Almost immediately after becoming chancellor, Hitler ordered a boycott of Jewish shops and businesses in Berlin. Gradually Jews were dismissed from political and cultural positions. The notorious Nürnberg Laws were passed in 1935 “for the protection of the racial purity of the state,” which totally stripped Jews of political and civic rights.

By the mid-1930s, Hitler’s no-longer-secretive war machine had begun to present a clear and present danger to those smaller nations around its borders. The lethargic leadership of Britain and the isolationist feeling in America shared a policy aimed at avoiding war at all costs—a perfect hothouse for Hitler to continue adding to his armaments. The dark cloud of fascism continued its spread across the continent.

Conflict might have been avoidable in 1936, perhaps even as late as 1937, but by 1938, Hitler commanded the flow of events.

In hopes of appeasing the dictator, the British and French throughout this period gave in to Hitler’s demands—small at first but steadily increasing—hoping to prevent a confrontation.

But Hitler’s objectives had widened since he had taken power. He lusted for control now, not merely of Germany, but of the world. He sought “cleansing,” not just within German borders, but throughout Europe.

In March of 1938, Hitler ordered German troops into Austria and took over the government. There was no resistance. Austria had been “annexed” for the Fatherland, and was now a province of Germany.

The first domino had fallen without a shot being fired. Hitler became more convinced than ever that no one would stand up to him. With his military machine in place, and knowing no other nation on earth to be his military equal, he proceeded to make plans to widen the territories of his conquest.

Judaism was not to be the only religion trampled under the hooves of Nazi boots. One month after the Austrian Anschluss, an edict was passed ordering all Christian priests and pastors to declare their allegiance to Hitler.

Most took the oath. Others, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, cried out against it, doing their best to stir up church leaders and awaken them from their apathy. But their voices cried in the wilderness. The organized German Church became more and more but another arm of the Fascist state. Some men of conscience left for Great Britain or America, trying to make their voices heard on foreign soil. Others remained in Germany. Bonhoeffer himself took his message abroad, but ultimately returned to live out his destiny as God’s spokesman on the soil of his homeland.

Hitler now set his sights on Czechoslovakia, where a fifth of the population were ethnic Germans. After a series of humiliating meetings in August and September, culminating with the Munich Agreement, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed to carve up the Czech state and give Hitler everything he demanded.