Hitler's Foreign Policy Flashcards
How did Hitler achieve abolishing the treaty of Versailles?
Some of the ways he achieved this aim where:
He began rearmament 1933-35
He legalised conscription and increased the size of the armed forces.
He united with Austria
He did Hitler achieve ‘Lebensraum’?
He seized the Saar and Rhineland
He took over the Sudetenland
He invaded Czechoslovakia
He invaded Poland
How did Hitler achieve his aim in uniting German speakers?
He United Austria with Germany
He seized the saar, Rhineland and Sudetenland and Poland.
What where Hitler’s aims in the foreign policy ?
1) to abolish the treaty if Versailles
2) to create ‘Lebensraum’ (living space) for the expanding German population
3) to unite all German speaking people had had been split after the war
How did Germany re-arm against the treaty of Versailles?
Increased warships and aircraft
Increased number of soldiers in the army
Introduced conscription in 1935
Increased expenditure on weapons
Naval agreement with Britain
Withdrew from the League of Nations and disarmament conference
Signed a non-aggression pact with Poland I’m 1934
What was the Anglo-German naval agreement?
It was a naval agreement with Britain that allowed the Germans to build a fleet in the condition that it was no larger than 35% of the British fleet.
Describe how the Saar was returned to Germany?
The nazis mounted a huge campaign to persuade saarlanders to vote for reunification with Germany. Opposition was threatened and beaten up. Also an army of storm troopers gathered on the border of the Saar but got disbanded by Britain and France threatening to send troops.
In January 1935, what percentage of the saarlanders voted in favour of returning to Germany?
90%, the decisions was also popular with the Germans
What happened with the demilitarisation of the Rhineland?
On 7th March 1936 Hitler ordered 32,000 troops and armed police to march into the Rhineland
Why was Hitler able to get away with the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
The Germans made themselves seem stronger than they were
The decision was popular with the German rhinelanders and so Hitler felt encouraged
Britain and France did nothing
Britain felt guilty about the t.o.v
France and Britain didn’t trust each other
Hitler was diplomatic and aggressive
Britain and France more worried about Mussolini
Hitler had offered to make a peace treat
What happened in Austria before the Anschluss?
In 1934 Austrian Nazi party activists murdered engelbert Dolfuss the chancellor and they tried to take over the government but here stopped by schuschnigg and Mussolini. Then in the Spanish civil war Germany helped Italy and they even signed a Rome-Berlin axis agreement
What happened during the Anschluss I’m March 1938?
January 1938 schuschnigg found out that Austrian nazis had been planning a revolution so he went to Hitler for help that told him to give government positions to the Austrian nazis.
When he returned he ordered s plebiscite.
Hitter ordered troops to Austria and threatened to invade. Nazis rioted in streets and seyss-inquart invited Germans into Austria. They imprisoned more than 80,000 oppositions. In 12th March Hitler entered Austria and plebiscite held on the 14th 99.75% voted yes.
Reasons for appeasement
Britiain liked idea of stronger Germany ash they saw Russia as a greater threat
Gave time for Britain to rearm
No allies prepared to fight
The British public didn’t want war
Felt Germany was treated unfairly by the t.o.v
Chamberlain ready to do anything to prevent war
Reasons against appeasement
Worried countries in Europe that Britian and France won’t stand up to hitler
Encouraged Hitler
Showed chamberlain as weak and unwilling to make decisions
It strengthened Germany and gave it access to materials and resources
Why did hitler want the Sudetenland
Large army present Contained strong military defences Full of German speakers Coal resources Skoda armaments factory They had a defence agreement with Russia
