What Countries Did Germany Invade in World War II?
During World War II, Germany invaded Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece and Yugoslavia. These invasions took place between 1939 and 1941. During this time several other European, African and Asian territories were invaded by troops from Italy and the Soviet Union.
The first country in Europe to be officially invaded by German forces at the start of World War II was Poland in September 1939. In April 1940, Norway and Denmark were invaded, and a month later the Nazis led a large campaign invading France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In April 1941, Nazi forces invaded Yugoslavia and Greece, which had previously been invaded by Italy in October 1940.
Fighting continued until 1945 as Allied troops in Europe opposed Nazi and Soviet forces and worked to liberate occupied European nations. During this time the Soviet, German and Italian forces opposed one another for control of several occupied territories.
Germany occupied several other countries during World War II, including Czechoslovakia, Austria, Italy and Sudetenland. Several other nations were also invaded and occupied during the war by Italy and the Soviet Union. After Germany’s surrender in 1945, occupied lands were restored to their original countries in most of Europe.
