Hitler's Foreign Policy Flashcards
what was the ‘stab in the back’ myth
myth that Germany had been betrayed by weak unpatriotic politicians.
it developed after WW1 and gave rise to the thinking that the war had not really been lost and that the peace settlement should be overturned
What was Hitler’s stance on the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler promised to destroy the treaty (this promise made him popular)
He wanted to make Germany a strong military nation which would be against the treaty
Briefly summarise the actions the LON took against Japan
When Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, a special assembly of the League was held and 40 nations voted that Japan should withdraw Instead of withdrawing from Manchuria, Japan withdrew from the league
Briefly summarise the actions the LON took against Italy during the Abyssinian Crisis
When Italy invaded Abyssinia in October 1935, Abyssinia appealed for help from the league. The LON took action by imposing some economic sanctions
Briefly summarise the actions the LON took at the disarmament conference
LON tried to persuade countries to disarm at the conference in 1932-1933. Germans stated that they would disarm if every other nation disarmed but the French would not accept this
What were the consequences of the LON actions at the disarmament conference
Hitler walked out of the conference and Germany left the LON
The failure of the League led to intensive rearmament programmes in Britain and France
What were the consequences of the LON actions during the Abyssinian Crisis
The sanctions imposed failed to include essential commodities like oil and coal and so were not hard-hitting
Britain and France refused to support actions because they wanted Mussolini as an ally against Hitler. This showed that the major powers were not capable of putting internationalism before national interest
What were the consequences of the LON actions during the Manchurian Crisis
It showed that the LON was weak in the face of aggression by a great power, encouraging further acts of aggression
Having withdrawn from the LON, Japan moved closer to Hitler and Mussolini through the anti-comintern pact
The invasion of Manchuria showed Italy and Germany that their territorial ambitions were achievable
It showed the LON had no power to force countries to obey
What is lebensraum
the territory which a group, state or nation believe us needed for its natural development
particularly associated with the post WW1 German concept of settler colonialism into eastern europe
What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims (5 points)
- Destroy the treaty of Versailles
- Create a Greater Germany
- All German people in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland would be brought into the German empire - Destroy Communism
- Hitler was anti-communist and blamed them for Germany’s defeat in WW1 - Acquire lebensraum
- achieved by eastward expansion to Poland and Russia - Create a central European empire
- achieving his aims would make Hitler head of the most powerful state in Europe and possibly the world
In what ways did Hitler plan on destroying the TOV
Breaking up the disarmament clause by building up the armed forces and reintroducing conscription
Remilatarising the Rhineland
Regaining territory lost under the TOV
Uniting with Austria
What foreign policy actions did Hitler take in 1933
Germany refused to pay any more reparations
Hitler walked out of the Disarmament conference and took Germany out of the LON
Germany began re-arming in secret
What foreign policy actions did Hitler take in 1934
Signed a pact of non-aggression with Poland in January
- Poland agreed not to intervene if Germany decided to attack Austria or Czechoslovakia
What foreign policy actions did Hitler take in 1935
Hitler announced that conscription would be reintroduced
Held a massive rearmament rally (GB and France allow it because they believed that a strong Germany was a good buffer against communism)
Germany signed a naval agreement with Britain allowing Germany to have up to 35% of the British navy
A plebiscite was held in the Saar in accordance with the TOV - over 90% were in favor of a return to Germany
What foreign policy actions did Hitler take in 1936
Germany remilitarised the Rhineland while GB and France made no effort to stop this
Hitler and Italy sign the Rome-Berlin Axis
Signed anti-comintern pact with Japan - neither country would assist soviet Russia if it attacked either country
During the Spanish Civil War, Italy and Germany supported Franco’s nationalists. Soviet Russia supported the nationalist. GB and France decided not to become involved
