19371940

The period between 1937 and 1940 was a critical juncture in global history, marked by escalating international tensions and the looming shadow of widespread conflict. In Europe, the aggressive expansionist policies of Nazi Germany continued to dominate headlines. Adolf Hitler's annexation of Austria in March 1938, the Anschluss, and the subsequent Sudetenland crisis, which led to the Munich Agreement in September 1938, demonstrated the appeasement policies of Western powers. Despite assurances of peace, Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. The signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union in August 1939 sent shockwaves across the globe, effectively dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and paving the way for further aggression.

The outbreak of World War II occurred on September 1, 1939, with Germany's invasion of Poland. This act triggered declarations of war from France and the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of a global conflict that would reshape the 20th century. The early years of the war saw swift German victories, including the "Phoney War" period followed by the rapid conquest of Denmark and Norway in April 1940, and the devastating invasion of France and the Low Countries in May and June 1940. The Battle of Britain, fought in the skies over the UK during the summer and autumn of 1940, became a pivotal moment, as the Royal Air Force successfully defended the nation against Luftwaffe attacks, preventing a German invasion.

In Asia, the Second Sino-Japanese War, which began in 1937, continued to rage, drawing in increasing international attention. The United States, though officially neutral, began to take a more involved stance, passing Lend-Lease legislation in 1941 to provide aid to Allied nations, though the groundwork for such support was being laid in these preceding years. The economic and political landscapes of many nations were profoundly affected by these events, with widespread rearmament and societal mobilization becoming increasingly common as the world edged closer to total war.