Hitler goes against the treaty of Versailles
The first step that Hitler took to achieve his dream was violating the treaty of Versailles. He called for the revision of the treaty, arguing that its provisions were unfair and weakened Germany. When the other nations didn’t do his bidding, Hitler created: a new air force began a military draft that increased the German army by 400,000 troops. Meanwhile, France, Great Britain, and Italy warned Hitler that his actions would have aggressive consequences. However, with the Great Depression each nation became busy with its own international problems. Hitler took this as a chance and on March 7, 1936, he sent German troops to the Rhineland (a demilitarized zone that no longer belonged to Germany). France didn’t react to this invasion because it didn’t have Britain's support, because Great Britain did not believe in the use of force. Great Britain believed that by satisfying reasonable demands of Germany, they would be able to maintain peace.
New Friendships
When Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, France and Britain were angry with his actions. This gave Hitler a new ally, Hitler and Mussolini grew closer together. In September 1936, Mussolini and Hitler made an alliance called the Rome-Berlin Axis, between Germany and Italy. Moreover, Hitler also made an alliance with the Japanese called the Anti-Comintern Pact, where both countries promised to work together against communism.
Your Land is my land
In 1938 Hitler decided to unify Austria with Germany. He did this by threatening to invade Austria. This forced the Austrian chancellor to give Austrian Nazis more control in the government; this gave German troops more leeway in Austria. On March 13, 1938 Hitler conquered Austria.
Will give you what you want
Hitler then had his mind set on Sudetenland (in northwestern Czechoslovakia). At a conference in Munich, European nations submitted to all Hitler’s demands, and German troops marched into Sudetenland. Hitler then seized Bohemia and Moravia (in western Czechoslovakia), and the eastern part of Czechoslovakia became a puppet state. Afterwards, Hitler moved toward invading Poland. This was when Britain and France came to realize the danger of Hitler. Great Britain made an agreement with Poland that is would protect it in time of war. Also, France and Britain started negotiations with Joseph Stalin (the Soviet dictator), because they believe that the Soviet Union had the power to stop the expansion of the German Empire.
Hitler and stalin the newlywed
Hitler feared an alliance between France, Britain and the Soviet Union. If this happened Hitler would have to fight a war on two fronts (sides). Thus, On August 23, 1939, Hitler made an alliance with Stalin called the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, where the two countries promised not to attack each other. In return Hitler promised to give Stalin eastern Poland and the Baltic region. On September 1, Germany invaded Poland, and after two days the Britain and France declared war.