causes of ww2 - germany foreign policy Flashcards
name two previous german empires
- the first reich (AD 800 to 1806) - the second reich (AD 1871 to 1918)
Who was the first leader of the second reich
otto von bismark (1871-1890)
what were the foreign policies of the first and second reichs
- territorial expansion through war and military strength - diplomacy with other nations and forming alliances (eg second reich alliance with austria hungary and italy 1882)
why did hitler call the nazi regime the third reich
- believed foreign policy continued work of previous german empires - he celebrated the triumphs of the first and second reichs and wanted to make germany as powerful as they had (eg positioned himself next to them in propaganda)
when did germany and the aliies sign the treaty of versailles
28 june 1919
after the treaty of versailles germany lost territory. how many germans lived outside germany
6.4 million
what happened to the german military after the treaty of versailles
it was significantly reduced - max 100,000 soldiers, no air force, submarines or tanks
after the tov, which area became a demilitaried buffer zone btw germany and france
rhineland
how did stresemann change the terms of the tov
negotiated dawes planm (1924) and young plan (1929) which made reperations payments more manageable
what agreement was made about the rhineland in 1930
the allies withdrew their troops - three years earlier than planned
what was the kwia
the kaiser wilhelm institute of anthropology, human heriditary and eugenics
when was the kwia set up
1927
who was the directer of the kwia and what did he believe in
eugan fisher - supported eugenics - controlling human reproduction to improve the genetic quality of humans Hitler used fishers work to support his idea of a racially pure and superior aryan society
until what year did hitler keep weimar foreign office officials in place
1938
how did hitler overturn the work of stresseman
he withdrew germany from the league of nations in 1934, which stresemann had negotiated in 1926
when did hitler write mein kampf
1925
what was the name of his later, unpublished work
zweites buch 1928
identify three foreign policy aims outlined in mein kampf and zweites buch
- overturn tov - expansion east and establishing lebensraum - establishing alliances with countries deemed to be racially superior - eg britain
what theory influenced hitlers foreign policy
aryan racial theories - a hierarchy of human races
why did hitler want to expand german territory east
believed races in eastern europe to be racially inferior
how did racial theories influence hitlers foreign policy
aryan racial theories - a hierarchy of human races
what was the name of the nazi partys foreign policy set up in 1933
the bureau ribbentrop
who was the leader of the bureau ribbentrop
Joachim von ribbentrop
what did hitler declare in his speech to the reichstag in 1933
he would aim to overturn the term of the tov using diplomacy
what did poland and germany sign
non-aggression pact 1934 - agreement that would mean they would not go to war with each other
what did the nazis fail to negotiate with poland btw 1935 and 1937
military alliance
Why were the pacts/ discussions with Poland at odds with Hitlers foreign policy aims?
in mein kampf, hitler stated aim to expand eastwards for lebensraum
when did the nazis attempt (and fail) to take austria
july 1934
why did hitler fail to take austria in 1934
mussolini moved 40,000 italian troops to the austro-italian border forcing germany to back down
how did the saarland vote in plebiscite
voted to be part of Germany in january 1935 - great propaganda success
when did the nazis announce that germany was rearming
march 16 1935
why was reamament controversial
wnet against tov - army of 550,000 was set up - luftwaffe/ airforce announced
when did hitler announce his four year plan
1936
what did hitlers 4 yr plan for the economy focus on
development of war economy and autarky so germany would not have to rely on other countries in times of war
when did german troops occupy the rhineland
march 1936
which country did hitler send ribbentrop to form an alliance with in 1936
britain
when did germany + italy sign the rome-berlin axis
november 1936
what did tge rome-berlin axis btw germany and italy state
mutual support (not military) and political, economic and ideological cooperation
why was the rome-berlin axis signed
bc germany and italy both supported the spanish fascists in the spanish civil war
which countries signed the aniti-cominterm pact
germany and japan - npv. 1936 and then italy 1937
what did the anti cominterm pact state
that nations would do all they could to safeguarf their common interests from communism
why did hitler sign anticominterm pact with japan
useful for germany to have ally on the other side of the ussr
when did the hossbach conference take place
november 1937
what did hitler state at the hossbach conference
outlined three war scenarios for germany for between 1943 and 45
What did the Hossbach conference demonstrate?
hitlers plans / intentions for war
when was the anschluss with Austria
march 11-13 1938
what did the anschluss with austria go against
tov
why did the nazis decide to take over austria in 1938
- took advantage of political instablility in austria - created by austrian nazis - germanys relations with italy were improved - britain + france were preoccupied w domestic situations
what did hitler hint towards in a speech i in sept. 1938
germanys plans for war
how did hitler break the terms of the munich agreement (38)
invades czechoslovakia
march 1939
what two regions of czechoslovakia did hitler take in march 39
bohemia and moravia
how did britain and france respond to the invasion of czechoslovakia
they issued a guarantee of polands independence
when was the pact of steel signed
may 1939
what did the pact of steel state
both sides promised military aid/ support in the event of war
how big was germanys army byb the mid 1939
103 infantry divisions of 15,000 to 18,000 men
how many fighter and bomber planes did germany have by mid 1939
2000
how many tanks did germany have by mid 1939
3000
qwhat military tactic had germany developed
blitzkreig - lightning war - small scale local wars
what did nazis and soviets sign
nazi-soviet pact in august 1939
what did nazi-soviet pact state
- non agression pact - agreed to invade poland and divide eastern europe btw them
why was the nazi-soviet pact at odds with hitlers foreign policy aims
hitler had committed himself to expanding eastwards and defeating commmunism
why did hitler sign nazi soviet pact
to prevent war on two fronts
when did germany invade poland
1 sept 1939
