Hitler's Foreign Policy

Question 1

What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims that he outlined in Mein Kampf?

Answer 1

1. Reverse the Treaty of Versailles
2. Unite all German speaking people
3. Anschluss (union with Austria)
4. Lebensraum
5. Destroy communism

Question 2

What happened in the Disarmament Conference 1932?

Answer 2

Representatives of 60 nations met to discuss ways in which their countries may disarm and reduce chance of war.
Germany insisted every country should disarm to the lowest level.
The French refused to cooperate and so Germany withdrew from the conference.

Question 3

When was the non-aggression pact made with Poland?

Answer 3

January 1934

Question 4

What did Hitler promise in the non-aggression pact with Poland?

Answer 4

He promised to accept the borders of Poland and encouraged improved trading between the countries.
This pact was set to last 10 years

Question 5

What benefits did the non-aggression pact bring to Hitler?

Answer 5

• No longer had to fear an attack from Poland
• Created a split between Britain and France
  > France had a treaty with Poland and felt Hitler had weakened it
  > Britain saw Germany’s alliance with Poland as proof of Hitler’s intentions

Question 6

Why did the first attempt at Anschluss in 1934 fail?

Answer 6

The Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss banned the Nazi party to maintain Austrian independence. In response, Austrian Nazis assassinated Dollfuss and tried to seize power, but failed due to lack of support from Hitler (concerned about repercussions from Mussolini who did not want Germany to share a border with Italy)

Question 7

How did the Saarland become part of Germany again?

Answer 7

A plebiscite was held in the Saarland on January 13th 1935 and 477,000 to 48,000 voted to rejoin Germany.
This plebiscite was administered by the League of Nations themselves so they approved of it.

Question 8

What did the return of the Saarland tell Hitler?

Answer 8

It pleased him because it showed that there was support for his ideas of bringing all Germans into one nation

Question 9

In what ways did Hitler break the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 9

• Introduced conscription, introduced an Air Ministry, and announced that the German peacetime army would eventually be 300,000
• Moved troops into the demilitarised Rhineland zone
• Invaded Austria and declared Anschluss

Question 10

When did Hitler re-occupy the Rhineland?

Answer 10

7th March 1936

Question 11

Why did Hitler want to unite with Austria?

Answer 11

• Both spoke German
• Culturally similar
• Once allies
• Hitler was born in Austria

Question 12

How did Hitler achieve Anschluss?

Answer 12

1. Threatened to invade Austria unless Austrian leader Schuschnigg gave all top govt jobs to Nazis
2. Schuschnigg held a plebiscite among Austrian people to see what they wanted: to join with Germany or remain independant
3. In response Hitler moved his army closer to the Austrian border
4. Schuschnigg asked Italy, Britain, and France for help but they all refused
5. Schuschnigg had no choice but to resign and a Nazi was appointed leader. He invited Hitler to send in his troops to “restore order”