@geration42: Only for historical purposes. German conquest of Europe in the Second World War 1938 - 1942 Germany carried out its territorial expansion from 1938 to 1944. The Empire began its expansion through annexations and puppet states. Austria was the first victim and was annexed in 1938. This was followed by the annexation of the Sudetenland and the dismantling of Czechoslovakia. Slovakia was used as a puppet state, while the rest of the Czech lands were annexed. In 1939, Germany, together with the Soviet Union, invaded Poland and successfully divided the country. From 1940 to 1941, the expansion continued in Northern and Western Europe, bringing the following countries under German control: Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, where the Vichy regime was established. During this period, Germany allied itself with various countries, forming the "Axis Powers." This Alliance included the 3 countries Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. But the so-called allies in the Balkans Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria were practically self-governing but Germany dictated economic control, war economy, troop deployment, and large parts of politics. These countries dependent and were strongly influenced by Berlin. In practice they were satellite states under strong German control. With these new allies in the Balkans, Greece and the former Yugoslavia were conquered and divided among the Axis powers while Germany keeps military control over the regions. In 1941, the Empire launched "Operation Barbarossa," the invasion of the Soviet Union. By 1942, it had reached its greatest territorial expansion on the Eastern Front, fully controlling countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, and Ukraine. However, from 1943 onward, the Empire began to suffer heavy losses on the Eastern Front and other battlefronts. Between 1943 and 1944, Germany only gained additional territory by occupying some of its former allies. Italy, Hungary (1943), and Romania (1944) were brought under German control. Additionally, the Empire took over previously divided regions of Yugoslavia and Greece, as well as Albania (1943), which had previously been part of Italy. In the final war year of 1945, Germany ultimately lost complete control over its fronts, occupied territories, and alliances with its former partners. Conclusion; Germany controlled vast territories, at one point ruling up to 80% of Europe. On today’s European map, this would correspond to 33 countries being under occupation or control. #WW2 #History #Expansion #Germany #Occupation

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Saturday 04 April 2026 08:54:17 GMT