--- title: Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939 author: Simeon Netchev source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18715/map-of-europe-on-the-eve-of-wwii-1939/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) updated: 2026-04-13 --- # Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939 _Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_ ## Image File [![Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/18715.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/18715.png) ## Image Caption A map illustrating the growing instability in [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/) in the lead-up to World [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) II, capturing the aggressive territorial expansion of Nazi Germany and the failure of appeasement. Between 1935 and 1939, a series of bold geopolitical moves by [Adolf Hitler](https://www.worldhistory.org/Adolf_Hitler/) reshaped the European landscape and set the stage for global conflict. The sequence began with the Saarland’s return to Germany in 1935 following a plebiscite, followed by the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936—both direct violations of the [Treaty of Versailles](https://www.worldhistory.org/Treaty_of_Versailles/). In March 1938, Germany annexed Austria in the [Anschluss](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anschluss_of_Austria/), and by September had coerced [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/) and France into accepting the cession of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia through the [Munich Agreement](https://www.worldhistory.org/Munich_Agreement/). In March 1939, Hitler occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, further exposing the limits of diplomatic appeasement. That August, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact—a non-aggression agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union—shocked the world and secretly divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, triggering declarations of war by Britain and France and plunging Europe into the Second World War. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/) ## External Links - [Map Of the German Empire, March 1938](https://www.loc.gov/resource/g6081a.ct011976/) - [Second World War - Prelude - Nationalities in the First Czechoslovak Republic](https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/98562/second-world-war-prelude-nationalities-in-the-first-cze-deutschen-verlag) ## Cite This Work ### APA Netchev, S. (2024, March 18). Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 18, 2024. . ### MLA Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe on the Eve of WWII, 1939." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Mar 2024, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 18 March 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.