Hitler's Foreign Policy Flashcards
4 key aims of Hitler’s Foreign policy
Reverse TofV
Destroy Communism
Unite all German speaking people (Anschluss with Austria)
Create more living space (Lebensraum) to the East
When did Hitler renounce the part of the TofV that dealt with armed forces
1935
In 1935 how did Hitler go against the armed forces rules in the TofV
Introduced conscription and aimed for the Wehrmacht (army) to have 550,000 men
What is conscription
Compulsory enlistment (taking part) for state service e.g the army
What is rearmament
Equipping military forces with new weapons and increasing the army
How did Hitler claim that he had a good reason for conscription in 1935
France and Soviet Union were building up their armed forces so he felt ‘vulnerable’ and therefore it was for self defence
Were Germans happy for Hitler to introduce conscription in 1935
Yes
Provided jobs
Made them feel like Germany was becoming a strong nation again
Made Hitler more popular as he was the one making them feel like this and getting the jobs for people
Which 3 nations/ countries were concerned at Hitler’s rearmament
France
Italy
Britain
When was the Stresa Front
1935
What happened at Stresa Front 1935
France, Britain and Italy meet in Stresa (Italy)
Protest against Germany’s rearmament as it goes against the TofV
What event happened first in Hitler’s foreign policy
The disarmament conference
When was the disarmament conference
1932- 1934
What was the disarmament conference 1932- 1934
60 countries discuss how to reduce chance of war
Germany wants all other nations to reduce its armed forces to the same level as Germany’s
Hitler withdraws from conference and announces plan to increase the Wehrmacht (army)
When did Hitler quit the League of Nations
1933
What event came after the disarmament conference
Non Aggression Pact with Poland 1934
When was the Non Aggression Pact with Poland
1934
What event pushed Hitler and Mussolini (Italy) closer
Italy Invasion of Abyssinia 1935
When does Hitler reoccupy the Rhineland
1936
(In Referendum 98.8% vote in favour of this)
What makes the connection between Italy and Germany even stronger after the invasion of Abyssinia 1935
Rome Berlin Axis 1936
Both sides agree to work together on matters of mutual interest e.g destroy communism
All of these events improve the relation between Germany and Italy.
Put them in the correct order: Pact of Steel, Rome Berlin Axis, Invasion of Abyssinia
Invasion of Abyssinia 1935
Rome Berlin Axis 1936
Pact of Steel 1939
What date did war eventually break out
1939
(German troops invade Poland
Britain and France demand Hitler to withdraw troops but Hitler refuses
Britain and France declare war on Germany)
What events took place regarding Hitler’s aim to reverse the TofV
1935 rearmament and conscription
1935 Stresa Front (Germany end up building army to 35% of Britain’s)
1936 re occupation with the Rhineland
1938 Anschluss with Austria
Which country was the Sudetenland part of and what year was the crisis
Czechoslovakia 1938
What is appeasement
Allowing Hitler to gain territory and take over other countries to avoid future war
In 1938 4 leaders from which countries met in Munich and why (Munich conference)
Italy, Germany, France, Britain
Hitler got Nazis to stir trouble in the Sudetenland as it contained over 3 million Germans speakers and lots of industry and important armament factories
These countries agreed Sudetenland would be given to Germany as form of appeasement (to avoid future war)
What was the Nazi Soviet Pact 1939
Germany and Soviet Union agree to not fight each other
(Non aggression pact)
Both sides are playing at each other, Hitler betrays Stalin and invades Poland
When did Germany invade Poland
1939
Describe the events that take place in 1939 to lead up to war
Pact of Steel- Italy and Germany form alliance
Nazi- Soviet Pact- Soviet Union and Germany agree to secretly invade Poland on 1st September
1st September German troops invade Poland
3rd September war declared
Examples of different alliances Germany forms with other countries
1934 Non Aggression Pact with Poland (Hitler no longer fears attack from Poland so makes his 1939 invasion easier)
1936 Rome Berlin Axis
1936 Anti- Comintern Pact (limit communist influence around world)
1939 Pact of Steel to support Germany with Italian military to prepare Germany to invade Poland
1939 Nazi Soviet Pact so that the Soviet Union aren’t against him invading
What 4 events happened in 1935
Conscription and rearmament
Italy invasion of Abyssinia
Stresa Front (France, Italy and Britain meet as they are concerned about Germany’s rearmament)
Return of the Saarland
Events in Hitler’s attempt to unite all German speaking people
1935 return of the Saarland (it was taken away from Germany in the TofV but voted to rejoin)
1936 Remilitarise Rhineland (referendum in its favour)
1938 Anschluss with Austria
1938 Sudetenland crisis
When was the real Anschluss
1938
What countries/ land did Germany get back and when
1935- return of Saarland
1936- remilitarise Rhineland
1938- Sudetenland crisis
1939- takeover Czechoslovakia
What happens in the Aunschluss 1938
Hitler orders Nazis to stir up trouble in Austria to put pressure on Austrian leader (Schuscnigg)
Hitler now has a reason to send German troops into Austria to restore law and order from the chaos he created
Schuscnigg announces referendum for Austrians to vote if they want to be part of Germany
Hitler is angry because if Austrians vote against him his planned invasion will be ruined
Hitler orders Schuscnigg to hold off referendum and resigns as he has no support from France and Britain who are following the policy of appeasement
Hitler was then able to send in German troops and the Anschluss occurred
How many German speaking people does the Sudetenland have
3 million
After Hitler successfully unites with Austria 1938 what country does Hitler have his eyes on and why
Czechoslovakia
Especially Sudetenland as there are 3 million German speaking people and it’s an economic powerhouse
What happens regarding Czechoslovakia and Sudetenland 1938
Britain are told that if they allow Hitler to invade Sudetenland he will go no further
Britain give Sudetenland to Germany as form of appeasement- they think they are preventing outbreak of WW2 (Czechoslovakia had no say)
At Munich Agreement Chamberlain signs the pice of paper saying Germany can invade Sudetenland
Hitler then goes on to invade rest of Czechoslovakia 1939 as he is feeling confident and powerful and France and Britain don’t try to stop him (they know the policy of appeasement isn’t working so protect Poland instead as this is the next bit of land to the East that Hitler has his eyes on)
What were France and Britain preoccupied with in 1936 that made them not reactive to Hitler remilitarising the Rhineland
Invasion of Abyssinia
What happens in attempted aunscluss 1934
Austrian Nazi party assassinate Dolfoss (Austrian Chancellor) to try and seize power but fail from lack of support
