Hitler’s foreign policy Flashcards
Hitlers foreign policy aims
Reverse TOV
Unite all German speaking people
Lebensraum/ gain living space
Destroy communism
Reversing TOV aim
Hitler blamed it for many of Germanys economic and political troubles
Unite all German speaking people aim
To create a greater Germany
As following the TOV many German speaking people didn’t live in Germany but Sudetenland etc
Lebensraum aim
Hitler believed the aryan race was superior to Slavs in Eastern Europe
So he wanted more land to accommodated this ‘race’ as he believed them to be superior
Destroy communism aim
Hitler hated the existence of the Soviet Union and its policies
So he wanted to take it over
The disarmament conference 1932
Italy seen by League of Nations as most of a threat
Germany demanded all countries reduce weapons to their level
Disarmament conference result
No one agreed with Hitlers plans
So he withdrew and began secretly building up germanys army in spite of TOV
When did Hitler leave League of Nations?
1933
Non aggression act with poland 1934
Hitler accepted polish boarders
Encouraged trading
Result of the non aggression act with Poland
Hitler didn’t have to fear attacks from poland
France frustrated since they were trading with Poland already
Events of first attempted Anschluss in 1934
Austrian Nazi party were campaigning for it but outlawed by Austrian chancellor (Dolfuss)
They overtook radio stations and assassinated Dolfuss
Result of first attempted Anschluss
Hitler didn’t support it as he was concerned Mussolini wouldn’t support it
So ultimately failed
Where is the Saar?
South west boarder of Germany, at the time being controlled by League of Nations
Saarland 1935 return
Plebiscite held where over 90% voted to unite with Germany again
Was the Saarland a fair election?
No because allegations of intimidation and causing blockades
As well as intimidation of jewish people
1935 renouncing of treaty of Versailles
Hitler admitted to secretly rearming since the disarmament conference:
Introduced conscription
The army, navy and airforce Built up
How did the allies react to Germany building up their army?
They condemned it but did nothing
But then Britain just formed a treaty with Germany despite this
How did Hitler justify rebuilding the army?
Because other countries were so this was self defence as they felt vulnerable
Provided more jobs and made Germans feel strong again
How big was germanys army in 1935?
550,000
Stressa front 1935
Despite Britain condemning it and breaching TOV,
Britain signed treaty with Germany to increase navy to 35% of Britains
Stressa front results
Encouraged Hitler to further his abolition of tov rather than satisfy him and stop
Britain directly allowed this to happen
Abyssinia
Empire of Ethiopia
Abyssinia crisis 1935
Italy invaded Abyssinia against the League of Nations
But France and Britain were caught secretly making agreements to give Abyssinia to italy
Results of Abyssinia crisis
Both Italy + Germany closer together
Destroyed cooperation between the allies and axis
Britain and France preoccupied to ignore any of germanys moves
Britain and France ignored the league = now powerless to stop Germany
Original plan for the Rhineland
Be occupies by allies until 1935 then withdraw troops
What did Hitler do after allies withdrew troops from Rhineland?
Reoccupied it with troops
As over 98% were in favour of it
How did allies respond to German occupation of the Rhineland?
Too occupied with Italy and Abyssinia
So Hitler found it easier to disobey tov and defy orders more
Rome Berlin axis 1936
Italy + Germany agreed to work together
Followed a common foreign policy eg destroy communism
Anticomintern pact 1936
Signed treaty with Japan to stop spread of communism and influence of soviet union
Successful Anschluss with austria 1938
Hitler told Austrian Nazis to:
Bomb public buildings
Bully Austrian chancellor into accepting 2 Nazis to cabinet
Closer economic ties with Germany
Eventually was replaced by Nazi chancellor who united both countries
How did the allies respond to the successful Anschluss with Austria?
Nothing lol
But Mussolini accepted it this time
Appeasement
The act of attempting to satisfy an aggressive country by making compromises to avoid war
How did France and Britain use appeasement?
They let Germany and Italy defy TOV and League of Nations and take territory without causing conflict
To avoid ww2
What was the Sudetenland?
Parts of land apart of Czechoslovakia
With German speaking people
Was originally park fo Germany before TOV
What was Hitlers plans with Sudetenland?
Wanted to unite it with Germany
Also worried Soviet Union would invade Germany through it
So would annex it then all of Czechoslovakia
How did Hitler take control of Czechoslovakia?
Germans there told to stir up trouble
Threatened to use war if czechs didn’t accept
Múnich agreement
France and Britain allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland as apart of appeasement
But Czechoslovakia not invited
Why did appeasement policy end?
Because Hitler broke the Munich agreement by taking the rest of Czechoslovakia
Allies suspicious of axis intentions
What did Britain + France sign with Poland?
Worried Germany would invade Poland, they signed a pact to guarantee its boarders from attack
1939 Pact of Steel
Hitler + Mussolini in full military allegiance with each other
