Greater German Reich

The Greater German Reich, known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and commonly known as Nazi Germany, the Third Reich, or simply Germany, was a country originally located in Central Europe, and at its peak in 1942, controlled most of Europe.

In the closing stages of World War I, the German Empire was overthrown and replaced with the German Reich, commonly referred to as the "Weimar Republic". The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1918, forced Germany to cede territory, demilitarize, and pay the Allies money. This fueled anger inside of Germany, who was tempted by Adolf Hitler, who aimed to fuel Germans by violence, hopelessness, and resentment.

Seeking an alternative, Germany attempted to bail out some money from America, and is successful; however, Germany became unhappy with this outcome. Hitler further tempted Germany by stating that communism is evil and fascism is glorious. After the Reichstag is set on fire, Hitler told Germany that he had given the Germans a will to unite under hate. Germany dissolveed, and Hitler established the next German Reich.

After taking power, Hitler would start annexing countries, including Czechoslovakia, and his orders are initially agreed with by the other Allies, who didn't want to risk another major conflict with Germany. However, when Hitler planned to annex Poland, Britain and France made an agreement with Poland to prevent such an annexation from happening. Hitler signed a deal with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, whose request to help defend Poland was denied by the Allies, to help them invade Poland.

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France, true to their deal, declared war on Germany. The joint German-Soviet invasion concluded on October 6, which was then followed by a brief period in which Germany did not attack other countries. In 1940, Germany invaded and conquered the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, starting the Western Front.

Shortly afterwards, Germany's ally Italy declared war on Britain, and Germany attempted to invade Britain themselves, but the invasion failed. Following the failed invasion, Hitler decides to expand eastwards, and on June 22, 1941, Germany violated the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by invading the Soviet Union, and Germany makes huge gains, but are halted at the Soviet capital Moscow.

Around this time period, Germany declared war on America, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent declaration of war. In 1942, Hitler decides to bring his supergun to Sevastopol, but is forced to disassemble it after the Soviets recapture Leningrad. As the Soviets push westward, Polish resistance forces are helped by America and Britain, but the Soviets push past Poland as they make their way to Germany.

On the Western Front, following Italy's surrender, German-occupied France is invaded by the Western Allies, who liberate France, Belgium, and the Netherlands from German control. As the Soviets reach Berlin, Hitler commits suicide to avoid capture by the Red Army, but German forces continue to fight for another week.

German rebels continue fighting against the German Army, and enlist American soldiers to help break anti-fascist German prisoners from a German prison, and the operation succeeds, with the prison and their prisoners being liberated, and the German officials are arrested.

With no incentive to keep fighting, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, and the country was subsequently occupied by the victorious Allies: America, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. As the Cold War started, Germany was divided into two countries; the American, British, and French occupation zoned merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany, whereas the Soviet occupation zone became the German Democratic Republic.