![Germany, 1933 [LCID: ger19010]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/1f992c06-0de7-4161-b539-25249c2d227f.gif)
当阿道夫·希特勒在 1933 年 1 月掌权之时，德国就是潜在的欧洲强国之一。希特勒决定推翻第一次世界大战后凡尔赛和约对德国所作的军事和领土方面的限制性规定。作为恢复德国实力和在欧洲建立德意志帝国的第一步，他首先打算把讲德语的人都包括进帝国范围之内。大量讲德语的人们居住在奥地利、捷克斯洛伐克和波兰。在希特勒出任总理的 10 年间，奥地利被并入德国，捷克斯洛伐克被瓜分，波兰也被德军入侵，由此引发了第二次世界大战。
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![Adolf Hitler poses with his cabinet shortly after assuming power as chancellor of Germany. [LCID: 79487]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/1b9f0457-bda2-4b6f-8fae-9a13eff86f8b.jpg)
![Nazi Storm Troopers (SA) block the entrance to a trade union building that they have occupied. [LCID: 78571]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/865698b8-5e36-4184-9339-bcc98844eb6f.jpg)