Hitler's Foreign Policy 1933 to 1939 Flashcards
What were the aims of Hitler’s Foreign Policy?
to reverse the terms of the treaty of Versailles
to defeat communism
to unite all German speaking people
to rearm Germany and restore and all of its territory
to conquer an Empire in the East to give German People lebensraum
What were the aims of Hitler’s Foreign Policy based on?
The Master Race
Pan German Nationalism
Militarism
Social Darwinism
By whom was Anschluss stopped in 1934?
Italy
How did Anschluss occur?
Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to cause trouble for the Austrian Government and demand unification.
He stormed into Austria but was welcome
He held a referndum
99.7% of Austrians wanted Anschluss
How did Anschluss help Hitler?
He was carrying out promise to unite German people
Popularity increased and so did support for his foreign policy
Access to Austrian land and raw material
Austria acted as a buffer defense.
Stepping stone into Italy Yugoslavia, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
Why didn’t Britain and France stop Anschluss?
Britain sympathized because of the harsh treaties
Br and Fr didn’t want a conflict over Austria
Fr didn’t want to act on her own and Br refused to act
Ger was not allies w It and if there was a conflict Ger could ask It for help and maybe Sp and this could surround Fr
When was the Anglo- German Naval Agreement?
1935
What did it allow?(AGNA)
For Germany to build up the size of her navy to 35% of British navy and they could build submarines
What did it go against?(AGNA)
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles
What did it under mind? (AGNA)
The idea of disarmament supported by the League
Which countries were not pleased by signing this agreement?Why? (AGNA)
France and Italy
They were not consulted
What is the Franco Soviet mutual assistance treaty?
A treaty between France and the Soviet Union with the aim of enveloping Nazi Germany in 1935 in order to reduce the threat from central Europe.
What was the size of Germany’s navy by 1938?
47 submarines and 21 large navy vessels
What was the Rome Berlin Axis? When?
Alliance between Germany and Italy in 1936
What was the Anti- Comintern pact? When?
Alliance between Germany and Japan in 1936
What happened at the Saar plebiscite? When?
T of V gave Saar land to Fr
Plebiscite was held in Saar to see if the people wanted it to be German
90% voted yes
First Territory for Hitler back
Describe the events that took place at the remilitarisation of the Rhineland
Hitler saw how the LON failed to invasions of Manchuria and Abyssinia
Hitler saw how LON failed to stop Ger from rearming
Hitler ordered troops to enter Rhineland even though it was braking the T OF V term
Why was he able to remilitarise the Rhineland?
Br and Fr did nothing because:
Br thought that the treaty was too harsh and that they were only getting their land back
France did not want to go through war form Rhineland
What was the Sudetenland Crisis? When was it?
When Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia hand over part of its territory
Czechoslovakia had a powerful army
Sudetenland was the key to Czechoslovakia defense against attack
1938
How many German speaking people were in Sudetenland?
3 million
What was the Munich Agreement? When?
It was organised to find a peaceful solution to the problem in 1938. They came to a conclusion that both countries would negotiate any future problems and not go to war.
Who was present at the agreement?
Britain
France
Italy
Germany
What was Chamberlain regarded as after that?
A national hero for avoiding war
What were the arguments in support of Chamberlain Appeasement Policy include?
British people did not want another war
British people thought that the terms of the treaty of Versailles
British people saw that Hitler’s demand that all German- speaking people should live in one country was fair
British people supported Hitler as he was anti Communist
British armed forces were not ready
What were the arguments against Chamberlain Appeasement Policy include?
Hitler was a dictator who could not be trusted
Appeasement made Britain looked weak
Czechoslovakia was not invited to the conference and did not have a say in its future
Hitler had already expressed his idea that he wanted to expand East of Europe and would only be stopped by war
Describe the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939?
The loss of Sudetenland encouraged other ethnic minority groups to demand independence
Czech Republic became a part of Germany
The invasion represented the start of Hitler conquering land in the East for Lebensraum
Why did he invade Czechoslovakia?
For Lebensraum
What was the Nazi- Soviet Pact?
It was a signing between Germany and Russia for a non- Aggression Pact in which they promised they would not go to war with each other
Why was the news shocking?(nzp)
because Hitler was strongly Anti- Communist and viewed Russians as subhumans
What was the secret deal?(nzp)
To divide Poland between them with Germany getting Western Poland and Russia getting Eastern Poland.
Who signed the deal from both sides?(nzp)
Russia and Germany
When did the invasion of Poland happen?
1939
What did the German view Poles as?
as subhuman
Who declared war after this?
Britain and France declared war on Germany.
What happened at Guernica in 1937?
German aircraft were tested
Guernica is in the Basque are Republican
number of victims still disputed 1,500 to 1600
tried strategy of carpet bombing
Why did Hitler get involved in the Spanish Civil War?
He was hoping to become allies with spain
Hitler wanted to test his modern weapons
opportunity to fight communism
smokescreen for affairs happening in Eastern Europe
Blocks British shipping in the Mediterranean
access to Atlantic Ocean
Why did Br and Fr not take action to stop Hitler in guernica?
Domestic problems
British will not get involved if america will not be involved
Other crisis were occupying the league’s attention
scared about the communists
they were not ready for war- 10 Year Rule
Why was the Sudetenland important to Hitler?
Heavy industry and coal Skoda weapons factory trained and well equipped army Czech had modern militarization fortifications Weakened Czechoslovakia easier access to Poland defence agreements with Fr and USSR Unite all German speaking people carry out his promises popularity increased
Why did the munich agreement worry the USSR so much?
he didnt trust br and fr to protect him from germany
Reasons for using appeasement
Economic reasons Military preparedness public opinion USA not wanted to repeat horrors of WW1 belief Hitler rational politician
Reasons for not using appeasement
encouraged aggression made France and Britain look weak went against rules of League Smaller countries felt they were not protected USSR pushed into alliance with Germany
