How far was Hitler's foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939?

Question 1

What did the Treaty of Versailles accidentally do?

Answer 1

The most famous legacy of the Treaty of Versailles is that its draconian terms — designed to prevent Germany from repeating its military aggression — instead created an economic and political crisis that led to the rise of Hitler and the start of World War II.

Question 2

How did it lead to the start of WW2?

Answer 2

For a short term effect, the treaty devastated Germany socially, politically, economically, and deprived German citizens of their pride. In the longer term, the treaty became a precursor of the rise of Hitler and the World War II.

Question 3

How did Hitler show his plans for what he would do if the Nazis ever achieved power in Germany?

Answer 3

Through his book - Mein Kampf.

Question 4

What were Hitlers foreign policy aims?

Answer 4

• Abolish the Treaty of Versailles.
• Expand German territory.
• Defeat communism.

Question 5

Why did hitler want to abolish the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 5

• Hitler believes that the Treaty of Versailles was unjust.
• He hated the Treaty and called the Germans who had signed it, ‘November criminals’. The Treaty was a constant reminder to Germans of their defeat in WW1 and their humiliation by the Allies.
• Hitler promised that if he became leader of Germany he would reverse it.

Question 6

What happened with the Treaty of Versailles by the time Hitler came to power in Germany?

Answer 6

Some of the terms had already been changed. For example, Germany had stopped making reparation payments altogether. However, most points were still in place.

Question 7

Why did Hitler feel the need to want to expand German territory?

Answer 7

The Treaty of Versailles had taken away territory from Germany. Hitler wanted to get that territory back. He wanted Germany to unite with Austria. He wanted German minorities in other countries such as Czechoslovakia to rejoin Germany. But he also wanted to carve out an empire in eastern Europe to give extra LEBENSRAUM or ‘living space’ for Germans.

Question 8

Why did Hitler want to defeat communism?

Answer 8

A German empire carved out of the Soviet Union would also help Hitler in one of his other objectives - the defeat of Communism or Bolshevism. Hitler was anticommunist. He believed that Bolsheviks had helped to bring about the defeat of Germany in the First World War. He also believed that the Bolsheviks wanted to take over Germany.

Question 9

How did Hitler show that he was serious about his plans?

Answer 9

Between 1933 and 1939, Hitler turned some of his plans, into action.

Question 10

What happened in 1933?

Answer 10

Hitler took Germany out of the league of nations and began rearming Germany.

Question 11

What happened in 1934?

Answer 11

Hitler tried to take over Austria but was prevented by Mussolini.

Question 12

What happened in 1935?

Answer 12

Hitler held a massive rearmament rally in Germany.

Question 13

What happened in 1936?

Answer 13

• Hitler reintroduced conscription in Germany.
• Sent German troops into the Rhineland.
• Made an anti-communist alliance with Japan.

Question 14

What happened in 1937?

Answer 14

• Hitler tried out Germany’s new weapons in the Spanish Civil War
• Made an anti-communist alliance with Italy.

Question 15

What happened in 1938?

Answer 15

• Hitler took over Austria.
• Hitler took over the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia.

Question 16

What happened in 1939?

Answer 16

• Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia.
• Hitler invaded Poland.
• Outbreak of World War 2.

Question 17

What are the other factors that could be to blame for causing WW2?

Answer 17

• The worldwide economic depression.
• The weaknesses of the post-war treaties.
• The actions of leading powers
  (Britain, France, the USA and the USSR).

Question 18

When did Hitler come to power in Germany?

Answer 18

In 1933.

Question 19

What was hitlers first steps after coming in to power?

Answer 19

To increase Germanys armed forces.

Question 20

What is rearmament?

Answer 20

It is building up arms and armed forces, used as a means to fight unemployment.

Question 21

Why did Hitler want to carry out rearmament?

Answer 21

It helped him to reduce unemployment.
- Also helped him to deliver on his promise to make Germany strong again and to challenge the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 22

What did Hitler think rearmament was going to be a big hit?

Answer 22

Hitler knew that German people supported rearmament.

Question 23

What was a big hazard with rearmament?

Answer 23

Rearmament would cause alarm in other countries.

Question 24

How did Hitler deal with the alarm that rearmament would cause to other countries?

Answer 24

Rearmament began in secret at first. He made a great public display of his desire not to rearm Germany - that he was only doing it because other countries refused to disarm. He then followed Japan’s example and withdrew from the League of Nations.
In 1935 Hitler openly staged a massive military rally celebrating the German armed forces. In 1936 he even reintroduced conscription to the army. He was breaking the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, but he guessed correctly that he would get away with rearmament. Many other countries were using rearmament as a way to fight unemployment. The collapse of the League of Nations Disarmament Conference in 1934 had shown that other nations were not prepared to disarm.

Question 25

Why was rearmament a very popular move in Germany?

Answer 25

It boosted Nazi support. Hitler also knew that Britain had some sympathy with Germany on this issue. Britain believed that the limits put on Germany’s armed forces by the Treaty of Versailles were too tight. The permitted forces were not enough to defend Germany from attack. Britain also thought that a strong Germany would be a good buffer against communism.

Question 26

How had Britain helped Germany with rearmament?

Answer 26

Britain had already helped to dismantle the Treaty by signing a naval agreement with Hitler in 1935, allowing Germany to increase its navy to 35% of the size of the British navy. The French were angry with Britain about this, but there was little they could do. Through the rest of the 1930’s Hitler ploughed more and more spending into armaments.

Question 27

Who ran the Saar region of Germany?

Answer 27

The Saar region of Germany had been run by the League of Nations since 1919.

Question 28

What is a plebiscite?

Answer 28

The direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.

Question 29

What had the league of nations done in relation to a plebiscite?

Answer 29

In 1935 the League of Nations held the promised plebiscite for people of the Saar to vote on whether their region should return to German rule, or stay under French rule. Hitler was initially wary as many of his opponents had fled to the Saar. The League, however, was determined that the vote should take place and Hitler bowed to this pressure. So it seemed that the League was being firm and decisive with Hitler. The vote was an overwhelming success for Hitler.

Question 30

What were the results gained from the Saar plebiscite?

Answer 30

His PROPAGANDA minister Joseph Goebbels mounted a massive campaign to persuade the people of the Saar to vote for the Reich. Around 90 per cent of the population voted to return to German rule. This was entirely legal and within the terms of the Treaty. It was also a real morale booster for Hitler. After the vote Hitler declared that he had, ‘no further territorial demands to make of France’.

Question 31

What happened in March 1936?

Answer 31

Hitler took his first really big risk by moving troops into the Rhineland area of Germany.

Question 32

What was the Rhineland?

Answer 32

It is the area of Germany that bordered France. Under the Treaty of Versailles, it was demilitarised, so no German forces were allowed there.

Question 33

Why did the Rhineland get demilitarised?

Answer 33

It was designed to protect France from invasion from Germany. It had also been accepted by Germany in the Locarno treaties of 1925.

Question 34

Why was remilitarisation such a big risk?

Answer 34

If he had been forced to withdraw, he would have faced humiliation and would have lost the support of the German army (many of the generals were unsure about him, anyway).

Question 35

Why was it a good time for Hitler to remilitarise the Rhineland?

Answer 35

• France and the USSR had just signed a Treaty to protect each other against attack from Germany. Hitler used the agreement to claim that Germany was under threat. He argued that in the face of such a threat he should be allowed to place troops on his own frontier.
• Hitler knew that many people in Britain felt that he had a right to station his troops in the Rhineland and he was fairly confident that Britain would not intervene. His gamble was over France. Would France let him get away with it?

Question 36

What happened as the troops moved into the Rhineland?

Answer 36

Hitler and his generals sweated nervously. They had orders to pull out if the French acted against them. Despite the rearmament programme, Germany’s army was no match for the French army. It lacked essential equipment and air support. In the end, however, Hitlers luck held.

Question 37

Where was the League of Nations during all of this?

Answer 37

The attention of the League of Nations was on the Abyssinian crisis which was happening at the exact same time. The league condemned Hitler’s action but had no power to do anything else. Even the French, who were most directly threatened by the move, were divided over what to do. They were about to hold an election and none of the French leaders were prepared to take responsibility for plunging France into a war. Of course, they did not know how weak the German army was. In the end, France refused to act without British support and so Hitler’s big gamble paid off. Maybe next time he would risk more!

Question 38

What happened in 1936?

Answer 38

In 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain between supporters of the Republican government and right wing rebels under general Franco. The war quickly gained an international dimension.

Question 39

What was the USSR’s participation in the Spanish civil war?

Answer 39

STALIN’S USSR supported the Republican Government (in the form of weapons, aircraft and pilots). Thousands of volunteers from around 50 countries joined International Brigades to support the Republicans.

Question 40

What were Hitlers and Mussolinis opinions on General Franco?

Answer 40

At the same time, Hitler and Mussolini declared their support for General Franco. He seemed to be a man who
shared their world view.

Question 41

What were Britain and France’s participation in the Spanish civil war?

Answer 41

Britain and France refused to intervene directly, although France did provide some weapons for the Republicans.

Question 42

What were Germany and Italy’s participation like in the Spanish civil war?

Answer 42

Germany and Italy also agreed not to intervene but then blatantly did so. Mussolini sent thousands of Italian troops (officially they were ‘volunteers’). Germany sent aircraft and pilots who took part in most of the major campaigns of the war including bombing raids on civilian populations.

Question 43

How did the Spanish civil war have important consequences for peace?

Answer 43

The conflict had important consequences for peace.
It strengthened the bonds between Mussolini and Hitler. It encouraged Hitler to believe that Britain and France would not intervene against him if he took further actions against the Treaty of Versailles.
Although Britain did not intervene, Hitler’s actins alarmed Chamberlain and he ordered massive increases in spending on Britain’s armed forces, especially the Royal Air Force. At the same time, the USSR became increasingly suspicious of Britain and France because of their reluctance to get involved in opposing fascism.

Question 44

What did some nationalist commanders in Japan want to happen in Japan?

Answer 44

They also had the support of business leaders in Japan.
“They wanted to extend Japan’s empire across Asia so it could compete with other world powers, particularly the USA. In 1937 the Japanese took their next big step with the invasion of China. Some historians regard this as the first campaign of the Second World War.

Question 45

What did Hitler and Mussolini notice about Japan?

Answer 45

Hitler and Mussolini saw that they had a much in common with the military dictatorship in Japan.

Question 46

Because of this, what happened between Germany and Japan?

Answer 46

In 1936, they signed an anti-Comintern pact.
In 1937, Italy also signed it.

Question 47

What was the Anti-Comintern pact?

Answer 47

It was an alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan in 1936 to combat the spread of communism.

Question 48

What was the alliance called between Italy, Germany and Japan?

Answer 48

The Axis alliance.

Question 49

Why did the Axis alliance worry Britain?

Answer 49

Because Britain did not have the resources to fight Japan in the Far East and Germany in Europe.

Question 50

What did Hitler believe about Austria?

Answer 50

That the two states belonged together as one German nation.

Question 51

Did Austrians like the idea of re-unification with Germany?

Answer 51

Many in Austria supported the idea of union with Germany.

Question 52

Why did Hitler think that Anschluss with Austria would prove to be successful as opposed to his other tries?

Answer 52

Hitler had tried to take over Austria in 1934, but on that occasion Mussolini had stopped him. But in 1938 the situation was different. Hitler and Mussolini were now allies.

Question 53

What did Hitler encourage the Nazi party to do in Austria?

Answer 53

Hitler encouraged them to stir up trouble for the Government and hold demonstrations demanding union with Germany.

Question 54

Following these events, what did Hitler tell the Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg?

Answer 54

That only Anschluss could sort out these problems.

Question 55

Instead what did Schuschnigg do?

Answer 55

He appealed to Britain and France but it failed to provide any support so Schuschnigg felt he had no option but to call a plebiscite to see what the Austrian people wanted.

Question 56

What did Hitler think about the plebiscite?

Answer 56

Hitler was not prepared to risk this - he might lose. He simply sent his troops into Austria in March 1938, supposedly to guarantee a trouble-free plebiscite.

Question 57

Due to Hitlers troops watching, what was the outcome of the plebiscite?

Answer 57

Under the watchful eye of the Nazi troops, 99.75% voted for Anschluss.

Question 58

What did the other countries think of Anschluss?

Answer 58

Anschluss was completed without any military confrontation with France and Britain. Chamberlain (UK) felt that Austrians and Germans had a right to be united and that the Treaty of Versailles was wrong to separate them.

Question 59

Now with Anschluss, what did Hitler gain?

Answer 59

• Austrias soldiers.
• Weapons.
• Rich deposits of gold and iron.
  These were added to Germanys increasingly strong army and industry.

Question 60

What was Anschluss another example of?

Answer 60

Hitler was breaking yet another condition of the Treaty of Versailles, but it seemed clear to him that Britain and France were not prepared to go to war to defend it. However Britain and France were not naive either.

Question 61

What is an example of how Britain reacted to Anschluss showing how they weren’t naive?

Answer 61

Chamberlain increased Britain’s rearmament spending further still and made plans for compulsory military service and the preparation of air-raid defences.

Question 62

What is appeasement?

Answer 62

Policy of Britain ad France in the 1930’s allowing Hitler to break the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 63

Who was the biggest connoisseur of appeasement?

Answer 63

Neville Chamberlain (Britain).

Question 64

What are some arguments for the policy of appeasement?

Answer 64

• Many people believed that Germany had been treated too harshly under the Treaty of Versailles.
• Some people saw communism as the biggest threat to European stability. They thought that Germany could act as a buffer, especially as Hitler was very anti-Communist.
• Britain was not ready for war. Rearmament only started slowly in 1936, and the British forces were no match for the Germans in 1938.
• British was preoccupied with the problems caused by the Depression, especially high unemployment, and wanted to stay out of unnecessary foreign involvement.
• Many people remembered the horrors of the First World War and wanted to avoid another war at all costs.

Question 65

What are some arguments against the policy of appeasement?

Answer 65

• Chamberlain misjudged Hitler. He believed Hitler was a normal leader who would listen to reason. He didn’t realise, until it was too late, that appeasement simply encouraged Hitler to believe that he could do anything.
• The events of the Spanish Civil war showed how powerful Germany was.
• The biggest argument against appeasement is that it did not stop war.
• It gave Hitler the advantage. He grew stronger and stronger. When war came it was against a strong Germany. It was fought in Poland, a country too far away for Britain to help.
• Britain and France allowed Hitler to break international agreements, especially the Treaty of Versailles. The Covenant of the League of Nations had been signed by all its members. They were also prepared to give away parts of other countries, especially Czechoslovakia, to keep the peace.
• The appeasers missed excellent opportunities to stop Hitler, especially over the reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936.

Question 66

What happened after Anschluss?

Answer 66

Hitler was beginning to deal that he could not put a foot wrong. But his growing confidence was putting the peace of Europe in increasing danger.

Question 67

What were some of Czechoslovakias fears?

Answer 67

Unlike the leaders of Britain and France, Edvard Beneš, the leader of Czechoslovakia, was horrified by the Anschluss. He realised that Czechoslovakia would be the next country on Hitler’s list for take-over. It seemed that Britain and France were not prepared to stand up to Hitler. Benes sought guarantees from the British and French that they would honour their commitment to defend Czechoslovakia if Hitler invaced.
The French were bound by a treaty and reluctantly said they would. The British felt bound to support the French. However, Chamberlain asked Hitler whether he had designs on Czechoslovakia and was reassured by Hitler’s promise.

Question 68

What were some of Hitlers threats to Czechoslovakia?

Answer 68

Despite what he said to Chamberlain, Hitler did have designs on Czechoslovakia. This new state, created by the Treaty of Versailles, include a large number of Germans - former subjects of Austria-Hungary’s empire
- in the Sudetenland area. Konrad Henlein, the leader of the Nazis in the Sudetenland, demanded that the area should be part of Germany. In May 1938, Hitler made it clear that he intended to fight Czechoslovakia if necessary. Historians disagree as to whether Hitler really meant what he said. There is considerable evidence that the German army was not at all ready for war. Even so, the news put Europe on full war alert.

Question 69

How did Czechoslovakia prepare for war?

Answer 69

Unlike Austria, Czechoslovakia would be no walk-over for Hitler. Britain, France and the US had all promised to support Czechoslovakia if it came to war. The Czechs themselves had a modern army. The Czechoslovak leader, Beneš, was prepared to fight. He knew that without the Sudetenland and its forts, railways and industries, Czechoslovakia would be defenceless.

Question 70

What was the invasion of Czechoslovakia anticipated to be like?

Answer 70

All through the summer tension rose in Europe. If there was a war, people expected that it would bring heavy bombing of civilians as had happened in the Spanish Civil War, and in cities around Britain, councils began digging air raid shelters. Magazines carried advertisements for air-raid protection and gas masks.

Question 71

What happened on the 15th September 1938?

Answer 71

Chamberlain flew to meet Hitler on 15th September.

Question 72

What happened on the 19th September 1938?

Answer 72

On 19 September the French and the British put to the Czechs their plans to give Hitler the parts of the Sudetenland that he wanted. However, three days later at a second meeting, Hitler increased his demands. He said he ‘regretted’ that the previously arranged terms were not enough. He wanted all the Sudetenland.

Question 73

What were the consequences of the Munich agreement?

Answer 73

• Hitler had gambled that the British would not risk war. The prize of the Sudetenland had been given to him without a shot being fired. On 1 October German troops marched into the Sudetenland. At the same time, Hungary and Poland helped themselves to Czech territory where Hungarians and Poles were living.
• The Czechs had been betrayed. Beneš resigned and the country descended into chaos. But the rest of Europe breathed a sigh of relief. Chemberlain received a hero’s welcome back in Britain, when he returned with the ‘piece of paper’ - the Agreement - signed by Hitler.

Question 74

What were the British opinions on the Munich agreement?

Answer 74

• Most people in Britain were relieved that it had averted war, but many were soon openly questioning the whole policy of appeasement.
• Opinion polls in September 1938 show that the British people did not think Appeasement would stop Hitler, It simply delayed a war, rather than preventing it. And while he hoped for peace Chamberlain continued to increase arms spending in preparation for war.

Question 75

What happened although British people welcomed the Munich agreement?

Answer 75

• They did not trust Hitler.
• In an opinion poll in October 1938, 93% said they did not believe him when he said he had no more territorial ambitions in Europe. On March 15th 1939.

Question 76

What happened on March 15 1939?

Answer 76

German troops took over the rest of the country.

Question 77

What happened as Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 77

• There was no resistance from the Czechs.
• Nor did Britain and France do anything about the situation. However, it was now clear that Hitler could not be trusted.
• For Chamberlain, it was a step too far. Unlike the Sudeten Germans, the Czechs were not separated from their homeland by the Treaty of Versailles. This was an invasion. If Hitler continued unchecked, his next target was likely to be Poland.

Question 78

What did Britain and France tell Hitler following his invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 78

Britain and France told Hitler that if he invaded Poland they would declare war on Germany. The policy of appeasement was ended. However, after years of Appeasement, Hitler did not actually believe that Britain and France would risk war by resisting him.

Question 79

What was Hitlers next target?

Answer 79

It was the strip of former German land in Poland known as the Polish corridor.

Question 80

What had Stalins fears been?

Answer 80

He was worried about German threat to the Soviet Union ever since Hitler came to power in 1933.

Question 81

How was it evident that Stalins’ fears and suspicions grew in the mid-1930’s?

Answer 81

• He signed a Treaty with France in 1935 that said that France would help the USSr if Germany invaded the Soviet union. But Stalin was not sure he could trust the French to stick to it, particularly when they failed even to stop Hitler moving his troops into the Rhineland, which was right on their own border.
• The Munich agreement in 1938 increased Stalin’s concerns. He was not consulted about it. Stalin concluded from the agreement that France and Britain were powerless to stop Hitler or, even worse, that they were happy for Hitler to take over Europe and then the USSR.

Question 82

What were Stalins negotations in relation to Britain and France?

Answer 82

Despite his misgivings, Stalin was still prepared to talk with Britain and France about an alliance against Hitler. The three countries met in March 1939, but Chamberlain was suspicious of the USSR and was reluctant to commit Britain. From Stalin’s point of view, France and Britain then made things worse by giving Poland a guarantee that they would defend it if it was invaded. Chamberlain meant the guarantee as a warning to Hitler. Stalin saw it as support for one of the USSR’s potential enemies.

Question 83

What happened on top of the negotiations with Britain, France and the USSR?

Answer 83

Negotiations between Britain, France and the USSR continued through the spring and summer of 1939.
However, Stalin also received visits from the Nazi foreign minister Ribbentrop. They discussed a very different deal, a Nazi-Soviet pact.

Question 84

What happened on 23 August 1939?

Answer 84

Hitler and Stalin, the two arch enemies, signed the Nazi-Soviet union pact and announces the terms to the world. They agreed not to attack one another. Privately, they also agreed to divide Poland between them.

Question 85

What did Hitler gain from the Nazi-Soviet pact?

Answer 85

It was clear what Hitler gained from the Pact. He regarded it as his greatest achievement. It gave him half of Poland and ensured he would not face a war on two fronts if he invaded Poland. He had promised the Russians they could have the rest of Poland as well as the Baltic states, but he never intended to allow Stalin to keep these territories.

Question 86

What did Stalin gain from the Nazi-Soviet pact?

Answer 86

It is also clear what Stalin gained from it. It gave him some territory that had once been part of Russia, but that was not the main point. The real benefit was time! Stalin did not expect Hitler to keep his word. He knew he was Hitler’s number one target. But he did not trust Britain and France either. He did not think they were strong enough or reliable enough as allies against Hitler. He expected to have to fight Hitler alone at some point. So what he most needed was time to build up his forces to protect the USSR from the attack he knew would come.

Question 87

What were the consequences of the Nazi-Soviet pact?

Answer 87

The Pact cleared the way for Hitler to invade Poland. On 1 September 1939 the Germany army invaded Poland from the west, where they met little resistance. Britain and France demanded he withdraw from Poland or they would declare war. After the experience of the past three years Hitler was certain Britain and France would not actually do anything about this. If he was planning ahead at all, then in his mind the next move would surely be an attack against his temporary ally, the USSR. However, Hitler was in for a surprise. Britain and France kept their pledge. On 3 September they declared war on Germany.

Question 88

What happened on the 3rd September 1939 that surprised Hitler?

Answer 88

Hitler was in for a surprise, Britain and France kept their pledge. On the 3rd September they declared war on Germany.

Question 89

Was Appeasement justified?

Answer 89

Yet when Hitler broke his promises and the policy did not stop war, the supporters of Appeasement quickly turned against the policy, some claiming that they had been opposed all along. Appeasers were portrayed as naive, foolish or weak - Source 33 is one of hundreds of examples which parody the policy and the people who pursued it. Historians since then and popular opinion too have judged Chamberlain very harshly. Chamberlain’s ‘peace for our time’ speech is presented as self-deception and a betrayal. Chamberlain and his Cabinet are seen as ‘second-rate politicians’ who were out of their depth as events unfolded before them. On the other hand, the opponents of Appeasement such as Winston Churchill are portrayed as realists Who were far-sighted and brave.