History (8.3.23) Flashcards
What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims?
Abolish the Treaty: Hitler thought that the treaty was unjust and those who signed it were the ‘November criminals’, he promised to reverse it if he became leader
Expand German territory: He wanted to regain all lost territory and reunite german speaking people, ‘lebensraum’ (living space)
Defeat Communism: Hitler was rabildy anti-communist and believed they were activels plotting to take over G, he sought to stamp out communist nations, especially the USSR
The Saar Plebiscite
-1935
-The TofV had put the Saar under the control of LofN for 15 years, in 1935 the inhabitants voted to return to G
-H was worried about the vote as he had many political enemies, however Goebbels launch a huge propaganda campaign, in the end 90% of people vote to return to G
-It validated Nazi Regime and future claims to try and unite other German speaker
Conscription and Rearment
-1935-40
-H began to slowly rearm at first, using the excuse of other countries failure to disarm
-Signed the Anglo-German naval treaty 1935 which allowed German navy to be up to 35% of British
-1936, he reintroduced conscription to the army, violation of Treaty
-Britain were sympathetic towards these aims as they felt Treaty was too harsh and a strong G was a good buffer against communism
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
-1936
G were not allowed to put any troops into it
-March 1936, H ordered his troops to openly re-enter the Rhineland, breaking TofV
- His generals were order to retreat if French showed any hint of making a military stand against him
-This did not occur, over 32,000 soliders crossed into the Rhineland unopposed
Why did the British and French not oppose Hitler?
-B believed that Nazi Germany was only going into her own “backyard” even though H was acting in a reasonable and understandable manner
-F was going through an election and leader were not willing to take responsibility for pludging F into war, they would not risk acting without British support
Spanish Civil War
1936-39
-Broke in Spain between the fascist army and republican/communist government
-H and Mussolini both became involved despite agreeing not to intervene
-G sent aircrafts and pilots to help support Franco’s forces
-Bombing of Guernica
-Due to G and I help, Franco was able to win the war in 1939
Anschluss
-1938
-This fulfilled two main aims; overturning the Treat + uniting G speaking people
-1934, H makes inital attempt but M prevents him. H tries to use murder of the chancellor as an excuse to invade (M masses troops to the border to stop him)
-G and I become allies, 1937-> M informs the Austrian Chancellor Schussmigg he will no longer defend them
Why did the allies allow Anschluss to happen?
-H had armed his armed forces, B + F were had not re-aermed sufficiently for war
-B viewed Anchluss as a fair demand (tofv)
-M is no longer helping austria -> B + F could not rely in this intervention in 1938 H + M had a strong friendship
Sudetenland Crisis
-1938
-A few pieces of land in the north west of Czechoslovakia
-Leader of Sudeten Nazis began demanding unification
-H threaths the Czechs with war if they didn’t agree to their demands
-The B + F had an angreement to defend Czech
-War was inevitable
The Munich Agreement
-1938
-Chamberlain flew to meet H in 15th Sept., he claimed he only wanted part of the Sudetenland
-19th, B + F put their plan to the Czhecks, H increases his demands
-He says its to reunite german speakers, chamberlain refuses, navy is mobilised (feels betrayed) and war is imminent
-final meeting 29th, in Munich. B + G + F all meet to decide that Czech would lose the S, USSR + Czcheks are not consulted
The Invasion of Czechoslovakia
-1939
-‘Lebensraum’
-Have naturals resources (H would want them for war)
-A free Czech. would make it impossible for G to fight in the West
-March 1939, took over it
-The Czechs offered no resistance, nor did B + F
-H had proved himself untrustworthy
-Appeasment was over, if H went invaded Poland, B + F would declare war, H doesn’t believe them
Nazi - Soviet Pact
-1939
-Stalin agreed to a 10 year-non aggresson pact, despite being arch-enemies (he neede to feel secure about making a move)
-They agreed to divide Poland between eachother
-Both B + F tried to negotiate a deal w/ S, Stalin signs pact with Nazi foreign minister Ribbentrop
What were some reasons for signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
-Stalin had no trust in B + F
-B + F guarantee to Poland was seen as support for enemy
-Nazis sent top offcial, Ribbentrop to negotiation, B sent minor official on a slow boat
-Allows Stalin to re-arm and help prepare for war in the long term
Invasion of Poland (War Begins)
Sept. 1939
-Poland was quickly defeated
-B + F order H to withdraw, he refuses
-H found himself fighting the ‘wrong war’
‘Appeasement was Justified’
-Hitler was standing up to Communism - a more serious threat
Lack of US support in case of war against H
-B is not ready for war
-H had fair and reasonable demands (TofV was unfair and should be reversed)
-Fragile economy was a more important priority
-Refusal to repeat horrors of the Great War
