Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Germany is forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty after the First World War.
The Beer Hall Putsch in Munich
Hitler and the NSDAP attempt to seize power in Bavaria through a violent coup, but fail.
NSDAP becomes the largest party in the Reichstag
In the elections of July 1932, the NSDAP achieves a historic victory and becomes the largest political party in Germany.
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg, marking the beginning of the Nazi seizure of power.
The Enabling Act
The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, allowing Hitler to enact laws without parliamentary approval and effectively dismantling democracy.
Reoccupation of the Rhineland
German troops enter the demilitarised Rhineland, in flagrant violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
Anschluss with Austria
German troops enter Austria and the country is annexed into the German Reich, amid great enthusiasm from many Austrians.
Invasion of Poland
The Wehrmacht invades Poland, leading to the British and French declaration of war on Germany and thus the formal beginning of the Second World War.
Fall of France
After a swift campaign through the Ardennes, the Wehrmacht defeats the French army and occupies Paris, leading to the French surrender.
Operation Barbarossa
Germany invades the Soviet Union with the largest invasion force in history, breaking the non-aggression pact with Stalin.
Defeat at Stalingrad
General Paulus's Sixth Army surrenders after months of fierce fighting, a crushing defeat that heralds the turning point of the war.
Defeat at Kursk
Operation Citadel fails and the last major German offensive in the east collapses.
Fall of Mussolini and Italy's surrender
Italy surrenders to the Allies, causing Germany to lose an ally and forcing it to defend the southern front.
Devastating Allied bombings on German cities
Massive air raids such as Operation Gomorrah destroy Hamburg and other industrial cities.
Assassination attempt on Hitler fails not carried out, tensions within the army leadership increase
Growing discontent among German officers over Hitler's conduct of the war leads to the first conspiracy plans.
Allied invasion of Normandy
The opening of the Western Front after the landing of Allied troops in Normandy forces Germany into a two-front war.
Assassination attempt on Hitler: Operation Valkyrie fails
A group of German officers carries out a bomb attack on Hitler at his headquarters 'Wolfsschanze', which fails.
Fall of Paris
German troops are forced to withdraw from Paris as the French resistance and Allied troops liberate the city.
beginning of the Battle of the Bulge
Germany launches a final major counteroffensive in the Ardennes to break through the Allied advance and recapture Antwerp.
Soviet breakthrough: the Vistula-Oder Offensive
The Red Army breaks through the German lines in Poland and advances at breakneck speed towards the German border.
Allies reach the Rhine
Western Allied troops force the crossing of the Rhine at Remagen, breaking through the last natural barrier into the German heartland.
Operation Frühlingserwachen fails
Germany's last major counteroffensive in Hungary stalls at Lake Balaton.
Soviets reach Vienna
The Red Army invades Austria and besieges the Austrian capital Vienna.
Allies encircle the Ruhr region
American troops completely encircle the German Army Group B in the industrial Ruhr region.
Fall of Berlin and Hitler's suicide
The Red Army captures Berlin while Hitler commits suicide in his bunker, shortly before the unconditional German surrender.
Unconditional surrender of Germany
German military leadership signs surrender, ending the war in Europe.
Arrest of the Flensburg government
The last Nazi government under Dönitz is dissolved and arrested by Allied troops.
Start of the Nuremberg trials
Major Nazi leaders are tried before an international tribunal for war crimes.
Invasion of Poland
Under the guise of a staged border incident at Gleiwitz, the German military command launches Operation Fall Weiss. Stuka dive bombers and armoured divisions overwhelm the Polish army in a new form of warfare later known as 'Blitzkrieg'. German propaganda presents the attack as a justified defence against Polish aggression.