Core Content 3: Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

Question 1

What do the debates regarding the collapse of international collapse by September 1939 revolve around?

Answer 1

The key debates regarding the collapse of international peace by September 1939 (when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and triggered the Anglo-French Guarantee to Poland that such an action would result in their declaration of war on Germany) essentially revolve around whether the British and French statesmen dealing with the impact of the Nazis’ foreign policy did so in a way that was made a long, drawn out and destructive war more likely.

Question 2

What did appeasement allow the Nazis to do?

Answer 2

Those who attack the policy of appeasement followed by these statesmen towards the Nazis argue that, by allowing them to carry out their foreign policy with impunity, they not only encouraged them to commit more and more outrageous violations of international law, national sovereignty and morality, but also drove potential allies against Nazi Germany, not least Stalin’s UUSR, into facilitating his actions.

Question 3

Why may some argue that appeasement was acceptable?

Answer 3

Those who defend appeasement do so partially on the grounds that some of what Nazi Germany was demanding was not entirely reasonable. They also point to the difficulties that Depression-hit Britain and France faced in standing up to Nazi Germany and that some of the steps taken to appease Hitler were necessary to buy time to allow them to rearm and prepare military eventually to be able to deal with Nazi Germany and its allies.

Question 4

What fact will pro-appeasement commentators point to and how might anti-appeasement commentators disagree?

Answer 4

Pro-appeasement commentators will point to the fact that the Western Allies did eventually win the Second World War. Anti-appeasement commentators will point out that this only occurred after Nazi Germany was able, with limited resistance, to overrun most of mainland Europe and after the USSR and USA joined the War on the side of the Western Allies.

Question 5

Which three foreign policies did Nazi Germany hold?

Answer 5

The Nazi’s foreign policies were to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, oppose communism and conquer Lebensraum from Untermenschen in Central and Eastern Europe.

Question 6

What was the British response to the creation of the Nazi dictatorship?

Answer 6

Britain reacted with concern but voiced considerable sympathy for Germany’s new foreign policy aims and embarked on a policy of trying to secure Fascist Italy as a counter-balance to this.

Question 7

What was the French response to the creation of the Nazi dictatorship in Germany?

Answer 7

France reacted with concern and doubled down on its policy of fortifying the Maginot Line (a system of fortifications and defences on the border with Germany). The French embarked on a policy of trying to secure Fascist Italy as a counter-balance to Nazi Germany.

Question 8

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the creation of the Nazi Dictatorship in Germany?

Answer 8

It should have been obvious that the Nazi regime was a threat to peace and stability in Europe and should have been confronted at an early stage.

Question 9

What was the pro-appeasement analysis to the creation of the Nazi Dictatorship in Germany?

Answer 9

Until it actually violated any international agreements, there was little the international community could justifiably do about the Nazi regime as it had come to power in Weimar Germany through ostensibly constitutional and democratic means.

Question 10

What was the rearmament of Nazi Germany?

Answer 10

Not long after Hitler became Chancellor, Germany began secretly rearming. This culminated in a speech by Hitler to the international community in March 1935, when he announced his intentions to rebuild the Luftwaffe and reintroduce conscription. This was followed by a public rearmament rally when the forces, weapons and military vehicles already assembled were paraded for the benefit of both the German and international press.

Question 11

What was the British response to Nazi Germany’s rearmament?

Answer 11

Britain mostly voiced sympathy on the grounds of the injustice of the military restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, later signing the Anglo-German Naval Pact (in June 1935), which allowed the German navy to rearm up to 35% the size of the British navy.

Question 12

What was the French reaction to Nazi Germany’s rearmament?

Answer 12

France reacted with horror and further increased its rearmament efforts. It did, however, say that nothing could done to oppose German rearmament in the light of revisionist British attitudes to it.

Question 13

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the rearmament of Nazi Germany?

Answer 13

Action should have been taken against this undeniable violation of international agreement. Inaction allowed Nazi Germany to become increasingly strong and, ultimately, to be able to inflict the levels of damage it did in World War Two.

Question 14

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the rearmament of Nazi Germany?

Answer 14

The failure of international disarmament by 1934 (with the collapse of the World Disarmament Conference) suggested that Germany had a morally justifiable right to rearm.

Question 15

How did Nazi Germany first fail to bring about Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 15

Following encouragement from Germany, the Austrian Nazi Party attempted a coup which involved the murder of the Austrian Chancellor, Engelbart Dollfuss. The coup, however, was nipped in the bud when the Austrian army, with strong guarantee of support from Mussolini, crushed the attempted coup. Hitler then gave assurances to Mussolini that he would drop his interest in uniting Germany and Austria.

Question 16

What was the British reaction to the Nazis’ failed attempt to bring about Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 16

Britain increased efforts to try to cultivate the support of Fascist Italy against Nazi Germany.

Question 17

What was the French reaction to the Nazis’ failed attempt to bring about Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 17

France increased efforts to try to cultivate the support of Fascist Italy against Nazi Germany.

Question 18

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the Nazis’ failed attempt to bring about Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 18

The international community could have acted against the Nazis for this blatant attempt to interfere in the national sovereignty of another state.

Question 19

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the Nazis’ failed attempt to bring about Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 19

The coup came to nothing and it would have seemed a very minor issue over which potentially to provoke hostilities.

Question 20

What was the Saar Plebiscite?

Answer 20

90% of residents of the Saar region voted to re-join Germany in the League of Nations plebiscite scheduled as part of the Paris Peace Settlement leading to Nazi Germany being given the Saar region with its valuable coalfields and industry.

Question 21

What was the British reaction to the Saar Plebiscite?

Answer 21

Britain abided by the result of the Plebiscite.

Question 22

What was the French reaction to the Saar Plebiscite?

Answer 22

France abided by the result of the Plebiscite.

Question 23

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the Saar Plebiscite?

Answer 23

More should have been done by the international community to warn the residents of the Saar region of the implications of becoming living in a Nazi dictatorship.

Question 24

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the Saar Plebiscite?

Answer 24

On the grounds of national self-determination, it seemed only right and fair that the predominantly German-speaking residents of the Saarland voted to re-join Germany. No international law had been violated.

Question 25

How did Germany remilitarise the Rhineland?

Answer 25

Nazi Germany marched, and then permanently stationed, troops and armoured vehicles into the demilitarised Rhineland region on the border with France.

Question 26

What was the British reaction to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 26

Britain voiced general sympathy for Germany being able to garrison its own territory on the border with the increasingly militarised Maginot Line.

Question 27

What was the French reaction to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 27

France refused to respond militarily without the support of Britain.

Question 28

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 28

This was a crucial missed opportunity to stop Nazi Germany before it became too powerful. Later Hitler admitted that, had France responded at all, the lack of readiness of his armed forces would have forced him to withdraw them straightaway. It’s been argued that Hitler’s reputation in Germany would not have been able to survive such a humiliation.

Question 29

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 29

There was a reasonable moral justification for Germany being able to remilitarise the Rhineland and so it was not worth Depression-wracked Britain and France risking hostilities over.

Question 30

How were Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy involved in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 30

This involved Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany sending troops, supplies and military advisers to help Franco’s Fascist rebels to overthrow the Liberal government and its communist and anarchist allies. In April 1937, the Nazi Luftwaffe bombed and destroyed the city of Guernica, killing thousands of civilians and shocking international opinion.

Question 31

What was the British reaction to Nazi German and Fascist Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 31

Britain organised a Non-Intervention Committee attended by USSR, Germany, Italy, France and Britain which negotiated a general agreement not to become involved in the Spanish Civil War. Only Britain and France honoured the agreement. USSR sent resources and advisers to help the Liberal-Communist-Anarchist coalition in their efforts to fight off Franco’s Fascists.

Question 32

What was the French reaction to the Nazi German and Fascist Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 32

France attended a Non-Intervention Committee, which negotiated a general agreement not to become involved in the Spanish Civil War. Only Britain and France honoured the agreement. USSR sent resources and advisers to help the Liberal-Communist-Anarchist coalition in their efforts to fight off Franco’s Fascists.

Question 33

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of Nazi German and Fascist Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 33

The lack of response allowed Nazi Germany to provide its new troops and equipment to gain real life battle experience. It also allowed what was arguably a war crime to go unpunished sending a clear message out to Nazi Germany and its allies that they could risk expansion. It is also sent a message out to USSR that they couldn’t expect too much help from Britain and France against Nazi Germany if it carried out its threatened expansion eastwards.

Question 34

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of Nazi German and Fascist Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 34

Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy were opposing communists in Spain (and arguably Stalin’s USSR was considered more of threat than the right wing dictatorships at this stage). Many British and French citizens voluntarily joined the international La Brigada in support of those fighting the fascists in Spain but, for the British and French governments to have become involved, would not have been morally justifiable.

Question 35

What was Nazi Germany’s Anschluss with Austria and how was this reached?

Answer 35

The Austrian Nazi Party once again began agitating for unification with Germany. This time, as a result of the Rome-Berlin Axis (November 1936) and the Anti-Comintern Pact (between Germany, Japan and Italy, 1937), Mussolini gave assurances to Hitler that he would not oppose Anschluss. A plebiscite was then held in Austria (with Nazi German troops present in order to ensure a “free and fair election”) which returned a 99.75% vote in favour of Anschluss leading to the unification of Germany and Austria.

Question 36

What was the British reaction to Nazi Germany’s Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 36

Britain gave Nazi Germany explicit assurances that it would not oppose Anschluss on the grounds that the terms banning it in the Treaties of Versailles and St Germain were unjustifiable and that Austria had long needed to economic support of a wealthier power.

Question 37

What was the French reaction to Nazi Germany’s Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 37

France refused to act against Anschluss without the backing of its British ally.

Question 38

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 38

This violation of international law was clearly secured through an undemocratic plebiscite. It encouraged Nazi Germany and its allies to go further in their plans for expansion.

Question 39

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s Anschluss with Austria?

Answer 39

Austria, from its formation by the Treaty of St Germain, had never proved an economically viable state. Anschluss, as the unification of two German-speaking nations, was arguably only the fulfilment of national self-determination which had been unjustifiably denied by the Paris Peace Settlement.

Question 40

How did Nazi Germany acquire the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement?

Answer 40

A campaign by Nazi Germany to acquire the largely German speaking Sudetenland region of West Czechoslovakia (bordering Austria) from May 1938 culminated on 30th September 1938 when, behind the back of Czechoslovakian Prime Minister Eduard Benes, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain negotiated the Munich Agreement with Hitler. This agreement, which he claimed to the British public ‘guarantees peace in our time’, gave the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany on the understanding that it would make no further territorial claims in Europe.

Question 41

What was the British reaction to Nazi Germany’s acquisition of the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement?

Answer 41

Britain presented the Munich Agreement as a great success and a guarantee of ‘peace in our time’.

Question 42

What was the French reaction to Nazi Germany’s acquisition of the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement?

Answer 42

France even further stepped up its efforts to garrison the Maginot Line.

Question 43

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s acquisition of the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement?

Answer 43

This arguably showed a negligently naïve/cowardly willingness to accept Hitler’s word when all prior indications suggested that he would not stick to it. It further strengthened Nazi Germany and further convinced Stalin that he could expect no help against Nazi Germany as it moved closer towards the USSR in its expansion eastwards.

Question 44

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s acquisition of the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement?

Answer 44

Chamberlain was actually playing a clever delaying game. He knew very well war with Nazi Germany was coming but needed to buy Britain’s Depression-hit and largely decommissioned armed forces (it had, since 1919, been working on the principle of a ‘ten year rule’). September 1938 to September 1939 saw a dramatic rise in the number of British army, navy and air force divisions made operational and ready for mobilisation.

Question 45

How did Nazi Germany begin to occupy the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939?

Answer 45

Hitler then sent his forces further east into Czechoslovakia leading to the occupation of most of the country by Nazi Germany (and other parts by other powers who felt they had claims to regions of Czechoslovakia such as Poland and Hungary).

Question 46

What was the British reaction to the Nazi German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 46

Britain signed the Anglo-French Guarantee with Poland (31st March 1939), reassuring Poland that, in the event that it was attacked, they would declare war on the aggressor nation. Took no direct action over the Nazi German occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Question 47

What was the French reaction to the Nazi German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 47

France signed the Anglo-French Guarantee with Poland (31st March 1939), reassuring Poland that, in the event that it was attacked, they would declare war on the aggressor nation. Took no direct action over the Nazi German occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Question 48

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the Nazi German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 48

Represented another unchallenged step towards the USSR as far as Stalin was concerned. Even worse, as Stalin felt the USSR had claims on parts of Poland (lost by Russia in the upheaval following the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917), the Anglo-French Guarantee was actually perceived to be a threat against the USSR.

Question 49

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the Nazi German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 49

The Anglo-French Guarantee was eventually acted upon when Hitler eventually did invade Poland in September 1939. The reaction at this stage, rather than any earlier stage, was arguably justifiable. Until the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia, most of what Nazi Germany had done was simply a challenge to the unfair Paris Peace Settlement (the Sudetenland had, for example, been taken from Austria and given to Czechoslovakia by the Treaty of St Germain). Only the extension of the occupation beyond the Sudetenland represented a carrying out of the obviously unacceptable Lebensraum policy.

Question 50

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 50

The Nazi and Soviet foreign ministers Ribbentropp and Molotov concluded a non-aggression pact guaranteeing not to go to war with each other. They also secretly agreed to partition Poland (with the West going to Nazi Germany and the East going to USSR) following an invasion.

Question 51

What was the British reaction to the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 51

Reacted with horror that the two ideological arch enemies, whom they had always thought they could rely upon remaining a counterbalance against each other, had agreed to allow each other to carry out their foreign policy aims unchecked. They could, however, do little about the situation.

Question 52

What was the French reaction to the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 52

Reacted with horror that the two ideological arch enemies, whom they had always thought they could rely upon remaining a counterbalance against each other, had agreed to allow each other to carry out their foreign policy aims unchecked. They could, however, do little about the situation.

Question 53

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 53

This highlighted the folly of allowing Nazi Germany to rearm and expand eastwards with impunity. It gave Nazi Germany the confidence to invade Poland and, in doing so, start World War Two.

Question 54

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 54

With the USSR as an avowed target of Hitler’s Lebensraum policy against Untermenschen, it was arguably not foreseeable that Stalin would make an alliance with Nazi Germany.

Question 55

What happened on 1st September 1939?

Answer 55

Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

Question 56

What was the British reaction to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland?

Answer 56

Britain issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Germany to get out Poland on 2nd September before declaring war on it on 3rd September when the invasion continued. A period of ‘phoney war’ then ensued when Britain and France did not send troops to Poland (which was soon annexed by Nazi Germany). The first direct conflict involving Britain and France was the Nazi invasion of France in May 1940 which ended in French surrender by the end of June 1940.

Question 57

What was the French reaction to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland?

Answer 57

France issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Germany to get out Poland on 2nd September before declaring war on it on 3rd September when the invasion continued. A period of ‘phoney war’ then ensued when Britain and France didn’t send troops to Poland (which was soon annexed by Nazi Germany). The first direct conflict involving Britain and France was the Nazi invasion of France in May 1940 which ended in French surrender by the end of June 1940.

Question 58

What was the anti-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland?

Answer 58

The phoney war suggests that Britain and France had not successfully played for time in the run up to September 1939 as they clearly were not ready to fight Nazi Germany successfully by then.

Question 59

What was the pro-appeasement analysis of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland?

Answer 59

Britain and France did finally act once Nazi foreign policy spilled over into the unjustifiable policy of Lebensraum.

Question 60

What happened as a result of the failed coup in Austria?

Answer 60

Italy had an agreement with Austria that it would protect Austria from outside aggression. The Italian dictator, Mussolini, honoured the agreement and moved Italian troops to the Austrian border to deter Hitler from invading. Since its unification in 1870, Italy had harboured designs on Austrian territory which it felt it had been wrongly deprived as part of the unification settlement. Italy had then felt further aggrieved when it had been denied much of this Austrian territory (after requesting it) by the Paris Peace Settlement in return for the part it had played in the First World War after joining the Entente Alliance in 1915. Italy’s willingness to protect Austria from Nazi German territorial ambitions was thus not entirely altruistic (selfless).

Question 61

What were relations between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like during the failed coup in Austria (1934)?

Answer 61

In 1932, Italy had an agreement with Austria that would protect the latter country from outside aggression, meaning that when Hitler decided to invade Austria, Mussolini honoured the agreement and moved his troops to the border in order to prevent this from occurring. Of course, Mussolini only did so that he could develop a relationship with Austria and, eventually take territory in return. At this time, Italy and Germany were enemies for they both had desires to take Austrian land in order to expand their countries.

Question 62

What implications did the distant relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe at the time of the failed coup in Austria (1934)?

Answer 62

Since it seemed unlikely that Italy and Germany would ever form an alliance, Britain and France, along with the rest of Europe, were reassured. That is, if it were to happen, the national security of any neighbouring countries would be at danger; the combined power of two growing countries - with expansionist ideologies - would have a devastating outcome.

Question 63

What was the Stresa Front?

Answer 63

An agreement between France, Britain and Italy to oppose Nazi aggression and expansionism in Europe, signed in 1935.

Question 64

What was the relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like at the time of the signing of the Stresa Front (1935)?

Answer 64

The Stresa Front was an agreement signed between Britain, France and Italy, which formalised opposition to German rearmament, meaning that these three countries committed to work together against the aggression of Nazi Germany. Doing so tethered ties between Italy and Germany and appeared to have removed any possibility of the two countries forming an alliance with each other or working together in any fashion.

Question 65

What implications did the distant relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe at the time of the Stresa Front (1935)?

Answer 65

In signing the agreement, the rest of Europe was provided with a sense of security in that the outbreak of a continent-wide Fascist uprising looked rather unlikely. The Stresa Front promised cooperation and collaboration between these three countries, attempting to restrict Hitler in his expansion.

Question 66

How did Nazi Germany begin to align with Austria?

Answer 66

The new Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg tried to preserve the country from German invasion by trying not to give Hitler an excuse for aggression. He tried to co-operate with Hitler as much as possible. Schuschnigg signed the German-Austrian Agreement of 1936. This pact recognised the independence of Austria but the price was that Austria’s foreign policy had to be consistent with Germany’s. The agreement also allowed Nazis to hold official posts in Austria. Schuschnigg hoped this would appease Hitler. He was wrong.

Question 67

What were relations between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like during Nazi German alignment with Austria (1936)?

Answer 67

The German-Austrian Agreement, much to the dismay of the new Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, proved an opportunity for Hitler to expand his nation into Austria, in oppose to restricting him from doing so. For this reason, Hitler was able to build upon the power that Nazi Germany held, which, perhaps, forced Mussolini to think twice about the agreements that he had signed.

Question 68

What implications did the relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe at the time of Nazi German alignment with Austria (1936)?

Answer 68

In beginning to sympathise with Germany, Austria provided Italy with the idea of building a relation with Hitler - a concept which began to worry the international community in fear of Germany and Italy forming an alliance together.

Question 69

How did Germany and Italy begin to align?

Answer 69

As the Abyssinian Crisis progressed, Fascist Italy’s relationship with Britain and France deteriorated as the imposition of sanctions (from October 1935) and (albeit flawed) negotiations to weaken Italy’s military capabilities further continued into 1936. Eventually, with Abyssinia formally conquered by May 1936, Mussolini felt it expedient to align with the increasingly powerful Nazi Germany (which had, by this stage, openly rearmed, signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 and remilitarised the Rhineland). This culminated with the signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis in November 1936. In December 1936 Mussolini decided to join his ideological partner (Germany had intervened since the start of the war in July 1936) in providing troops, advisers and military supplies to Francisco Franco, leader of the rebellious Fascist uprising seeking to overthrow the incumbent liberal government by waging war against the government and its uneasy alliance with communists and anarchists (fighting on its side more for hatred of the Fascists than respect for the liberal constitution). This ideological alignment was confirmed the following year, when Italy joined the anti-Comintern Pact already signed by Germany and Japan in 1936, justifying actions such as their intervention in the Spanish Civil War as being part of a justified struggle against the scourge of international communism.

Question 70

What were relations between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like during German and Italian alignment over the Spanish Civil War and Abyssinia (from November 1936)?

Answer 70

Having formally conquered Abyssinia, in May 1936, Mussolini felt it expedient to align with the increasingly powerful Nazi Germany, culminating in the signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis in November 1936. The two ideological partners had aligned through their actions in the Spanish Civil War, which was confirmed the following year, when Italy joined the anti-Comintern Pact that had already been signed by Germany - the bonds between the two leaders had been strengthened.

Question 71

What implications did the relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe at the time of German and Italian alignment over the Spanish Civil War and Abyssinia (from November 1936)?

Answer 71

The Rome-Berlin Axis had awful implications for the rest of Europe, marking the point at which Italy and Germany began to work together. In doing so, and promoting their Fascist ideology, the security of other European powers was at risk. Such conflict had important consequences for peace. It encouraged Hitler to believe that Britain and France would not intervene against him if he took further actions against the Treaty of Versailles. Although Britain did not intervene, Hitler’s actions alarmed Chamberlain and he ordered massive increases in spending on Britain’s armed forces, especially the Royal Air Force.

Question 72

What events led up to the Austrian Anschluss (March 1938)?

Answer 72

On 9 March 1938, in a desperate act, Schuschnigg announced a referendum whereby the Austrian people would decide for themselves if they wanted to be a part of Hitler’s Germany. Hitler was furious. If the Austrians voted against joining Germany his excuse for invasion would be ruined. Hitler told his generals to prepare for the invasion of Austria. He ordered Schuschnigg to call off the referendum. Knowing he would receive no help from Italy*, and that France and Britain would not interfere in Hitler’s plans, Schuschnigg conceded. He called off the referendum and resigned. The Nazi-Austrian Interior Minister, Seyss-Inquart, was ordered by Hitler to ask for German help in restoring order in Austria. Hitler reassured Czechoslovakia that they had nothing to fear. German troops marched into Austria unopposed. Hitler now had control of Austria. A month later, Hitler held a referendum on whether Austria should be reunited with Germany.

Question 73

What was the Anschluss Referendum like?

Answer 73

A propaganda campaign encouraged people to vote for Anschluss. Austrian citizens of Jewish or Gypsy heritage were not allowed to vote. Voting was not secret - having to vote under supervision of campaign workers may have pressured people to vote ‘yes’ in oppose to ‘no’. ‘Yes’ was placed in the centre of the paper and was much larger than ‘no’. The result showed that 99.75% of voters approved of German control of their country.

Question 74

What were relations between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like during the Anschluss Referendum (1938)?

Answer 74

Since Hitler and Mussolini were now strong allies, the situation was different. Despite Hitler’s failure in taking over Austria, in 1934, due to weak military force and the opposition of Mussolini, now, in 1938, Italy was not a problem for the two countries had signed the anti-Comintern Pact - the stage was now set.

Question 75

What implications did the relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe at the time of the Anschluss Referendum (1938)?

Answer 75

Once again, Hitler’s risky but decisive action had reaped a rich reward - Austria’s soldiers, weapons and its rich deposits of gold and iron ore were added to Germany’s increasingly strong army and industry. Hitler was breaking yet another condition of the Treaty of Versailles, but it seemed clear to him that Britain and France were not prepared to go to war to defend it. However, Britain and France were not naïve either. Chamberlain increased Britain’s rearmament spending further still and made plans for compulsory military service and the preparation of air-raid defences.

Question 76

What convinced Fascist Italy to join the Second World War as a military ally of Nazi Germany?

Answer 76

By the time war was declared between Britain, France and Nazi Germany on 3rd September 1939, the latter had gained control of the Sudetenland, seized control of the rest of Czechoslovakia, secured Soviet non-intervention for an invasion of Poland and then subsequently invaded Poland. Mussolini, however, did not immediately leap to the assistance of his ally judging his armed forces not to be ready for direct conflict with Britain and France. Following the surrender of France in June 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force from continental Europe during the Dunkirk Evacuations, Fascist Italy finally joined the war in support of Nazi Germany.

Question 77

What were relations between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany like when Fascist Italy joined the Second World War as a military ally of Nazi Germany (1940)?

Answer 77

With the Italian-German relationship now stronger than ever, Mussolini was willing to support Hitler in fighting in the Second World War so long that his armed forces were ready for direct conflict. This, of course, proved that the two dictators were allies of each other.

Question 78

What implications did the relationship between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have for the rest of Europe when Fascist Italy joined the Second World War as a military ally of Nazi Germany (1940)?

Answer 78

The rest of Europe was at threat. Despite what he said to Chamberlain, Hitler did have designs on Czechoslovakia. This new state, created by the Treaty of Versailles, included a large number of Germans - former subjects of Austria-Hungary’s empire - in the Sudetenland area. Konrad Henlein, the leader of the Nazis in the Sudetenland, demanded that the area should be part of Germany. They prepared for war.