Starting in Europe Hitler starts with the invasion of Poland (right-most GREEN OVAL), and withing a year has added all the countries shown in BRIGHT GREEN, with Nazi flags. Europe is not prepared for Hitler's combination of fast-moving tanks and coordinated bombing. France lasts just six weeks. By the end of 1940, only Britain remains free of Hitler's grasp.

	Hitler's Preparations The map above shows how Hitler maintains his deception until 1939.  The WHITE numbers above indicate the sequence of increasingly provocative steps Hitler takes before committing to outright conquest. This starts with re-militarization of the German Rhineland (#1), and progresses with annexation of Austria (#2), seizure of half of Czechoslovakia (#3 and #4) plus the port of Danzig (#5).  Step #6 is a fake non-aggression pact with the Soviets, secretly dividing Poland between them.
	Opposition Smashed The beginning of the war is a disaster for Britain and France. The Germans attack through an unguarded forest frontier, which is difficult terrain poorly suited for tanks. The French high command unwisely dismisses this as an unlikely attack route. The Germans continue with a lightning tank thrust right up to the English Channel, which traps the entire British army, at Dunkirk. It has to be evacuated by sea, using vessels of all types and sizes, in a desperate and dramatic rescue.