German Foreign Policy Flashcards
Locarno Pact seen as…
Genuine attempt at peace
When did Germany join League of Nations?
September 1926
How did Stresemann undermine Treaty of Versailles?
By signing Treaty of Rapallo with Russia in 1921
Germany left World Disarmament Conference and League of Nations 1933
- wanted to re-arm
- weakened League
German-Poland non-aggression pact 1934
- 10 year non-aggression pact to ensure good relations
- undermined French-Poland agreement of 1925
- Solved Germany’s problem of encirclement
- Gave Poland false sense of security for future
Attempted Anschluss 1934
- Mussolini sent troops to Northern border of Italy forcing Hitler to backdown from taking Austria
- Germany faces huge international embarrassment
The Saar 1935
- Treaty of Versailles put League in control of the Saar
- 91% in referendum voted to join Germany (dictatorship) rather than be governed by France where they had no political voice
- Hitler used this for propaganda
Re-armament 1935
- conscription introduced (broke Treaty of Versailles)
- world politicians protested but did nothing
- Germans admired Hitler
Anglo-German Naval agreement 1935
- Hitler wanted to rearm to 35% of British navy
- Britain allowed in fear that Germany would rearm to more than 35%
- Britain appeared as if they had abandoned Stresa Front Agreement and Treaty of Versailles
Remilitarisation of Rhineland 1936
- broke Treaty of Versailles which many thought was too harsh
- Hitler relied on no interference from Britain and France
- Hitler gained confidence to continue to break Treaty of Versailles
Spanish Civil War 1936-1939
- Hitler supported Fascists by sending 6,500 men, bombers and fighters
- world shocked at Germany’s terror bombing (e.g. Operation Magic Fire)
- Spain supplied Germany in WW2
Rome-Berlin Axis 1936
- Steps towards Germany and Italy alliance
- signed March 1936
- agreement to divide Europe (Germany would take Central & Eastern Europe, Italy would take Southern & South-Eastern Europe)
Anschluss 1938
- Hitler used threats to make Austria unite with Germany voluntarily
- Hitler then encouraged internal unrest (invade by force)
- Anschluss agreed
Munich Conference and Sudetenland 1938
- Hitler wanted to take over Czechoslovakia
- Mussolini brokered agreement
- Hitler gained Sudetenland containing largest arms factory in Europe (Skoda factory)
- declaration not to go to war with Britain
Invasion of Bohemia and Moravia (rest of Czechoslovakia) 1939
- broke Treaty of Versailles
- important to invade Poland
- many believed war was inevitable and recruitment doubled in Britain
Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
- Russia and Germany alliance
- prevented a war from both sides
Invasion of Poland 1939
- Hitler believed no reaction from Britain or France
- 3rd September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany
Stresemann followed foreign policy of…
Fulfilment
