Foreign Policy 1933-39 Flashcards
What were Hitler’s aims in foreign policy?
Make Germany a great power again
Revise terms of ToV
Autarky (self-sufficiency)
Lebensraum (living space in the East)
Unite all German-speaking people under the Reich
What are the main sources used for uncovering Hitler’s foreign policy aims?
Mein Kampf 1923
Zweites Buch - dealt with foreign policy exclusively but was unpublished in Hitler’s lifetime
Table Talk - a series of spoken remarks edited by Dr Henry Picker, a member of Hitler’s executive staff
Secret Memorandum 1936 - justified the rearmament programme
Hossbach Memorandum November 1937
What was the Geneva Disarmament Conference?
6 nations met regularly from 1932 onwards at Geneva in order to avoid another European war by negotiating a reduction in armaments.
When did Germany pull out of the Geneva Disarmament Conference?
23rd October 1933
Why did Germany pull out of the Geneva Disarmament conference?
Germany, whose army and navy were already limited by the ToV, demanded either that other states disarm to German levels or that Germany get the right to build up its own forces.
France, fearful of a revival of German power, demanded there first be a scheme for international security and the establishment of an international police force before it would reduce its own forces.
This gave Hitler the excuse he needed to withdraw German delegates from the conference - any arms control scheme, however generous to Germany, would reduce the country’s capacity to rearm
When did Germany pull out of the League of Nations?
October 1933 - 4 days after withdrawing from the Geneva Disarmament Conference
Why did Germany withdraw from the League of Nations?
Hitler disagreed in principle with multinational bodies such as the LoN, Which he believed only perpetuated Germany’s second-class status
To what extent was German withdrawal from the Geneva Disarmament Conference opportunistic?
Hitler took advantage of disagreement between France and Britain over German parity
To what extent was German withdrawal from the League of Nations opportunistic?
He exploited a favourable diplomatic climate that stemmed from the growing fear of Communist Russia. A powerful German state in the centre of Europe was seen as useful to prevent the spread of communism.
The Depression turned the attention of governments inwards towards their own domestic problems
To what extent was German withdrawal from the League of Nations opportunistic?
He exploited a favourable diplomatic climate that stemmed from the growing fear of Communist Russia. A powerful German state in the centre of Europe was seen as useful to prevent the spread of communism.
The Depression turned the attention of governments inwards towards their own domestic problems
When did Hitler sign the Non-Aggression Pact with Poland?
January 1934
Why did Hitler sign the 10-year Non-Aggression Pact with Poland?
To prove his eagerness for peace.
To try to isolate France - up to this time PoIand had been an ally of France. Unfortunately, all the pact did was drive Russia and France closer together
When was the Saar Plebiscite?
13th January 1935
Why was the Saar Plebiscite significant?
After 15 years of League of Nations control, over 90% of the people of the Saar voted to return to Germany, the Fuhrer was delighted.
It was significant in that it gave Hitler the confidence to press on with other contentious issues e.g. on March 16th he publicly declared Germany’s refusal of the disarmament clauses of the ToV and the introduction of conscription. Britain, France, and Italy protested but took no action
When was the Stresa Conference?
April 1935
What was the Stresa Front and how significant of a threat did it pose to Germany?
During April 1935 the leaders of Britain, France, and Italy met at Stresa on Lake Maggiore in Italy to discuss forming a common front against Germany. The Stresa Front lodged a further protest which Hitler ignored.
This was followed by a further diplomatic scramble in search of security, even after Hitler restated Germany’s wish for peace and willingness to abide by the Locarno Treaty in May 1935. France and Russia signed a pact promising to support each other if attacked by an unprovoked aggressor. Russia also signed a part with Czechoslovakia in which it promised to defend the young republic.
Hitter was not put off by these developments as he was confident that there was sufficient distrust between the countries involved to ensure that the pacts were meaningless.
When was the Anglo-German Naval Treaty?
June 1935
Why did Hitler sign the Anglo-German Naval Treaty?
Germany had started building up its submarine fleet in February 1935, against the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibited Germany from any activities related to submarine development or construction.
As they were nearing completion, Hitler sent his representative, Joachim Von Ribbentrop, to Britain to negotiate a naval treaty to give these boats some legality and have them be accepted by the rest of the world
What was the significance of the Anglo-German Naval Treaty?
The German navy was allowed to be 35% of the size of the navies of Britain and Germany was granted parity with Britain in the total number of submarines (giving them a submarine fleet equal to the largest in the world). This was part of Britain’s policy of appeasement.
This meant that Germany was allowed a fleet greater than either the French and Italian navies.
Britain had not consulted with its Allies on this decision and France and Italy were not happy. It gave the impression that Britain agreed with Germany’s right to ignore the disarmament clauses in the Treaty of Versailles
When was the Invasion of Abyssinia?
2nd October 1935
What was the significance of the Invasion of Abyssinia?
Brought Hitler and Mussolini closer together.
Britain and France were highly critical and decided to impose economic sanctions on Italy. Mussolini was offended that his former allies reacted in this way, so he withdrew the Italian guarantee of Austrian independence and withdrew from the Stresa Front.
In February 1936 Mussolini also let it be known that he would not oppose any German attempt to reoccupy the Rhineland
When was the Rhineland re-occupied / remilitarised?
March 1936
How did Hitler re-occupy the Rhineland?
In February 1936, Hitler protested that the recent Franco- Soviet Pact broke the Locarno agreements. Using this as an excuse, he ordered German troops into the Rhineland on March 7th 1936
His generals were against the move as they feared French military intervention and even the involvement of Poland. Germany was not strong enough to face this challenge, so Hitler ordered a withdrawal if challenged by the French.
Although the British government protested, there was some sympathy for the German position, and without British support, the French were not prepared to take military action.
Rhinelanders welcomed the German troops.
