1 Chapter (1936)
Germany, New Year’s day 1936
8 March –
German troops occupy the Rhineland
9 March –
France threatens Germany with sanctions
10 March –
PM Baldwin rejects grand conflict
11 March –
Europe divided on German move
18 March –
Chinese government denounces Chairman Mao as a villain
19 March –
Chinese generals calls for a united China
20 March –
Chinese President threatens unruly officers
21 March –
Chiang says Mao is the only threat to Chinese prosperity
22 March –
Japan satisfied with responsible Chinese replies
3 Apr –
World Market runs out of rubber; Germany suffers
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Ludwig Beck, the chief of staff, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister, and field marshal Wilhelm Keitel gathered to discuss a possible invasion in the Baltic region to counter Russian designs.
Canaris stress the need to secure Estonia and Latvia as they share borders with Russia. Their defence is weak and will be an easy prey. Raeder warns about the limited capacity of the fleet. They would only manage to transport six divisions in an amphibious assault, giving a ratio of 3 against 2, not much even if the German soldiers are superior. The solutions rests on Konstantin von Neurath who should at any cost secure Lithuanian assistance, even if it means tuning down German claims on Memel. Field marshal Keitel is given the command in this campaign.
The four men present. Keitel, Canaris, Raeder and Beck
Official German Papers, Baltic Campaign 1936
Wilhelm Canaris’ estimates:
The Latvian Army consists of 4 INF
The Estonian Army consists of 3 INF
Wilhelm Keitel’s plan:
Heeresgruppe I (Keitel)
1.Armeekorps (3 INF)
2.Armeekorps (3 INF)
3.Armeekorps (3 INF)
6.Armeekorps (3 INF)
7.Armeekorps (3 INF)
8.Armeekorps (3 INF)
Heeresgruppe II (von Weichs)
4.Armeekorps (3 INF)
Heeresgruppe I moves to Liepaja, Heeresgruppe II moves to Daugavpils, before both groups launch a synchronized attack on the Latvian capital, Riga. From Riga, the forces will continue too Tallinn, the Estonian capital.
Keitel in the field
14 Apr –
Germany invades Latvia
15 Apr –
Lithuania and Estonia promise neutrality
16 Apr –
Germans march through Lithuania
17 Apr –
Lithuania signs pact of friendship with Germany; Military access given
18 Apr –
German troops meet no Latvian resistance in Liepaja or Daugavpils
23 Apr –
Germans capture Riga; Latvian resistance collapses
23 Apr –
Germans cross into Estonia
25 Apr –
Latvia annexed by Germany
26 Apr –
Turkish Government forced to cede Kars to Russia
27 Apr –
Estonia annexed without proper fight
28 Apr –
No protests filed against Russian aggression in Turkey
29 Apr –
Great Britain and France threatens Germany
30 Apr –
Germany disappointed by British and French double standard;
Claims to protect the Baltic against Russian designs
1 May –
Ethiopia victorious in Addis Abeba
2 May
Mussolini embarrassed; Five months of warfare in the Ethiopian highlands
14 May –
Chinese Communists on the run; Datong captured by Chiang KS
1 June –
Germany develops Basic Electromechanical Computers
11 June –
Erich Raeder promise an Unlimited Submarine Warfare in case of future blockades
22 June –
Italy captures Addis Abeba
24 June –
Mussolini declares Ethipia annexed
25 June –
Chairman Mao captures Yanan; Chiang KS furious
26 June –
Italian aggression denounced by the League of Nations
6 July –
Herman Göring promise Base Defence in case of future air strikes
18 July –
Civil war erupts in Spain
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Ludwig Beck, the chief of staff, Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, and Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister gathered to discuss a possible intervention in Spain.
Canaris stress the skills of fascist leaders like Franco and Mola, but they are short of supplies and manpower. A large part of the army, together with the militias, supports the republic. Without support, the fascist revolt are doomed. A fascist regime in Spain will be a great strategic victory and Germany decides to support Franco with regular units as well as supplies and manpower.
Official German Papers, Spanish Civil War 1936
Wilhelm Canaris’ estimates:
The Republican Army consists of 9 INF, 1 ARM and 1 CAV; The fascists have mustered 4 INF. Franco will lose unless Germany supports him with all possible means.
Ludwig Beck’s plan:
Heeresgruppe Legion (von Küchler)
2. Armeekorps (3INF)
5.Armeekorps (3INF)
9.Armeekorps (3INF)
10.Armeekorps (3INF)
12 German divisions, landing in different ports, in phases due to a lack of transport capacity, will be more than sufficient to end the civil war in favourable way.
A Spanish Stamp bear witness of a ideological struggle for life or death
19 July –
Germany and Italy sends supplies and volunteers to Franco
20 July –
Russia sends supplies and volunteers to the republicans
21 July –
Great Britain and France refuse any involvement in Spain
30 July –
Nationalist Spain wins a battle against Republican Spain in Barcelona
7 Aug –
Republican Spain defends Madrid against Fascist offensive
16 Aug –
Fascists loses elections in Rumania; Democratic government formed
19 Aug –
Fascist offensive in Spain; Republicans lose Almería and Huesca
20 Aug –
The German Cruiser Admiral Graf Spee ready for deployment
23 Aug –
Franco rides high tide; Republicans lose Cartagena and Bilbao
2 Sept –
German and fascist troops arrive in Madrid; Republicans promise last stand
30 Sept –
Republican defeat in Madrid; Franco declared head of Fascist Spain
1 Oct –
Fascist victory in Spain decreases dissent in Germany
"After having made prisoner and disarmed the red army, the national troops have attained their final military objective. In consequence, the civil war is over." By General Franco
3 Oct –
Communists recaptures Yanan
6 Oct –
Fascist Spain signs pact of friendship with Germany
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, and Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister gathered to discuss a possible fascist block in Europe.
The pacts of friendship, signed with Lithuania and Spain, have little value. Germany has obtained military access, but no military help is promised in case of war. Spain, torn by civil war, and Lithuania are not very strong countries either. A stronger alliance is needed.
Wilhelm Canaris’ plan:
Influence fascist nations and stage coups in democratic countries. Main countries to be targeted are democratic Sweden, due to their deposits of iron, democratic Rumania, due to their oilfields, and fascist Italy, due to their naval power
1 Nov –
Germany calls for friendship with Italy
"The Italian and German Entente forms a vertical line Berlin-Rome. This line is not a partition but is rather an axis around which all European states can collaborate." By Benito Mussolini
3 Nov –
Landon (rep.) wins presidential elections in USA
14 Nov –
Germany develops Ship Assembly Construction Process
14 Dec –
Tide turns in China; Communists surrenders in Xianyang
23 Dec –
Germany develops Vehicle Assembly Construction Process
29 Dec –
Germany develops Aircraft Assembly Construction Process
Germany, New Year’s day 1936
8 March –
German troops occupy the Rhineland
9 March –
France threatens Germany with sanctions
10 March –
PM Baldwin rejects grand conflict
11 March –
Europe divided on German move
18 March –
Chinese government denounces Chairman Mao as a villain
19 March –
Chinese generals calls for a united China
20 March –
Chinese President threatens unruly officers
21 March –
Chiang says Mao is the only threat to Chinese prosperity
22 March –
Japan satisfied with responsible Chinese replies
3 Apr –
World Market runs out of rubber; Germany suffers
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Ludwig Beck, the chief of staff, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister, and field marshal Wilhelm Keitel gathered to discuss a possible invasion in the Baltic region to counter Russian designs.
Canaris stress the need to secure Estonia and Latvia as they share borders with Russia. Their defence is weak and will be an easy prey. Raeder warns about the limited capacity of the fleet. They would only manage to transport six divisions in an amphibious assault, giving a ratio of 3 against 2, not much even if the German soldiers are superior. The solutions rests on Konstantin von Neurath who should at any cost secure Lithuanian assistance, even if it means tuning down German claims on Memel. Field marshal Keitel is given the command in this campaign.
The four men present. Keitel, Canaris, Raeder and Beck
Official German Papers, Baltic Campaign 1936
Wilhelm Canaris’ estimates:
The Latvian Army consists of 4 INF
The Estonian Army consists of 3 INF
Wilhelm Keitel’s plan:
Heeresgruppe I (Keitel)
1.Armeekorps (3 INF)
2.Armeekorps (3 INF)
3.Armeekorps (3 INF)
6.Armeekorps (3 INF)
7.Armeekorps (3 INF)
8.Armeekorps (3 INF)
Heeresgruppe II (von Weichs)
4.Armeekorps (3 INF)
Heeresgruppe I moves to Liepaja, Heeresgruppe II moves to Daugavpils, before both groups launch a synchronized attack on the Latvian capital, Riga. From Riga, the forces will continue too Tallinn, the Estonian capital.
Keitel in the field
14 Apr –
Germany invades Latvia
15 Apr –
Lithuania and Estonia promise neutrality
16 Apr –
Germans march through Lithuania
17 Apr –
Lithuania signs pact of friendship with Germany; Military access given
18 Apr –
German troops meet no Latvian resistance in Liepaja or Daugavpils
23 Apr –
Germans capture Riga; Latvian resistance collapses
23 Apr –
Germans cross into Estonia
25 Apr –
Latvia annexed by Germany
26 Apr –
Turkish Government forced to cede Kars to Russia
27 Apr –
Estonia annexed without proper fight
28 Apr –
No protests filed against Russian aggression in Turkey
29 Apr –
Great Britain and France threatens Germany
30 Apr –
Germany disappointed by British and French double standard;
Claims to protect the Baltic against Russian designs
1 May –
Ethiopia victorious in Addis Abeba
2 May
Mussolini embarrassed; Five months of warfare in the Ethiopian highlands
14 May –
Chinese Communists on the run; Datong captured by Chiang KS
1 June –
Germany develops Basic Electromechanical Computers
11 June –
Erich Raeder promise an Unlimited Submarine Warfare in case of future blockades
22 June –
Italy captures Addis Abeba
24 June –
Mussolini declares Ethipia annexed
25 June –
Chairman Mao captures Yanan; Chiang KS furious
26 June –
Italian aggression denounced by the League of Nations
6 July –
Herman Göring promise Base Defence in case of future air strikes
18 July –
Civil war erupts in Spain
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Ludwig Beck, the chief of staff, Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, and Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister gathered to discuss a possible intervention in Spain.
Canaris stress the skills of fascist leaders like Franco and Mola, but they are short of supplies and manpower. A large part of the army, together with the militias, supports the republic. Without support, the fascist revolt are doomed. A fascist regime in Spain will be a great strategic victory and Germany decides to support Franco with regular units as well as supplies and manpower.
Official German Papers, Spanish Civil War 1936
Wilhelm Canaris’ estimates:
The Republican Army consists of 9 INF, 1 ARM and 1 CAV; The fascists have mustered 4 INF. Franco will lose unless Germany supports him with all possible means.
Ludwig Beck’s plan:
Heeresgruppe Legion (von Küchler)
2. Armeekorps (3INF)
5.Armeekorps (3INF)
9.Armeekorps (3INF)
10.Armeekorps (3INF)
12 German divisions, landing in different ports, in phases due to a lack of transport capacity, will be more than sufficient to end the civil war in favourable way.
A Spanish Stamp bear witness of a ideological struggle for life or death
19 July –
Germany and Italy sends supplies and volunteers to Franco
20 July –
Russia sends supplies and volunteers to the republicans
21 July –
Great Britain and France refuse any involvement in Spain
30 July –
Nationalist Spain wins a battle against Republican Spain in Barcelona
7 Aug –
Republican Spain defends Madrid against Fascist offensive
16 Aug –
Fascists loses elections in Rumania; Democratic government formed
19 Aug –
Fascist offensive in Spain; Republicans lose Almería and Huesca
20 Aug –
The German Cruiser Admiral Graf Spee ready for deployment
23 Aug –
Franco rides high tide; Republicans lose Cartagena and Bilbao
2 Sept –
German and fascist troops arrive in Madrid; Republicans promise last stand
30 Sept –
Republican defeat in Madrid; Franco declared head of Fascist Spain
1 Oct –
Fascist victory in Spain decreases dissent in Germany
"After having made prisoner and disarmed the red army, the national troops have attained their final military objective. In consequence, the civil war is over." By General Franco
3 Oct –
Communists recaptures Yanan
6 Oct –
Fascist Spain signs pact of friendship with Germany
In the Chancellery, Berlin
Wilhelm Canaris, head of intelligence, and Konstantin von Neurath, foreign minister gathered to discuss a possible fascist block in Europe.
The pacts of friendship, signed with Lithuania and Spain, have little value. Germany has obtained military access, but no military help is promised in case of war. Spain, torn by civil war, and Lithuania are not very strong countries either. A stronger alliance is needed.
Wilhelm Canaris’ plan:
Influence fascist nations and stage coups in democratic countries. Main countries to be targeted are democratic Sweden, due to their deposits of iron, democratic Rumania, due to their oilfields, and fascist Italy, due to their naval power
1 Nov –
Germany calls for friendship with Italy
"The Italian and German Entente forms a vertical line Berlin-Rome. This line is not a partition but is rather an axis around which all European states can collaborate." By Benito Mussolini
3 Nov –
Landon (rep.) wins presidential elections in USA
14 Nov –
Germany develops Ship Assembly Construction Process
14 Dec –
Tide turns in China; Communists surrenders in Xianyang
23 Dec –
Germany develops Vehicle Assembly Construction Process
29 Dec –
Germany develops Aircraft Assembly Construction Process
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