History Module 3

Question 1

What were Hitler’s main plans?

Answer 1

• Abolish the ToV
• Expand German territory
• Defeat communism

Question 2

What are the two main interpretation of Hitler’s actions?

Answer 2

Planner and gambler

Question 3

Who is at fault in each interpretation of Hitler’s actions?

Answer 3

Planner: Hitler
Gambler: Actions of leading powers

Question 4

What were Hitler’s three main actions against the ToV?

Answer 4

• Rearmed Germany
• Remilitarised Rhineland
• United with Austria

Question 5

What was the Saar plebiscite, and when did it happen?

Answer 5

In 1935, the LoV held a plebiscite in the Saar region of Germany. People could vote on whether they wanted the region to return to German rule, as it had been run by the LoV previosuly.

Question 6

What was the outcome of the Saar plebiscite?

Answer 6

Thanks to Nazi propaganda, there was an overwhelming majority to return to Germany’s rule.

Question 7

Hitler rearmed Germany. When, why, what reason was given, and what was the response?

Answer 7

• 1935
• To make a strong Germany and tackle the ToV
• To tackle unemployment, like other countries rearming
• Allowed it

Question 8

Hitler remilitarised Rhineland. When, why, what reason was given, and what was the response?

Answer 8

• 1936
• To tackle the ToV
• The pact between France and the USSR
• Actions were condemned, but LoN too busy with the Abyssinian crisis

Question 9

Hitler unified Germany and Austria. When, why, what reason was given, and what was the response?

Answer 9

• 1938
• Because he could, because Italy (now his ally) wouldn’t stop him
• Because it was what the Austrian people wanted (99.75% majority for union)
• Allowed it, however they increased military spending

Question 10

What was the Anti-Comintern pact?

Answer 10

A pact signed by Germany and Japan in 1936 and by Italy in 1937 to oppose communism. It was called the Rome-Berlin Axis alliance.

Question 11

What impact did the Spanish Civil War have?

Answer 11

It strengthened the alliance between Germany and Italy (they both provided support for the nationalists), and convinced Hitler that Britain and France would not intervene in further actions against the ToV.

Question 12

Why did the League of Nations fail?

Answer 12

Because it WAS DUMB!
- Weak
- America
- Structure
- Depression
- Unsuccessful
- Members
- Big bullies

Question 13

What were the circumstances of the Spanish Civil war? (who fought, who supported, who stayed out of it)

Answer 13

• Started in 1936
• Between left-wing republic government (supported by USSR, Britain and France) and right-wing nationalist government (supported by Germany and Italy) lead by General Franco.
• Non Intervention Committee (NIC) signed by Britain, France, Italy and Germany. Italy and Germany intervened anyway.

Question 14

Why did Germany get involved in the Spanish civil war?

Answer 14

• Idealogical alignment
• Testing ground for strategies (Blitzkrieg developed)
• Strengthen/create alliances
• Tackle communism (republicans aided by USSR)

Question 15

What were Germany’s contributions to he Spanish civil war?

Answer 15

• Military equipment
• Aerial bombing campaigns (Luftwaffe)
• Naval support

Question 16

What were the consequences of the Spanish Civil war?

Answer 16

• Alliance between Germany and Italy strengthened
• Encouraged Hitler that Britain and France would not intervene should he break more terms of the ToV
• Increased tensions (Britain increased military spending)
• USSR suspicious of Britain and France’s reluctance to get involved

Question 17

What were Hitler’s demands in regards to the Sudetenland (in Czechoslovakia), and how did he justify them?

Answer 17

• Hitler demanded a plebiscite be held in parts of the Sudetenland to see if they wanted to rejoin Germany
• He later demanded all of the Sudetenland. He justified this by claiming that the Czech government was mistreating the Germans there.

Question 18

What was the Munich Agreement?

Answer 18

An agreement between the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, who decided to give Hitler the Sudetenland (without consulting Czechoslovakia or the USSR).

Question 19

What were the consequences of the Munich agreement?

Answer 19

• Following the example, Hungary and Poland helped themselves to territory where Hungarians and Poles were living
• Czechoslovakia descended into chaos
• Europe was relieved to rid themselves of the threat of war

Question 20

Why could appeasement be justified?

Answer 20

• Gave time for the allies to rearm
• Britain in a weak position to declare war in 1938
• Not many realistic alternatives

Question 21

Why could appeasement not be justified?

Answer 21

• Betrayal of Czechoslovakia
• Gave Hitler more power and confidence
• Gave Germany the resources to invade Poland

Question 22

Why was appeasement popular at first?

Answer 22

• Some approved of Hitler’s politics
• Buffer against communism
• Some thought Europe was not Britain’s business
• Many agreed the ToV was unfair

Question 23

What was the Nazi-Soviet pact, and when was it signed?

Answer 23

An agreement signed in August 1939 by Stalin and Hitler. They agreed publicly not to attack each other, and agreed privately that they would split Poland between them.

Question 24

Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet pact?

Answer 24

He gained half of Poland, and it gave him time to build up his forces for Germany’s eventual attack on Russia, as he did not trust Britain and France to help.

Question 25

Why was the Nazi-Soviet pact important?

Answer 25

• Showed that internationalism had been abandoned
• Freed Hitler from the problem of a two-front war
• Gave Stalin time to build up his forces

Question 26

What were the consequences of the Nazi-Soviet pact?

Answer 26

It cleared the way for Hitler to invade Poland. This then caused Britain and France to declare war, starting WW2.