Hitler's Foreign Policy and the Origins of WW2 Flashcards
What were the main aims of Hitler’s foreign policy?
- Make Germany a Great Power again
- Unite all German speaking people under his rule
- Gain territory in the East for Lebensraum
How did Hitler aim to achieve his aims?
- Overturn the Treaty of Versailles
- Take the German speakers in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland back
- Remarmament
- Expand in the East
Why did Hitler want to take land in the East?
- Lebensraum
2. Go against Communist USSR
How did Hitler prepare for German expansion?
1933 withdrew from Disarmament conference
1934 signed 10-year friendship pact with Poland
March 1935 introduced conscription
June 1935 naval agreement with Britain - right to rearm
What did the naval agreement with Britain mean?
35% of British naval strength
45% of submarine strength
When was Germany allowed to join the League of Nations?
1926
Why was the rearmament of Germany not opposed?
Differences between France and Britain - Britain sympathised more with Germany
What effect did the 10-year friendship pact have?
- Pleased Britain because of accepted frontier
2. Weakened French-Polish Alliance
What happened to the Saar?
1920 - Under LoN control for 15 years
January 1935 - Plebiscite
March 1935 - Returned to Germany
When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
March 1936
Why did no one stop the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
- Abyssinian Crisis
- French government not willing to act without Britain
- Britain felt Hitler wasn’t doing anything wrong
What did Hitler break through the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
- Locarno Pact 1925
2. Treaty of Versailles
Why was the Rhineland perfectly judged by Hitler?
- French invasion would popularise Hitler
- Britain thought Germany was justified
- There was no will to use force against Hitler
What were the effects of the Rhineland?
hint: C R I P R E M
- Hitler gained confidence in reversing the Treaty of Versailles
- Hitler’s position in Germany strengthened
- Rome-Berlin Axis
- End of Britain and France keeping Italy as an ally
- Movement towards British rearmament
- Maginot Line
- End of League of Nations
What happened during the failed Anschluss of 1934?
- Dollfuss died
- Nazis saw an opportunity
- Mussolini supported Austria - no invasion