[HeadUp]

the success of hitler's non-diplomatic annexations- namely the blitzkreig, shouldnt really be attributed to him, but moreso to the generals...but youre absolutely right about the unexpected takeover of france. tha comes from the generals' tactics of continued attack almost as soon as the land was secured, as well as superior and crippling tactics of a far superior luftwaffe. most of these countries were completely ill prepared to defend themselves, namely poland, who even tried to defend thier borders using lance cavalry.

and while its true that hitler didnt intend or expect the breakout of a full scale world war, he had to have been aware of the dangers of his actions, especially when the US, in the midst of the new deal, beginning to boom in industrial power again, aiding the brits

also, disruption of heavy water research in norway wreaked havok on german nuclear progress, they very well could have had nukes (and the world in its back pocket) earlier in the war had research not been so successfully disrupted, it ended up being a close call. also otto von braun and einstein were a big factor here

hitler's bond with japan was also a bigger factor than i think you guys are recognizing, as he didnt seem to want to have the us getting involved. but due to the terms of his alliance with the rising sun, as well as the collective strength of his administration resulting from the highly successful blitzkreig (the only real threat at that time was north africa as the brits were humiliating the italians, up until stalingrad, the germans were assraping the red army), he foolishly declared war on the us after they declared on japan.

i think youre right tho, hitler knew he was in trouble and that he was going to lose at some point, but i dont know if youre right about it being at the time...