Events In Foreign Policy (1933-36) Flashcards
What quote is infamous for showing how Hitler believe that taking over Europe by expanding his Reich, had to be done gradually?
“A clever conqueror should always conquer in stages” = Adolf Hitler
Hitler’s First Moves In Nazi Foreign Policy:
What did he withdraw Germany from? (When?)
In October 1933, he withdrew Germany from the Geneva Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations
He was showing clearly that he wanted the right to build more weapons
Anglo-German Naval Agreement:
What did this allow Germany to do and give them permission to build?
The AGNA allowed Germany to expand her Navy 35% the size of Britain’s and gave Germany permission to build unlimited numbers of submarines
Treaty of Non Aggression:
What worried Hitler?
What worried Hitler was that France had signed several treaties of friendship with countries in the East like Czechoslovakia and Poland. Germany was surrounded by possible enemies
Treaty of Non Aggression:
What did Hitler do to break this ‘encirclement’?
He signed a Treaty of Non-Aggression with Poland in 1934
In March 1935, what did Hitler do?
What did the ToV restrict? How was this overturned by 1938?
He introduced military conscription against the Treaty of Versailles
The ToV restricted the size of the army to only 100,000 men but by 1938 it had risen to 850,000
What was the Stresa Front?
It was an agreement signed by Britain, France, and Italy; they agreed to work together to prevent further German aggression
Attack on Abyssinia:
(a) What did Mussolini do in 1935?
(b) Despite the League of Nations ruling that his actions were wrong…
(c) What did this basically accept and encourage Hitler to do?
(a) In 1935, Mussolini attacked Abyssinia
(b) Despite the League of Nations ruling that his actions were wrong, Britain and France still allowed trading with Italy in the Hoare-Loval Pact
(c) This was basically them accepting his control over Abyssinia. These events encouraged Hitler to take further steps too
When Hitler’s opponents were weak and divided, what did he think was an ideal time to do?
He thought it was an ideal time to move into the demilitarised Rhineland
What did Hitler do in March 1936? What did this openly break?
He sent German troops into the demilitarised Rhineland, openly breaking the ToV and Locarno Pact of 1925
What was the French Defensive Strategy based on?
It was based on the Maginot Line
What did the Maginot Lin prove to be?
It proved to be powerless in the face of the German Blitzkrieg Tactics
What was the Maginot Line?
It was an extensive defence fortification built on the France-Germany frontier in the 1930s
When did Hitler make an alliance with Mussolini?
In late 1936
Hitler-Mussolini Alliance:
What did they both want to do to prove their strength?
They both wanted to use military force to prove their strength
