Core Topic 3 Flashcards
How were powers dissatisfied after the peace settlement?(3)
Japan was disappointed because the idea for a racial equality clause had been rejected at the Paris Peace Conference and it had expected to receive a greater share of Germany’s former trading rights in China.
Italy had hoped to receive the Adriatic port of Fiume and a greater share of the former colonies of Germany and Turkey.
Germany objected to most aspects of the Treaty of Versailles; the territorial terms, the disarmament clauses, war guilt, and reparations.
Describe the “stab in the back” and “November Criminals” ideas?(2)
After the First World War, the idea developed that Germany had not truly lost the war but it was betrayed by weak and unpatriotic politicians. These were the “November Criminals” who hoped to profit personally from Germany’s surrender.
In reality this had not been the case as Germany surrendered in 1918 as the only other option was the destruction of the German army. However, in extremist right wing circles this idea gained popularity and gave rise to the belief that if the war had not truly been ‘lost’ then the peace settlement was unnecessary.
What were some inconsistencies in the Treaty of Versailles?
The separation of East Prussia from the main bulk of German territory by the Polish Corridor, as well as the placing of Danzig(overwhelmingly German population) under control of League of Nations.
The placing of 3.5 million Germans under Czech rule in the Sudetenland.
Define the policy of appeasement?(2)
Appeasement was the name of the foreign policy adopted by Britain and France, more specifically Neville Chamberlin, towards Hitler and Mussolini from mid to late 1930s.
It involved making pacts and deals with dictators in order ‘appease’ their needs and demands without going to war. Appeasement was supported by the majority of British and French politicians between 1935 and 1939.
What were Hitler’s main aims for Germany?(3)
Abolish the Treaty Of Versailles - by the time he came into power some of the terms had already been adjusted, but there were still many that angered him.
Expand German Territory - Hitler wanted to reunite with Austria and wanted to carve an empire in Eastern Europe, ‘Lebensraum’ or ‘living space’. All German people would be brought into the Reich.
Defeat Communism - Hitler was hugely anticommunist, he believed that not only did Bolsheviks help defeat Germany in the First World War, but Bolsheviks also wanted to take over Germany.
How did Hitler fail Anschluss with Austria in 1934?(3)
25 July, Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss was murdered by Austrian Nazis and they attempted a coup but they were intervened by the Austrian Military.
On the 17 March 1934 Italy had signed the Rome Protocols with Austria; therefore after the coup was attempted Mussolini honoured the agreement and moved Italian troops to the Brenner Pass(on the border between Austria and Germany).
Hitler therefore backed down as Mussolini’s troops were preventing invasion and Hitler denied any responsibility for the murder of Dollfuss.
How did Hitler rearm Germany?(2)
When he came into power 1933, 6 million were unemployed - around 10% of the population. By drafting the unemployed into the army, he would tackle two problems at once. Hence by 1937 unemployment had decreased to only 1 million. From 100,000 in 1932, there were 950,000 soldiers in Germany 1939.
He reintroduced conscription officially in March 1935; announcing his intention of building up the army to 36 divisions(550,000) along with the creation of a military airforce.
What was the response to Hitler’s reintroduction of conscription?(2)
Britain, France and Italy signed the Stresa Front in April 1935 which proposed measures to counter Hitler.
France and Soviet Russia signed the mutual assistance pact, which was concluded in May but ratified by the French government February 1936. A similar pact of mutual assistance was also signed between Czechoslovakia and Soviet Russia.
What was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement?(2)
In June 1935 Britain and Germany signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement which fixed a ratio whereby the total tonnage of the Kriegsmarine was to be 35% of the total tonnage of the Royal Navy on a permanent basis, submarines to be 45%.
This undermined the Stresa Front/Pact and to some extent justified Mussolini’s actions to form the Rome-Berlin Axis.
How did Hitler regain the Saar land?(3)
In 1935 the League of Nations held the promised plebiscite. The propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels mounted a massive campaign to persuade the people of the Saar to vote for the Reich, and it was a success.
On January 13th 1935 90% of the population voted to return to German rule.
The Saar was a region of Germany important for coal production with a population of around 800,000.
How did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?(2)
On the 7th March 1936 he sent over 20,000 troops into the Rhineland, banned not only by the Treaty of Versailles but also by the more recent Locarno Treaties(1925).
The League of Nations condemned Hitler’s actions but were too focused on the Abyssinian crisis which was happening at the exact same time, furthermore there was a French election taking place between the 26th April and 3rd May - hence none of the leaders were prepared to take responsibility of a war.
How did Hitler complete Anschluss with Austria?(4)
12 February 1938 Hitler pressured Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg to appoint a leading Austrian Nazi - Seyss-Inquart - as Minister of the Interior; he agreed. Then, 20 February Hitler made a broadcasted speech which was also relayed to the Austrian radio network.
However, on 3 March Austrian Socialists offered to back Schuschnigg’s government in exchange for political concessions. This persuaded him on 9 March to announce a plebiscite to be held.
Upon Hitler finding this out on 11 March he threatened invasion of Austria and demanded that Schuschnigg resign immediately; appointing Seyss-Inquart as chancellor.
Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg on the 11 March, but Schuschnigg did not have the support of Britain and France, hence he resigned. On the morning of the 12 March Hitler marched troops into Austria, later going there in a car himself.
On 13 March Seyss-Inquart announced the abrogation of Article 88 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain. When the eventual plebiscite was held on 10 April around 99.75% of Austria voted for Anschluss.
What was Munich Agreement?(4)
15 September 1938 in Bavaria, British PM Neville Chamberlain and Hitler discussed whether areas of the Sudetenland; where the German population were the majority should be handed over to Germany.
On the 19th, France and Britain put forward to the Czechs the plans to give Hitler parts of the Sudetenland. However, at a second meeting 22 September; Hitler increased his demands to all the Sudetenland and he demanded that the Czechs withdrew by 1 October.
Chamberlain returned from the Rhineland in order to prepare Britain and France for war. When Hitler realised he was about to start a European war he agreed to Chamberlain’s suggestion, with the backing of Mussolini.
Therefore 29 September the Munich Conference was signed in which it was agreed that the Sudetenland would be transferred to Germany over a 10-day period, with plebiscites to decide where there were areas of doubt.
What was the aftermath of the Munich Conference?
On the 1st October German troops Marched into the Sudetenland, and on 15th March 1939 German troops took over the rest of the country. Britain and France warn Germany that if they invade Poland they would declare war.
What are some arguments for and against the Munich Agreement?(3)
Neville Chamberlain believed that Britain were not prepared to fight a war, their air defences were also incomplete compared to the Luftwaffe; the battle of Britain would’ve been won by air control.
British Dominions were not united between the prospect of war in 1938, this did change by September 1939.
On the other hand, Britain and France had betrayed Czechoslovakia. Munich came to be seen as the supreme example of appeasement. If war had broken out in October, Britain and France would’ve also had the support of the 36 divisions of the Czech army fighting behind their well-prepared defences.
