Master Planner vs Opportunist Flashcards
Withdrawal from Disarmament Conference MP
withdrawal - German forces not allowed to be equal to France
Could paint Germany as victim
Didn’t want to limit size of armed forces - planned for war in future
Withdrawal from Disarmament Conference Opp
Hitler refused to negotiate in limits on German army
Non-aggression pact w/ Poland MP
Disguises what he’s doing - needs time to rearm
Says he’ll be peaceful to reassure Allies
Non-aggression pact w/ Poland Opp
Didn’t correspond w/ rearmament conference - signs something he won’t fulfil
Improvising as he goes - invades Poland in 39
Assassination of Dolfuss MP
Refused to give public support towards Austrian Nazis - kept his ideas clear
Assassination of Dolfuss Opp
Hitler not prepared to support actions of the Fascists
Plebiscite in the Saar MP
Hitler still had aim of reversing ToV - reclaiming lost territory
Stuck to his aim despite the hiccup
Plebiscite in the Saar Opp
Large propaganda campaign to convince voters
more than 90% wanted to re-join Germany
Announcement of the existence of the Luftwaffe MP
Hitler keen to announce its existence
Anglo-German naval agreement MP
Hitler always wanted increased relations w/ Britain
Anglo-German naval agreement Opp
Exploit another chance as he did with Luftwaffe
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland MP
Hitler ordered it
ToV reversal - especially this part
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland Opp
Didn’t coincide with when they were ready for war
Generals given instructions to retreat if resistance
‘Most nerve-wracking 48 hours of my life’ - Hitler
Hossbach Memorandum MP
Lebensraum outlined
Aims of Anschluss
Hitler expected and was preparing for war
blueprint for expansionist war
Hossbach Memorandum Opp
Impossible for Germany to be self-sufficient
No mention of war w/ Russia
Inconsistencies such as Dates
Anschluss w/ Austria MP
Revisited his plan after failed attempt in 1934
Great ambition for this union
Anschluss w/ Austria Opp
Austrian chancellor holds plebiscite
Schuschnigg pressured to accept Nazi influence, not full annexation by Hitler
Goering does most for Hitler - Hitler cautious
Annexation of the Sudetenland MP
Always wanted the return of Sudetenland to Germany
Annexation of Sudetenland Opp
Emboldened by lack of previous allied intervention
Invasion of Czechoslovakia MP
Always planned it
Broke Munich agreement - always planned to do so
Invasion of Czechoslovakia Opp
Constant expansion was v risky
Germany still unprepared for war - shows lack of plan - should’ve timed it for when they were
Invasion of Poland MP
Successfully rearmed Germany etc.
German military might no longer miniscule compared to allies
Non-aggression pact w/ USSR showed Hitler planned for the invasion
Invasion of Poland Opp
Going to war when they were unprepared was a massive gamble
Hitler advised to delay
Emboldened by lack of Allied intervention
