Hitler's Foreign Policy and Aims 1933-1939

Question 1

What actions did Hitler do to push Europe closer to the war in 1933?

Answer 1

1933 - left the League of Nations when other European powers refused to disarm to Germany’s level at the Disarmament Conference
Began rearmament increasing size of peacetime army to 300,000. Authorised building of aircrafts

Question 2

Describe the demilitarisation of Rhineland in 1936

Answer 2

• It was still part of Germany, but was taken due to the treaty of Versailles. German people regarded this as humiliating.
• Hitler ordered 32,000 troops to militarise the Rhineland, feared that Britain and France would interfere and added strict orders to retreat if they saw any opposition.
• no interference encouraged Hitler to pursue policies.

Question 3

What was Hitler’s aims in the foreign policy?

Answer 3

1. To overturn/abolish the treaty of Versailles
2. To create Lebensraum (living space) for the expanding German population
3. To unite all German speaking people who had been split after war

Question 4

Describe the events that occurred in the Saar 1935

Answer 4

• Land taken from Germany due to TOV
• A plebiscite was held, some communists and socialist opposition were threatened and beaten up and Nazis held military oppression
• 90% of the population voted for the reunification

Question 5

Describe the Anschluss, March 1938

Answer 5

Chancellor Schuschnigg discovered that the Austrian Nazis were planning a revolution. Asked for Hitler’s assistance, Hitler demanded that positions in the government were given to Austrian Nazis. A plebiscite was conducted.

Hitler then added military oppression. Riots, Schuschnigg resigned and 80,000 opposition were imprisoned. 99.75% voted yes for unification with Germany

Question 6

What was the name of the treaty that Germany and Italy signed in 1936

Answer 6

The Rome Berlin Axis

Question 7

What was the treaty that Britain and Germany signed in 1935

Answer 7

Increase the size of the navy to 1/3 of the size of Britain in the Anglo-German Naval treaty

Question 8

Describe Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement 1937

Answer 8

Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement was to pacify Germany for the harsh reparations they had to pay from WW1.
E.G. Anschluss with Austria, Britain was unprepared to go to war. Also, Czechoslovakia Munich 1938. Hitler had gained the Sudetenland, Chamberlain maintained peace and signed treaty to consult to each other in the event of problems

Question 9

Describe the Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939

Answer 9

Hitler and Stalin’s agreement to invade Poland and share land, both agreed not to attack each other. Britain was hesitant in signing an agreement with Russia and Poland was not prepared to accept help from the USSR. Stalin lost patience

Question 10

What are the conditions of the non-aggression pact with Poland in 1934?

Answer 10

Poland and Germany would not attack each other for the next 10 years

Question 11

What were the consequences of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 11

Gave Hitler the idea that he can further his policies without the interference of British and French opposition. Germany had more defences and gained more resources

Question 12

Wha has the re-occupation of the Saar lead to?

Answer 12

Encourage Hitler with his aggressive foreign policy. More access to raw materials and resources that would help him with rearmament. Challenged the treaty of Versailles making Germany stronger