] [109.246]
• Adolf Hitler begins military preparations to take Czechoslovakia. [78.246]
• Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 1 for the occupation of Memel in the event of the Poles invading Lithuania. [149.24]

March 24

• Russian Army Commander B.M. Shaposhnikov produces a war plan, proposing a Red Army offensive or counter-offensive either north or south of the Pripet marshes, with a strong defence in the other sector. (The plan is approved in November.) [331.820]

April

• In Copenhagen, Denmark, representatives of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands meet to discuss how to defend their neutrality. [401.222]

April 16

• Anglo-Italian pact signed in Rome; UK to promote recognition of Ethiopia, Italy to withdraw troops from Spain. [775.E10]

April 28

• An Anglo-French defensive alliance is formed in London. [775.E10]

May 13

• US Congress passes the $1.156 billion Naval Expansion Bill. [775.E10]

May 20

• Czech president Eduard Benes orders partial mobilization of the Czech army. [691.47]

May 21

• Czechoslovakia garrisons its border with Germany. [775.E10]

May 27

• Swedish Foreign Minister Sandler announces that Sweden reserves the right to remain neutral. [110.442] [248.17]

May 30

• Adolf Hitler issues a directive for Fall Grün (Case Green), for the occupation of Czechoslovakia. [149.25]

June 9

• Adolf Hitler demands to know more detailed information on Czech military strength and armaments. [691.48]

June 18

• Adolf Hitler issues "General Guiding Directive" for Operation Green, claiming no danger of Allied intervention. [691.48]

June 22

• The German government initiates civil defense measures. [691.48]

July 22

• Britain and France reject German proposal for four-power settlement of Sudeten problem. [775.E10]

July 29

• Japanese forces attack Soviet border guards on the Manchurian side of Broad Drum Peak, in a disputed area near the Soviet Union. They push several kilometres into Siberia. [444.211] (July 21 [775.E10])

August 1

• The Japanese-Soviet incident at Broad Drum Peak is resolved, with a return to the border of July 29. [444.212] (August 10 [775.E10])

August 14

• Czechoslovak government declares martial law in Sudeten districts. [775.E10]

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. [691.53]
• US President Franklin Roosevelt in Ontario, Canada, says "the United States will not stand idly by" if Canada is attacked. [775.E10]

August 27

• German General Ludwig Beck resigns as Chief of General Staff, in opposition to a planned invasion of Czechoslovakia. [691.7]

September 7

• (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. [691.61]

September 12

• German Chancellor Adolf Hitler says the Sudeten problem is an internal matter to the German minority in Bohemia and the Czechoslovak government. [248.16]

September 14

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces in the House of Commons that he would meet with the Adolf Hitler the next day. [691.70]

September 15

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Adolf Hitler in the Berghof in Germany. Chamberlain agrees to Hitler's demand to annex the Sudetenland. [293.E4] [691.71] [775.E10] [828.96]

September 16

• Czechoslovakia mobolizes its army. [775.E10]

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". [19.348] [691.72]

September 19

• Britain and France agree to Adolf Hitler's demands, and urge Czechoslovakia to give the Sudeten areas to Germany. If not, Great Britain and France could not be expected to help versus a German invasion. [691.74] [775.E10]

September 20

• Adolf Hitler tells the Hungarian prime minister he is sure Britain and France would do nothing effective to oppose annexation of the Sudetenland. [753.11]
• The Czech government refuses to accept the proposal to give up the Sudetenland. [691.75]

September 21

• (0200 hours) British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain replies to Czech President Eduard Benes saying the British-French proposal is the only way to avoid war, that 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 to German demands. [691.75] [775.E10] [801.iv]
• 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.". [166.272]

September 22

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Adolf Hitler at Godesberg in the Rhineland. 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. [691.75] [775.E10] [801.iv] [828.96]
• The Czechoslovakia government resigns. [775.E10]

September 23

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sends Adolf Hitler's demands to Czechoslovakia. [775.E10]
• Czechoslovakia orders general mobilization. [775.E10]
• France orders partial mobilization. [775.E10]

September

• Adolf Hitler stages a parade of an entire motorized division through Berlin. Hitler watches the silent crowd, and says "With a people like that I cannot make war yet.". [448.31] [691.78]

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. [691.77]
• Adolf Hitler says that unless Czechoslovakia acquiesces by 2 PM September 28, troops will march into the Sudetenland on October 1. [801.vi]
• 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.". [166.277] [248.16] [448.73] (September 23 [390.8])

September 27

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain makes a national radio broadcast, announcing that Britain was ready to fight any power seeking to dominate the world by force, but essentially saying that Britain would not go to war over Czechoslovakian independence. [448.70] [775.X12]

September 28

• (1500 hours) Adolf Hitler requests a meeting with Britain's Neville Chamberlain, France's Édouard Daladier, and Italy's Premier Benito Mussolini, to discuss Czechoslovakia situation, but no representation from Russia or Czechoslovakia. [801.vi]
• The Czech government agrees to cede territory where 50 percent or more of the population is German. [753.11]

September 29

• (1200 hours) 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. [78.247] [691.79] [753.10] [801.vi] [828.96] [835.14]

September 30

• (0130 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. German troops will move in on October 1, with evacuation of the Sudetenland completed by October 10. [16.40] [78.247] [149.25] [166.272] [248.E5] [293.E4] [634.39] [753.11] [801.vi] [828.99] (September 29 [406.187] [448.74])
• In Munich, Germany, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler sign a document noting the desire of "our two peoples never to go to war with another again", and resolve to consult each other on issues of concern, and to contribute to peace in Europe. [448.84] [801.vi] (October 1 [634.39])
• The Czech government accepts the Munich Agreement. [753.11]

October 1

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returns to London, England, to a hero's welcome. Quote on the Munich Agreement: "This is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.". (Over the next three weeks, he receives 40,000 messages of thanks from around the world.) [166.273] [448.34]
• German forces occupy the Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia. [78.318] [753.11 [775.E10] [835.14]
• Czechoslovakia yields to Polish demand for the Teschen area. [775.E10]

October 5

• Czechoslovakian President Benes resigns. [775.E10]

October 21

• Adolf Hitler instructs the German armed forces to prepare "the liquidation of Czechoslovakia". [448.32]

October 23

• Hungary makes territorial demands of Czechoslovakia. [775.E10]

(month unknown)

• In Germany, the Chief of General Staff, Franz Halder, begins planning war with Poland. Code name for the operation is Case Green. [78.250]

November 5

• Hungary begins occupying ceded section of Slovakia. [775.E10]

November 7

• Herschel Grynszpan, son of Polish Jew deported from Germany, shoots German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris, France. [775.E10]

November 9

• (evening) Nazis terrorize Jews in Germany and Austria. Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues are looted and burned. 91 Jews are killed, and 20,000 are taken to concentration camps. This becomes known as Reichskristallnacht, Crystal Night, or Night of Broken Glass. [5.68] [80.304] [387.32] [691.85] [775.E10]

November 10

• Adolf Hitler makes a long speech to several hundred German newspaper editors and publishers in Berlin. He instructs the press to prepare the public for further moves of expansion. He tells them that Germany has the world's largest single group of any race: 80 million, that Germany was the greatest of Empires, became a small power, but now is in a period of regeneration. [448.29]

November

• The main Soviet military council approves the Army war plan to prepare for an attack on Germany. [331.821]
• Poland signs a declaration with the Soviet Union, confirming their 1932 non-aggression pact. [42.21]

November 16

• Great Britain recognizes Italian empire over Ethiopia. [775.E10]

November 17

• US Secretary Hull signs trade pacts with Great Britain and Canada. [775.E10]

November 20

• Italians demand Tunisia, Corsica, Nice, and Savoy from France. [775.E10]

December 6

• France and Germany sign "good neighbor" treaty disclaiming territorial designs. [775.E10]

December 31

• Dr. Gerhard Schacher, former economic adviser to the German Reichbank, warns that the next European crisis will arise January 11 when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain goes to Rome, Italy; if Preier Benito Mussolini is pemitted to take the territory he demands, then Adolf Hitler will claim Alsace-Lorraine, and move into Soviet Ukraine, involving France and Russia in war. [775.16]

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