Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II (1938-1939)

View of the ceremonial event at the Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel on the occasion of the launch of the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin in 1938 (top).

The admiral greets G. Goering and his entourage, who have arrived for the ceremony.

View of part of one of the shipyard's slipways.

Göring and his entourage walk past a brass band (top).

Raising the swastika standard next to the rostrum.

The swastika banner against the background of a rally (top).

Göring delivering a speech.

View of the bow of the aircraft carrier before the launch.

A banner with the name of the aircraft carrier, hung along the side of the ship. A. Hitler steps up to the rostrum to deliver a speech in the Reichstag on January 30, 1939, with Göring behind him in the presidium.

Hitler delivering a speech, views of the hall.

Those present in the hall applaud Hitler.

Hitler A. steps up to the podium to deliver a speech in the Reichstag on January 30, 1939, with Goering behind him in the presidium.

Hitler delivers a speech, views of the hall.

Those present in the hall applaud Hitler, views of the hall.

Czechoslovakian President E. Hacha inspects the guard of honor at the Berlin train station after arriving in Germany on March 14, 1939.

Czechoslovak President E. Hacha inspects the guard of honour at the Berlin train station after arriving in Germany on 14 March 1939. A colourful squad of the guard of honour on the platform.

Hacha walks along the guard of honour.

Faces of the guard of honour.

Hacha gets into a car.

Newspaper reports about the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia.

A road sign on the way to Prague.

A column of German motorcyclists moves along the road towards Prague on 15 March 1939. A Wehrmacht unit on bicycles.

An anti-tank gun crew at the gun.

German troops and equipment move along the roads of Czechoslovakia in a snowstorm.

Columns of German troops and armoured vehicles enter the outskirts of Prague.

View of the square in front of the palace in Prague Castle, with German troops entering the gates (top).

German soldiers marching through the streets of Prague.

Hitler in a car driving along one of the city streets.

Hitler during a ceremonial formation of members of local fascist organizations.

Faces of wounded Czech Nazis.

Hitler's face.

German planes fly over Prague.

German troops march on Wenceslas Square.

Faces of Czechoslovak collaborator officials.

German armored vehicles on parade in Prague, planes fly over Prague.

Residents of Memel (Klaipeda) at the port waiting for German troops to enter the city on March 22, 1939. Distribution of newspapers and leaflets.

The face of an elderly woman.

Lithuanian soldiers march along the street.

Planting a banner with a swastika over an arch.

Members of children's Nazi organizations with flags in their hands run out of the gates to meet German troops.

German soldiers respond to greetings from local residents from the back of a truck.

Residents of Memel standing along the road, greeting German troops, raising their arms in a Nazi salute.

German mechanized columns move along the streets of Memel.

A banner with a greeting.

Faces of young people greeting German troops.

A column of Lithuanian naval officers with Nazi armbands passes by.

A banner greeting the German troops entering Memel (Klaipeda) on March 22, 1939. The faces of young people greeting the German troops.

A column of Lithuanian naval officers with Nazi armbands on their sleeves passes by.

A view of one of the streets of Memel.

German planes fly over the city.

Hitler A. and his entourage descend the gangway of a military ship in the port of Memel on March 23, 1939. Hitler walks out onto the pier along the gangway.

Hitler, accompanied by Admiral Bem G., inspects the guard of honor.

Hitler drives in an open car through the streets of Memel, responds to greetings, the residents of Memel greet Hitler.

Raising the flag with a swastika over the town hall.

View of the ceremonial rally in front of the town hall.

Hitler and his entourage on the balcony of the town hall.

Residents of Memel raise their arms in a Nazi salute.

Hitler greets the rally participants from the balcony.

View of the balcony of the town hall and part of the rally.

View of the Reichstag hall before Hitler's speech on April 28, 1939. The German eagle, panorama down to the rostrum and presidium, Hitler delivering a speech, Goering G. sits behind him, views of the hall.

After Hitler's speech, the hall stands up, everyone raises their arms in a Nazi salute.