Appeasemnet And Road To War #9: Hitler’s Rearmament Of Germany Flashcards
Rearmament meaning
To build up the number of weapons within a country
When did Hitler rise to power?
January 1933
What did Hitler’s rise to power lead to?
Him defining his foreign policy aims
When did outline his vision for Germany’s foreign policy?
In a speech to his generals in February 1933. This covered long and short term foreign policy goals - all under the umbrella of revising the Treaty of Versailles
How many countries attended the Geneva Conference?
61
What did the Geneva Conference aim to do?
Impose limits on armaments to preserve peace
What was Britain’s view of German rearmament?
They wanted to let Germany rearm at a controlled rate
What was France’s view of German rearmament?
They didn’t want them to rearm at all
When was the Geneva Disarmament Conference?
1932-1934
What was the proposed deal drafted to Germany at Geneva in 1933?
- They would rearm at a certain rate, reaching equality in 8 years
- This would allow Germany an army of 200,000 - double the amount laid down at Versailles
Why did France want to maintain its military superiority?
Because they were determined to preserve their own security
What did Germany demand throughout Geneva?
To be armed equally
What did Hitler do when he realised German demands wouldn’t be granted at Geneva?
He withdrew from the conference and LoN in 1933
When did Hitler leave the Geneva Conference and the LoN?
1933
How did the German people feel about Hitler leaving the conference and LoN?
Over 95% felt he had done the right thing
Why was the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact a good move from Germany?
Germany couldn’t tackle their main obstacle, France, head on - but they would benefit by separating them from their friends.
Who did Hitler offer the non-aggression pact to?
Poland and Czechoslovakia. Only Poland accepted.
Why did Poland accept the non-aggression pact?
They saw Russia as a greater threat than Germany
What did the non aggression pact ACTUALLY do?
- it was meaningless in military terms
- it took away from Poland’s friendship with France
When did Hitler’s generals propose a plan for development of the Germany army?
December 1933 (conducted in secret as it violated the ToV)
What was Hitler’s plan to develop the German army in 1933?
- He wanted an army of 21 divisions that would make 300,000 men by 1937
- He did this by introducing a one year short-service conscription
Conscription
Being forced to join the army for a period of time
When did Hitler announce he was permanently reintroducing conscription?
16th March 1935
What would Hitler’s plan to make conscription permanent mean?
The army would be increased to 36 divisions and 550,000 men
When did Hitler order German manufacturers to begin producing Panzer I tanks?
1934
How large was the Luftwaffe by the end of 1934?
2000 planes
When did Hitler admit the existence of the Luftwaffe?
9th March 1935, Daily Mail interview
Why did it go unnoticed that Hitler violated the ToV by having the Luftwaffe?
France and Britain were too pre-occupied with the Abyssinian Crisis
Timeline of Hitler’s Rearmament (1933-1935)
1933: Hitler leaves Geneva Conference and LoN
1933: Hitler introduces conscription and plans for 21 divisions and 300,000 men by 1937
1934: Panzer I tanks being produced
1934: Over 2000 planes in the Luftwaffe
1935: Hitler announces permanent conscription and plans for 36 divisions and 550,000 men
June 1935: Anglo-German Naval Deal
When was the Stresa Front?
April 1935
What was the Stresa Pact?
- An agreement between Britain, France, and Italy that formalised opposition to German Rearament
- These 3 countries were committed to work together to monitor Germany
- The coalition collapsed when Italy invaded Abyssinia later that year
When was the Anglo-German Naval deal?
18th June 1935
What did the Anglo-German Naval deal allow Germany?
- parity in the air
- naval forces 35% the size of Britain’s
- an equal number of Submarines as Britain
What was the Maginot Line
- A line of defensive concrete and steel fortifications that stretch between Belgium and Switzerland along France’s border with Germany
- Originally built between 1929 and 1934
How and why did France extend the Maginot line?
- They were alarmed by Germany’s rearmament
- Between 1939 and 1940, the French Government spent 1bil francs to strengthen and extend it
