Hitler's Foreign Policy And The Origins Of WW2 Flashcards
When Hitler became leader in 1933 what were his 4 aims?
- To make Germany great again and remove the humiliation of defeat in WW1
- To tear up the treaty of Versailles
- To take over the areas where German speaking people lived and bring them into a greater Germany (Grossdeutschland)
- To conquer more land in Poland or Russia as a living space (Lebensraum) for the German people
When was conscription introduced in Germany?
1935
What was the Anglo-German naval agreement? + consequences
Allowed Hitler to build up a larger navy that could be up to 35% of the size of the British Navy.
Britain didn’t consult with France, + showed they weren’t sticking to treaty give Hitler confidence to ask for more
When was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement signed?
1935
Consequences of German rearmament 1935-1939?
Built up his armed forces. Peace less likely as it gave him strength to threaten other countries like Czechoslovakia + Poland later on. If not allowed to rearm then would have been too weak to achieve other goals. Growing strength made him more confident to take more.
When did Hitler first put pressure on Austria to join Germany and why didn’t it work?
- Mussolini wasn’t yet allied with Hitler, moved troops to Italian border and threatened to help Austria against Germany
What happened in 1935 with the Saar and was this a legal move?
The Saar voted to return to German control. This was a legal move since the vote had been arranged to take place in 1935 as part of the ToV
What were the consequences of the Saar voting to return to German control?
Used it to win more support from German people + made peace less likely as it gave Germany important industry and coal mines which allowed Germany to produce more things, especially weapons. It was his growing strength and popularity in Germany that made him confident to take more
When was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
1936
What was the Rhineland?
German territory with German laws but the ToV and Locarno Pact said that Germans weren’t allowed any military in this area to protect France from another German attack
How did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
Sent troops in. Other countries plus the League of nations did nothing. German troops had orders to withdraw if the French moved in to try and stop them
Why didn’t Britain or France do anything to stop Hitler from remilitarising the Rhineland?
They were trying to deal with the Italian invasion of Abyssinia
What were the consequence of remilitarising the Rhineland?
Made peace less likely. Showed Britain + France weren’t going to stand up to him so made him more confident. Also impressed Mussolini who now signed a pact with Hitler meaning Hitler could do other things like Anschluss without Italy opposing him
What year was Anschluss achieved?
1938
What did Hitler do as an excuse to enter German troops into Austria?
Hitler created a situation where he could “establish order” in Austria using German troops. He tricked and manipulated Shuschnigg the Austrian chancellor and Austria was in a chaotic situation.
What did Hitler do in Austria after moving his troops in and what was the result? + What did other countries do?
He organised a plebiscite about joining Austria to Germany. It was rigged and opponents had been arrested or scared off. 99% voted yes
Other countries did nothing
What were the consequences of Anschluss?
A triumph. Peace less likely. He now had all the resource of Austria: iron, steel industry and its army. Hitler could use these to make Germany more powerful + can threaten other countries. Stronger Germany made it less likely that other countries would try to stand up to Hitler. Also Germany now surrounded the west of Czechoslovakia
In what year was the Sudetenland crisis?
1938
What did Hitler do in the Sudetenland before demanding that it become part of Germany?
Stir up trouble
How many German speakers did the Sudetenland contain?
3 million
What was the result of the meeting at Bertchesgaden about the Sudetenland?
It looked like Hitler would allow a plebiscite to decide the issue
What happened at the meeting in Bad Godesburg about the Sudetenland?
Hitler demanded the Sudetenland immediately without a plebiscite, Chamberlain refused and it looked like there may be war.
Who attended the meeting in Munich and what was decided in the Munich Agreement?
Britain, France, Italy, Germany
Britain wanted to avoid war because it couldn’t afford one ( still recovering from Great Depression) the people didn’t want a war and Czechoslovakia was far away. + genuine fear of air attack. Also persuaded themselves that perhaps it deserved to be German.
The countries at the meeting decided to give the Sudetenland to Germany (without asking the Czechs)
What did Hitler promise at the Munich Agreement?
That Britain and Germany would not go to war with each other ever again
What was Appeasement + when did it start and finish?
Appeasement was the policy of the British (and French). Involved trying to avoid war by solving some of the grievances Germany had after the ToV- hoped giving Hitler some of what he wanted then he would stop asking for more.
What year was the falling Czechoslovakia?
1939
Why did Czechoslovakia fall?
March 1939 Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. They could not fight back having lost most of their industry and the border fortifications in the mountains
Consequences of the fall of Czechoslovakia?
End of appeasement. Chamberlain promised Poland that if Germany attacked then Britain would support Poland- France already had an alliance.
4 reasons why Britain and France stopped appeasing Hitler
- They didn’t really trust Hitler even at Munich- they were already rearming by then
- When Hitler broke all his promises made at Munich it was obvious that it had failed- Germany had got more threatening not less. If Germany got Poland without a fight it would be greatly strengthened
- Appeasement had made them look weak
- Perhaps they could still stop war- if Hitler really believed they would support Poland he might not attack
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
1939
What was the Nazi Soviet Pact?
The agreement between the USSR and Hitler. They agreed not to interfere with each other in war. Secretly agreed to attack Poland and divide it between them
Why did Germany want the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
Hitler now knew he could attack Poland without the risk that the Russians would try to stop him therefore avoid a war on two fronts. In WW1 this had led to Germany’s defeat
Why did Russia want the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- Stalin did not trust Britain and France- had showed no real determination to stand up to Hitler
- Stalin desperately afraid of a war against Germany- Pact might delay or stop
Consequences of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- Made war inevitable- Poland was guaranteed by Britain and France
- France and Britain lost the USSR as an ally- Hitler was less scared of war because of this and so was prepared to take a risk over Poland
When did Britain and France declare war against Germany?
September 1939 when Germany attacked Poland- they kept their promises to Poland
