Hitler's Foreign Policies Flashcards
What were Hitler’s aims?
Lebensraum Overturn Treaty of Verailles Unite Volkdeutsche Anschluss Destroy Communism Rearmament
Why did Britain and France follow appeasement?
They needed time to rearm.
Many people though Hitler was being reasonable as treaty was too harsh.
Hitler could be a great ally against communism.
Countries couldn’t afford to go to war during the depression.
People remembered the horrors of WWI.
How did USSR and USA react to Appeasment?
Stalin was worried by Hitler’s determination to destroy communism so signed mutual assistance treaty with France.
USA followed isolationism and 70% of Americans didn’t want to get involved if a war broke out.
What happened at the Disarmament Conference in 1933?
Hitler said he would disarm if everyone else did. When France refused, Hitler stormed out of the conference and left the League.
What was the Dollfuss Affair in 1934?
Dollfuss banned the Nazi Party in Austria and they murdered Dollfuss after Hitler ordered them to cause chaos.
What was the result of the Saar Plebiscite in 1935?
Germany won 90% of the vote, meaning Hitler gained valuable resources.
What did Hitler do during his rearmament rally?
He announced he had been rebuilding the German Army, was reintroducing conscription and started to develop the Luftwaffe. The Stresa Front was created.
What happened at the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935?
Britain allowed Germany have a navy that was 35% of the size of the British navy. Hitler realised Britain was allowing him to break the treaty.
How did the people react when Hitler entered the Rhineland?
Civilians greeted the troops and celebrated.
Why didn’t anyone stop Hitler from remilitarising the Rhineland?
Many in Britain felt that Hitler was right to defend his borders.
Politicians in France were distracted by a general election. Britain and France were preoccupied by the Abyssinian crisis.
Why was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland important?
Hitler gained confidence and proved that he was powerful. Britain and France began rearming and the French priority was protecting it’s own border.
What events led to Anschluss?
Shuschnigg felt vulnerable and agreed to Hitler’s demands. Shuschnigg planned a plebiscite, which Germans fixed and won 99% of the vote.
How did people react to Anschluss?
Czechoslovakians feared that they would be next to be invaded.
Some British people felt that Hitler should be allowed to reunite Anschluss.
What happened at the Munich Conference?
Britain, France and Italy agreed to Hitler’s demands over the Sudetenland and Chamberlain said he had guaranteed ‘peace in our time’. Czechoslovakia or USSR were not consulted, which made Stalin think he couldn’t trust Britain and France.
What were some arguments against appeasement?
Opportunities to stop Hitler when he was weak were missed.
Hitler grew confident.
Appeasement was morally wrong.
