MARCH OF EVENTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4186, 15 September 1939, Page 6

MARCH OF EVENTS

RECORD OF CRISES. NAZI TACTICS. 1918. October 18: Czechoslovakia, formerly part of Austria-Hungary, becomes independent State of 55,000 square miles. Establishment of democratic government. 1935. At Czechoslovakian elections Nazi party, representing German minority of 3,300,000 of population of about 15,000,000, becomes second largest political party. 1938. March 11, 1938: German army marches into Austria. British “protest against use of coercion by force against independent State.” March 13: Austria declared a German State. March 15: British Prime Minister condemns German methods, and announces review of defence proposals. March 16: Mussolini, in Italy, declares that German frontier at Brenner is “inviolable between friends.” March 18: Hitler denounces “unjust European boundaries.” References to demands of Czechoslovakian “Germans.” March 24: Mr Chamberlain says British nation would fight in its own defence, and to defend France and

Belgium against unprovoked aggression.

March 28: Dr Hodza, Czechoslovakian Prime Minister, announced new minority statute to provide basis of settlement with Sudeten GermansDemand of Sudeten leader Herr Henlein, for autonomy refused.

March 30: Mussolini asserts that Italy is ready for a quick war, and can mobilise 9,000,000 men.

April 16: Anglo-Italian agreement hailed as “augury for peace.” April 19: Czech Government makes conciliatory proposals to Sudetens. April 24.—Henlein makes Carlsbad demand, rejecting Czech minority proposals. Demands reversal of Czech foreign policy and recognition of Sudeten group as “legal peronsality.” April 29: Anglo-French entente confirmed. May 8- Hitler, after reviewing Italian fleet and army, agrees with Mussolini regarding spheres of influence in Balkans.

May 21: Week-end of acute crisis, precipitated by Czech municipal elections, and deaths of two Sudetens. Troops mobilised in Germany and Czechoslovakia. British firm attitude indicated.

June 13: Final municipal election results show Henlein’s party has made further progress. July 24: Four-power conference proposed to settle Sudeten dispute. August 3: Lord Runciman reaches Prague as mediator and observer. August 9: German troop movements on the German frontier. August 17: Sudetens reject Czech proposals to meet claims of minorities. Growing military activity reported.

August 18: Lord Runciman meets Herr Henlein.

August 26: Offer of establishment of three German cantons, to be responsible for their own affairs, but sending representatives to the central Czech Government.

September 1: Herr Henlein meets Hitler and Lord Runciman calls on President Benes.

September 6: Czech Government offers cantonal autonomy and freedom in adminstration, recognition of the Sudeten legal entity, but refuses alteration of foreign policy and freedom to practice Nazism. September 7: Partial mobilisation of French and German troops. September 8: Reports of brutal treatment of two Sudetens. Negotia tions at a standstill. Troop movements proceeding. September 12: Hitler, at Nuremberg, declares Sudeten “oppression” must end.

September 13: Sudeten ultimatum to Czechs to withdraw within six hours.

September 14: Serious conflict betwen Sudetens and Czechs.

September 15: Mr Chamberlain flies to Munich—Berchtesgaden talks begin.

September 16: Mr Chamberlain returns to London. Czech Government dissolves Sudeten German party. September 18: French Premier (M. Daladier) and Foreign Minister (M. Bonnet) visit London. September 21: Czech Government accepts Anglo-French proposals. September 22: Mr Chamberlain

and Herr Hitler resume negotiation: at Godesberg. September 25: Godesberg confer ence ends. German memorandum in

sisting on separation of Sudetenland issued.

September 28: Hitler invites Chamberlain, Daladier and Mussolini to confer at Munich.

September 29: Munich Agreement signed.

September 30: Czechs accept “peace plan.” Chamberlain and Hitler sign “no war” pact. October 2: German troops enter Sudetenland. Teschen ceded to Poland under protest. October 5: President of Czechoslovakia (Dr Benes) resigns. October 6: Hungarian and Czech troops clash on frontier. October 7: Granting of Germany’s full Godesberg demands by International Commission announced. October 14: Czech-Hungarian boundary negotiations break down. November 2: Anglo-Italian Agreement ratified 'in House of Commons. November 15: King Carol of Roumania visits London. November 22: Czech-German frontier delimited by agreement. November 23: Franco-German “no war” pact signed. November 24: Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax confer in Paris with M. Daladier and M. Bonnet. November 25: Hungarian troops concentrate on Ruthenian frontier. November 29: German troops mobilise on Czech frontier. December 5: British protest made against Italian claims for Tunisia and Corsica.

December 12: Martial law declared in Lithuania. Plot against Lithuanian President.

December 19: Poland warns Germany of independence of Ukraine. 1939. January 8: Hungarian Note sent to Czechs protesting against frontier incidents.

January 11: Mr Chamberlain visits Rome.

January 24: Germany issues manifesto on return of colonies by peaceful methods.

January 29: Italian claims on France outlined.

February 10: General Franco’s troops seize Minorca. February 24: Lord Halifax announces Anglo-French defensive pact.

March 1: Britain recognises Franco regime in Spain. March 2: British trade mission visits Russia.

March 9: New British military policy, including divisions for service on Continent in event of war, announced. March 14: Czech Cabinet resigns. March 15: German troops occupy Bohemia and Moravia. Prague entered.

March 19: Britain protests to Germany.

March 21: Britain initiates move for “non-aggression” bloc. March 22: Germany annexes Memel. ' March 23: German-Roumanian trade treaty signed. March 26: Mussolini outlines Italian claims “Mediteranean power vital.” March 28: German troops menace Danzig and Poland. Madrid surrenders,

March 30: M. Daladier appeals to “countries ready to preserve peace.”

March 31: Britain guarantees support for Poland if attacked. April 5: Polish Foreign Minister (Col. Beck) visits London; confers with Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax.

April 7: Italian invasion of Albania Chamberlain announces details of An-glo-Polish Pact. Poland’s refusal of German offer announced.

April 7: Italian troops invade Albania. Anglo-Polish Pact announced. April 11: United States proposal for “economic axis” to cheek Hitler. April 13: Chamberlain and Daladier announce Anglo-French pledges to support Greece and Roumania against aggression.

April 13: Britain and France pledge support to Greece and Roumania. April 16: President Roosevelt appeals to dictators for pledge for nonaggression, to be followed by world economic conference. American navy transferred to Pacific.

April 16: President Roosevelt announces peace plan and appeals to Dictators for ten-year non-aggression pact.

April 27: Britain adopts conscription.

April 28: Hitler, in Reichstag speech, snubs Roosevelt and denounces Anglo-German Naval Agreement.

May 4: M. Litvinoff, Soviet Foreign Minister, resigns. May 5: Polish Foreign Minister (Col. Beck) declares that Poland will not be barred from Baltic or agree to “peace at any price.” May 7: King George and Queen Elizabeth leave on Royal tour to Canada and United States.

May 14: Anglo-Turkish Pact announced.

May 25: Japan announces blockade of Chinese coast.

June 8: British Envoy to Moscow to confer on projected Anglo-Soviet Alliance, announced. June 13: Japan announces blockade of British and French concessions at Tientsin.

June 21: Japanese forces invade treaty port of Swatow. June 25: Mr Chamberlain appeals against “poisoning by propaganda” and warns Japan, in Cardiff speech.

June 23: Franco-Turkish Pact signed. June 28: German military aeroplane reported shot down by Polish artillery

over Gydnia. French Prime Minister issues grave warning about Danzig situation.

June 29: British memorandum to German Government denying policy of encirclement disclosed. June 30: Lord Halifax issues grave warning to aggressors. Ominous moves in Danzig.

July 2: Japan announces four demands as basis for settlement of Tientsin dispute and spokesman threatened use of force in attaining them.

July 9: Mr Chamberlain reaffirms Britain’s guarantees to Poland. July 10: Italian orders to British French, Dutch and Swiss residents in the Tyrol to evacuate the territory within 48 hours, disclosed.

July 24: Official text of agreement as basis for discussion of the Tientsin dispute as reported by the British Ambassador at Tokio (Sir Robert Craigie) announced. Secretary of British Overseas Trade department (Mr R. S. Hudson) admits authorship of Peace-Loan-for-Ger-many plan.

July 27: Abrogation of 28-year-old commercial treaty with Japan announced by the United States. July 30: Japanese troops encroach on British defence sector of International Settlement at Shanghai. July 31: British and French military missions to Moscow announced. August 5: Mr Chamberlain announces in House of Commons that it may be necessary to send a British fleet to the Far East.

August 6: Two British steamers bombed on Yangtse River.

August 7: Hitler holds conference with military leaders at Berchtesgaden. ' August 13: Italian six-point peace plan for a Danzig compromise reported. Poland said to have rejected this and put forward four counter proposals. August 15: Japanese troops land near Hong Kong boundary. August 19: German military occupation of Slovakia announced. August 21: Russia and Germany reach understanding on non-aggres-sion pact.

August 22: Mr Chamberlain sends message to Hitler reaffirming Britain's determination to aid Poland in the event of aggression. August 23: Russo-German NonAggression Pact signed. August 24: Appeals for amity by Roosevelt and the Pope. Polish border crossed by Nazi patrol. Chamberlain’s warning of consequences of aggression.

August 28: Hitler refuses to negotiate.

August 31: Mussolini desires general talks. British Cabinet sends second Note to Hitler.

September 1: Germany attacks Poland. Planes bomb several towns. Danzig taken over by Reich. Germans blockade Gdynia harbour. Poland offers road across Corridor until plebiscite is taken. September 3: Britain at war - with Germany. Ultimatum to Reich unanswered. France will co-operate with Britain. Heavy fighting in Poland. September 4: Seven air raids on Warsaw. French advance on Western Front.; German lines penetrated. Believed Japan and Italy will remain neutral.

September 5: Propaganda raid over Germany. Poles swiftly counter-at-tack to defend approaches to Warsaw. Confirmation that unarmed vessel, Athenia torpedoed on way to Canada September 7: Britain’s war effort rapidly gaining momentum. Many countries declare for neutrality. September 9: Air raids on Warsaw; a long siege possible. U-boats sink several vessels.

September 11: French pressing hard on Western Front; relieving force of attack against Poles. More vessels sunk. German warship mined in Baltic. Japan and Italy likely to remain neutral.