Lead Up To WWII Flashcards
What were Hitler’s aims re: foreign policy?
- Abolish ToV:hated those who signed it, reminder of WWI loss. Though reps stopped, most other points in place still. Esp didn’t like tiny army Rhineland demilitarised, no Anschluss and G living in Sudetenland and Poland
- Expand territory:Get back land taken away in ToV, unite w Austria, get land in E.Europe- Lebensraum.
- Defeat communism:thought they were cause of WWI loss, wanted their land for G. Complete opp to nazis fascists
What are the different views of who is responsible for WWI?
Hitler: Planned step by step, knew what he was doing. This view accepted until 1960s.
Allies/LoN: Hitler illogical and just did stuff to see what he could get away with. Allies and LoN tried to appease him, but this lead to Hitler doing more.
Both views accepted now.
What did Hitler do in rearmament and how did he get away with it?
- increased armed forces by drafting in unemployed, started conscription.
- at first was secret, but went public ‘35, had army rally. Said he did it only because other countries weren’t disarming.
- He guessed he’d get away with it as Britain though ToV too tight, and strong Germany would be good against communism. G+B signed agreement-> G’s army 35% B’s army
What happened in the Saar?
Saar used to be run in 1919. Had plebiscite 1935 on whether to return to Germany. Entirely legal.
90% voted for Germany. Boosted morale for Hitler
What happened in the remilitarisation of the Rhineland and how did he get away this it?
7 march 1936. Hitler moved troops into Rhineland, which had been ordered demilitarised by ToV.
F+USSR signed agreement, Hitler used this to say he was under threat. However, troops had order to withdraw if F got involved, as they no match for F army. Abyssinian crisis happening, LoN diverted. Hitler knew B though they had right to put troops there.
Why was the Spanish civil war significant?
It created a new fascists state, which boosted power of Hitler and Mussolini, hoeing what they can accomplish together as a warning. It allowed Germany to test new weapons, e.g. Blitzkrieg and showed their power this is useful against future memoir, e.g. P, R. Finally, it showed that B&F wouldn’t stand up to G, even on own doorstep didn’t supply to LW gov
Why was the Anti-Comintern Pact significant?
Alliance Japan -Germany, formed to stop communism. 1936
B&F could understand why they didn’t like communism, and also didn’t want to get involved in war, due to threat to empire, so did nothing.
Why did Hitler want the Anschluss?
They shared a language and cultural links. Austria v wealthy and G could get all their soldiers+weapons. Austria already had a popular Nazi party.
What happened in the Anschluss and how did Hitler get away with it?
1934- Nazi revolt in A had failed after M moved troops to border to scare off H. Spring 1938 H encouraged Austrian Nazis to stage demonstrations. H demanded Nazi Seyss-Inquart be minister of interior. Chancellor Schuschnigg, declined , asked for help from b and f but got none, then wanted plebiscite to show how any Austrians opposed it. Nazis rejected it ∵ worried this wouldn’t be in their favour, ∴ threaten to invade if S didn’t resign. S and all of cabinet apart from S-I resigned, who invited in Nazis to ‘restore order’
Britain felt Germany had right to be with a, and f didn’t want to go wo Britain
Why did Britain want appeasement?
- We must not repeat horrors of WWI
- Worried not all empire would support war
- USA won’t support us if go to war
- Britain’s forces not ready for war
- B&F still suffering from depression, their economic problems higher priority
- Hitler right; ToV unfair. G will be peaceful after wrongs put right(F disagreed, but wouldn’t move wo B)
- More worried about USSR, at least Hitler’s standing up to them, good buffer
Why was appeasement bad?
- Encouraged Hitler to be aggressive; took bigger risks due to lack of opposition
- Put too much trust in Hitler’s promises
- Allowed Germany to get too strong; As well as recovering lost ground, now more powerful than B or G
- Scared USSR; told them that B&F wouldn’t stand in way of Hitler’s designs, so they became more militaristic, and less likely to agree to pacts.
- Nazi-Soviet Pact guaranteed no R defence of P ∴ green lighted invasion to Hitler
What happened in the Sudetenland and why did Hitler think he could get away with it?
Hitler said he’d not harm SDTL, but wanted it. German Sudetenland party demanded union and launched riots. H claimed the Czs were discriminating against Gs. He was ready to go to war and Benes was going to fight, but persuaded by Chamb not to to keep world peace. Sept 38, H asked for parts, B&F agreed, after first refusing, as not a great issue which would lead to war. H then increase demands, B,F+I agreed(Munich agreement) to give S to Germany wo Czechs. Chamb victorious. Oct 38, Germany marched in wo force. Hungary+Poland also took bits.
SDTL had many Germans, and Nazis there wanted be part of G. H thought B wouldn’t risk war, and they’d met his other demands. HVR, B,F+USSR agreed to help Czechs if came to war. Also, Beneš, president, had modern army + ready to fight.
What were the aims of appeasement?
- Buy time to build up B army
- Make Hitler satisfied,so he won’t take more
- Avoid war!
What happened in the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia?
After Sudetenland Cz descended into anarchy with Slovakia wanting independence. ∴ H persuaded Cz pres to allow g in to restore order. March 39 German troops took over rest of Czechoslovakia. No resistance from Czechs, B&F did nothing.
Unlike Sudetenland they had no justification- this was INVASION!
B&F said if he invaded P they’d declare war. Hwvr H didn’t think they’d risk war.
What were Stalin’s 1939 interactions with other countries?
He had been worried about G, and tried to make agreement w B&F, but B didn’t want to commit. Eventually send a minor official 1939, but by slow boat not plane and talks dragged on. R asked if could sent troops into P is H invaded, B refused. Talks broke off.
Stalin was also meeting w Nazis(ribbentrop), and signed Nazi-Soviet Pact 23 Aug 39. They agreed not to attack each other, and to split P between them.
