3.1.2 Reactions to Hitler

Question 1

Which 3 countries all had different reactions to Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 1

• USSR
• USA
• Great Britain

Question 2

How did the USSR react to Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 2

Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR, was worried by Hitler’s determination to destroy Communism and by 1935 he was willing to put aside concerns about Britain and France in order to sign a mutual assistance treaty with France. Stalin would work with the allies to protect the USSR from Hitler.

Question 3

Why did Stalin originally want to keep the Allies at a distance?

Answer 3

Due to their opposing political views

Question 4

When did Stalin start to cooperate with the Allies after joining the League?

Answer 4

1934

Question 5

How did the USA react to Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 5

The USA followed a policy of isolationism during the Depression. In 1934, a poll said that 70% of Americans did not want to get involved if a second war in Europe broke out. Despite American leaders publicly declaring they were opposed to the actions of Hitler, the American people still refused to entertain any possible involvement in Europe

Question 6

How did Britain react to Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 6

Initially, Britain didn’t oppose Hitler in his early career and didn’t want to enter into another war. Also, many people considered Hitler’s aim of taking land that was previously German a reasonable request

Question 7

What was the main reason that Britain didn’t oppose Hitler in his early career?

Answer 7

Britain didn’t want to enter into another war

Question 8

The USA followed a policy of ____________ where they refused to get involved with European conflict

Answer 8

isolationism

Question 9

What were the reactions of Britain and France to Hitler? (6)

Answer 9

Britain and France did not want to start another war, so they let Hitler get away with breaking the Treaty of Versailles, even though it was international law. They did this because:
- they needed time to rearm; their armies were not big enough to fight and win a war
- many people in Britain thought that Hitler was being reasonable because the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh
- they were concerned about the USSR and thought that Hitler could be a valuable ally against Communism
- countries could not afford to go to war during the Depression and their governments were preoccupied with problems at home
- people could remember the horrors of the First World War: they did not want another war
- the policy followed by Britain and France from 1937 is known as appeasement: they tried to give Hitler what he wanted in the hope of preventing war