Military Contributions:
- Invaded Poland: September 1, 1939, marking the outbreak of World War II.
- Conquered Western Europe: Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France from 1940-1941.
- Invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa): June 22, 1941, but was met with fierce Soviet resistance and severe winter conditions.
- African Campaign: Allied forces defeated German troops in North Africa from 1940-1943.
- Eastern Front: Germany endured heavy losses in the brutal battles against the Soviet Union, including the Siege of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk.
- U-Boat Warfare: German submarines attacked Allied shipping, seeking to disrupt supplies and fuel the war effort.
- V-2 Rockets: Developed and launched against England and other Allied targets, but with limited impact.
Industrial and Economic Contributions:
- War Production: Germany's economy was geared towards war production, with industries producing vast amounts of weapons, munitions, and aircraft.
- Arbeitslager (Labor Camps): Millions of prisoners of war and civilians were forced to work in German factories and other industries.
- Plunder: Germany seized resources from occupied territories, such as food, raw materials, and machinery.
- Forced Labor: Millions of people were enslaved as forced laborers in German factories and farms.
Ideological Contributions:
- Nazi Ideology: Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party promoted extreme nationalism, anti-Semitism, and the belief in Aryan supremacy.
- Lebensraum (Living Space): Germany sought to expand its territory by conquering neighboring countries, particularly in Eastern Europe.
- Propaganda: Nazi Germany used propaganda to glorify its leaders, justify its actions, and demonize its enemies.
Political Contributions:
- Axis Alliance: Germany formed alliances with Italy and Japan, known as the Axis Powers.
- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Signed with the Soviet Union in March 1918, giving Germany control of large parts of Eastern Europe.
- Munich Agreement: Signed with Britain and France in 1938, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
Other Contributions:
- Technological Advancements: Germany developed innovations such as the jet engine, the V-2 rocket, and code-breaking machines.
- War Crimes: Nazi Germany committed horrific war crimes against civilians, prisoners of war, and minority groups, including the Holocaust.
- Damage and Destruction: The war caused extensive damage to infrastructure, cities, and economies across Europe and beyond.