chapter 8, escalation of tension Flashcards
why did hitler remilitarise the rhineland
to defend Germanys western boarders from Britain and france so they didn’t invade while he went through with Lebensraum
what was risky about remilitarisisng the rhineland (2)
the generals advised hitler not to as the army would not be able to actually defend itself from an invasion
German financial advisors said itd be too costly to pay the fines if they lost
how did hitler use the franco soviet pact to his advantage
to justify remilitarisisng he claimed France was attacking from the west and Russia from the east
how did German troops reach the rhineland
on bikes as there was no air support
why didn’t Britain stop hitler remilitarisisng the rhineland (3)
- depression causing problems at home
- people felt hitler had a right to protect his border and described it as marching into his own back garden
- British leadership preoccupied by the abyssinian crisis
why didn’t France stop the remilitarisisng of the rhineland (3)
- politician’s wrapped up in a general election
- much of the French army un Tunisia incase they needed to intervene in the abyssinian crisis
- many believed the german army in the rhineland was bigger than it actually was
why did mussolini join hitler after the rearmament of the rhineland
it showed his power
they formed the Rome Berlin axis
why did Japan sign an anti comintern pact with Germany
to combat communism
what is the pact of steel
italy joining the anti comintern alliance
how long had Germany been ruled by Austria for
600 years, but versailles prevented them from uniting
what happened when Austrian nazis attempted to get rid pf schuschnigg
the police discovered it and arrested them
however schuschnigg felt vulnerable and met with hitler to give to give key positions in the Austrian government to nazis for their support
who was appointed as minister for the interior of the Austrian government
hitlers puppet, seyss inquart, who now controlled Austrian police
what happened when schuschnigg attempted to hold a plebiscite to prove Austrians didn’t want to be ruled by hitler
hitler demanded it be delayed then forced schuschnigg to resign
who became chancellor after schuschnigg
seyss inquart
what happened after hitlers puppet became chancellor
he claimed a state of chaos and asked the nazis to restore peace
they were cheered by crowds of Austrians
what was the result of the plebiscite
99% to the nazis
how did Czechoslovakia react to anschluss
formed an agreement with Britain and France after fearing Lebensraum would bring hitler there next
how did the British react to anschluss
the people felt hitler deserved it as the treaty was too harsh anyway
how did Germany react to anschluss (2)
Happy to be joined with their neighbours
hitler saw it as a propaganda win
what was Frances reaction to anschluss
they were in no position to get involved as their whole government resigned two days earlier
what was hitlers first major violent action
the sudetan crisis
what is the sudetanland
a part of czechoslovakia on the border of Germany
why did hitler want the sudetan
- its where czechoslovakias main defences were
- it had natural resources and factories
- it would be another step at taking down versailles
how did hitler justify an invasion of czechoslovakia
he claimed the 20% of the sudetanland population that was German was being persecuted
