Origins of WW2

Question 1

How did Hitler breach the ToV

Answer 1

. Fulfilling election promises to tear up ToV
. Withdrew from LoN and Disarmament Conference (1933)
. Announced German re-armament incl air force (1935)
. Increase Germany’s navy (1935) allowing Germany to have as many submarines as Britain and 35% of its ships (Anglo-German Naval Agreement)

Question 2

How did Hitlers enemies react to breaches of ToV

Answer 2

. Mussolini’s objections prevented Hitler taking over Austria in 1934
. Italy, France, Britain formed Stresa front (1935) - either made token protests or endorsed Germany’s moves
. USSR - joined LoN

Question 3

Significance of breaches of ToV

Answer 3

. Hitlers early moves - relatively small and mostly non-territorial
^ powerful precedent for revision of ToV - more difficult for Britain and France to object on principle later
. Only Italy and USSR stood up to him in a meaningful way

Question 4

Can talk about Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

Question 5

What happened in the Anschluss with Austria

Answer 5

. Hitler was Austrian, wanted all Germans united. Overturn ToV - forbade Anschluss (German/Austrian union)
. In 1934 failed to orchestrate Anschluss via pro-Nazi coup, Italy forced break down
. 1938 - allied with Italy. Encouraged Austrian Nazi party to act violently for Anschluss, chancellor promised to hold referendum
^ Led to Austrian Nazi incharge of police and German occupation and annexation in March

Question 6

Powers reactions to Anschluss with Austria

Answer 6

. Italy supported Hitler
. Britain and France issued weak protests - believe Hitlers promise: actions had no implications for Czechoslovakia
^ Shouldn’t intervene - risk of increasing strength of German military

Question 7

Significance of Anschluss with Austria

Answer 7

. Hitlers first large territorial gain = easier for him to continue aggression towards borders left by ToV (geographically and politically)
. Britain and France allowed him to do it - each time they did this German army got stronger
^ principle they would allow him to revise ToV

Question 8

What was the Sudetenland
Why was it important ?

Answer 8

. Area on borders of Czechoslovakia - inhabited by ethnic Germans
. Contained much industry and strong mountain defences against Germany
. After Anschluss, surrounded by Germany, France/USSR had treaties to defend Czech in an attack

Question 9

What happened in the Sudeten issue ?

Answer 9

. Hitler used local party to stir up trouble
^ Riots in May 1938 - put down by Czechs
. Failed attempt at mediation between them by Britain - Hitler promised more support
. Chamberlain and Hitler negotiated - agreed transfer of some territory, managed to get French/Czechs to agree
^ Hitler upped his demands

Question 10

What was the Munich Conference
(Sudeten Issue)

Answer 10

. Italy proposed 4 power conference in Munich (29-30 Sep)
. Transferred Sudeten areas to Germany
^ Britain and Germany signed new peace deal

Question 11

Significance of the Sudeten Issue ?

Answer 11

. Some see Chamberlain as betrayer of small democracy - postponing war disadvantaging Britain and being fooled by Hitler
^ Excluded Czechs and Russians from conference - encouraged further aggression

. Others see it as policy that made sense at the time - Britain more time to re-arm

Question 12

What happened in invasion of Czechoslovakia ?

Answer 12

. Having taken border defences, rest of Czechoslovakia lay open
. March 1939 - Hitler invaded, claiming to have been invited in
^ Rest split up into independent state (Slovakia) and territory for Hungary

Question 13

Response of Britain and France to invasion of Czechoslovakia
(Polish guarantee)

Answer 13

. Shocked - public opinion/cabinet persuaded Chamberlain enough was enough
. March agreed joint Ango-French military guarantee of Poland - obvious next target
. End of appeasement - brought Britain and France into WW2, Germany invaded Poland in Sep 1939
^ not geographically able to defend Poland - needed nearby ally
. Failed to persuade Soviet Union (Nazi - Soviet Pact)

Question 14

Significance of Invasion of Poland

Answer 14

. Invasion of rest of Czech - Hitler departed from much - supported principle of National Self - Determination
^ took over area not full of Germans
. Goal = win living space in the East
. Britain and France saw Hitlers true colours

Question 15

What did the Nazi Soviet Pact (1939) say

Answer 15

Public pact = non-aggression treaty between Germany and USSR
Secret = division of Poland, when Germany invaded USSR soon followed for Eastern Poland

Question 16

Why did Hitler and Stalin sign Nazi Soviet Pact

Answer 16

. Suited Hitler to fight on one front, leaving Russia till later
. Stalin considered alliance with west - suspected Britain/France to bear brunt of fighting - Russia and Germany to destroy eachother
. Hitler had more to offer and USSR still angry for being left out of Munich conference

Question 17

Significance of Nazi - Soviet pact ?

Answer 17

. Pact made war inevitable - Germany could invade Poland without fear of USSR retaliating
^ Couples with Anglo-French guarantee of Poland ensured World War would begin when Hitler invaded Poland