KQ3 - The Coming Of War Flashcards
When was the the First Wold War?
1914-18
Why did people believe that WW1 would be ‘the war to end all wars’?
People could not imagine going through that horrific experience again.
Many believed the peacekeeping organisation, LoN would ensure this.
Many believe the ToV was as harsh enough to deter countries from acting aggressively again.
When did Hitler become the Führer?
1934
What party was Hitler the leader of?
NSDAP , Nationalist Socialist Germans Workers Party
When was mein Kampf written?
1924
What were the key aims in Mein Kampf?
To unite all German-speaking people under his rule.
To gain Lebensraum (living space) for the German people.
To restore Germany as a Great Power (a country with economic, political and military power)
Describe the disarmament of Germany under the ToV?
Army reduced to 100 000.
Conscription banned.
It could not have tanks.
It could not have an Air Force.
It’s navy was reduced significantly in size + couldn’t have submarines.
Describe the taking of Germany’s lands under the ToV
Land taken from Germany - given to European countries, such as France, Poland and the new Czechoslovakia -> millions of Germans were now living in these countries.
The Rhineland was demilitarised, leaving Germany unable to protect French border
Germany’s overseas empire taken away and much given to UK and France. They controlled them as ‘mandates’. Britain -> Palestine
France -> Syria.
When was Hitler appointed chancellor?
30 January 1933
When did President Hindenburg die/Hitler became Führer?
August 1934
When were Germany’s reparations completely cancelled?
1932
When did Germany leave the LoN?
1933
What was the Non-Aggression Pact? When was it signed? What was the effect?
1934
Accepted borders between Germany and Poland set by ToV
Promise to not take back the Polish Corridor
To last 10 years
Gave the impression to countries, including Britain, that Hitler was peaceful
Describe the failed Anschluss
1934
Austrian Nazi party failed at Anschluss
- forbidden by ToV
Hitler backed down when Mussolini moves troops to the Austrian border
When was the Anglo-German Naval Treaty? What was agreed? What was the effect?
June 1935
Agreement to limit Germany’s navy to 35% of Britain’s
France and Italy concerned as Germany would be expanding navy beyond limits of the ToV
When was the the return of the Saarland?
1935
What were the results of the Saarland plebiscite? What was the effect?
90% of the Saar population voted to re-join Germany
8% remain under LoN
2% re-join France.
Hitler and the part used this event to great effect as it gave the perfect propaganda opportunity to show to the support for the Nazis.
Describe the rearmament of Germany
At first it was done secretly.
In 1933, Hitler ordered generals to triple the size of the army to 300 000 +
Air Ministry to build 1000 military aircrafts.
1935, Hitler went public with what had already been done.
The army would be increased to 550 000 as conscription introduced + 2500 military aircraft
When was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland? What was it?
7 March 1936
Rhineland demilitarised under ToV
Remilitarisation broke ToV (1919) and Locarno Pact (1925)
22 000 troops + Hangul of aircraft sent
-> to withdraw troops if the French came
How did Hitler justify the re-militarisation of the Rhineland?
1935, France-Soviet Pact
- argued that Germany was encircled
- no re-militarisation = no protection at French border
What was the international reaction to the Re-militarisation of the Rhineland?
Britain & France condemn it but no action to reverse it
Describe the successful Anschluss
Hitler encourages Austrian Nazis to demand union
12 March 1938 - Hitler’s enters troops to ‘restore peace’
Opponents sent to camps - 80 000
April 1938 - plebiscite shows 99.75% approval for union
UK & France protest but do nothing
Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland?
3 million German-Peaking People Sudetenland as it was given from ToV
- rich in raw materials & heavily fortified area
How did Hitler take the Sudetenland?
Hitler encourages Henlein, Sudetenland Nazi Party Leader, to call for independence
15 September 1938 - Chamberlain meets Hitler at Berchtesgaden -> gets Edvard Beneš, Czechoslovakian leader to agree, with support of France
However, Hitler demands more
30 September - Munich agreement
Between 4 Powers - Germany, Britain, France & Italy - Czech not invited.
Content:
- Sudetenland given to Germany
- UK+ France guarantee Czech independence
- Czech on their own if they fight against this
- Hitler + Chamberlain sign declaration of peace
Describe the Takeover of Czechoslovakia
March 1939 - Hitler marches into Czechoslovakia
Broke the Munich agreement signed 6 months prior
Showed failure of appeasement
UK & France realise Hitler can’t be trusted
- guarantee Poland + Hungary
Describe Poland and The Nazi-Soviet Pact. How did this lead to the outbreak of war?
Hitler demanded Polish Corridor - taken by the ToV
- encourages Germans in area & Danzig to demand union
Aug 1939 - Nazi-Soviet Pact shocks world as they are enemies
- agree to not I refer with each other in war
- Poland to be divided with USSR regaining lands lost in WW1
1 Sep 1939, Germany enters Poland
- Britain gives Germany ultimatum but Hitler ignores
3 Sep 1939 - UK declares war
