Part 3 - The Road to War Flashcards
What were Hitler’s aims?
- Overturn the TofV
- Rearm Germany
- Lebensraum = living space to the east
- Volksdeutsche = unite all German-speaking people
- Anschluss
- Destroy Communism
What was Hitler’s book called?
Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
Why did Hitler reoccupy the Rhineland?
If he was going to invade the East Hitler needed to ensure he had a strong defence against the West.
When did Hitler renter the Rhineland?
In 1935 France and the USSR signed the Franco-Soviet pact stating that they would defend one another if the other was attacked by Hitler.
Hitler said he felt threatened and on the 7th of March 1936 he sent troops into the Rhineland.
Britain’s reaction to Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rhineland?
- Many felt Germany had a right to reclaim their own land
- Britain was dealing with the Italian invasion of Abyssinia
- Britain didn’t have the money to get involved in foreign affairs.
France’s reaction to Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rhineland?
- Politics was messy in France and no one wanted another war.
- The French army was in Africa in case intervention was needed in Abyssinia
Why was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland significant in the road to war.
- No one attempted to stop Hitler.
- Hitler went to overturn more on the TofV
- Britain and France started rearming.
- Mussolini realised that Hitler was going to be the major power in Europe so the Rome-Berlin Axis was signed.
- Hitler could focus on Lebensraum
Step 1 of Anschluss?
In 1934 Dolfuss was replaced with Schuschnigg, after seeing how Dolfuss had been killed after banning the Nazi party Schuschnigg was quick to agree to a deal with the Nazis where they would support him and he would give Nazis positions of power in government.
Step 2 of Anschluss
In January 1938 police raided the Nazi headquarters in Austria and found plans to overthrow Schuschnigg
Step 3 of Anschluss?
Schuschnigg met with Hitler after the documents were found Hitler presented Schuschnigg with the following terms:
- Seyss-Inquart was to be appointed head of the police in Austria
- Nazis were to take the roles of ministers for finance and war.
Hitler gave Schuschnigg three day to complete the terms otherwise he would invade.
Step 4 of Anschluss?
Schuschnigg knew that Hitler would claim that the Austrian people wanted Anschluss so he held a plebiscite to give the Austrian people a vote.
Step 5 of Anchluss
Hitler demanded the plebiscite be postponed, Schuschnigg agreed. Hitler then forced Schuschnigg to resign and replace him with Seyss-Inquart.
Step 6 of Anschluss
When Seyss-Inquart was appointed Chancellor of Austria he immediately claimed that Austria was in a state of emergency and Germany needed to restore peace.
Step 7 of Anschluss
On March the 12th 1938 Nazi troops marched into Austria. On the 10th of April Hitler held a very bias plebiscite and 99% of Austrians voted for Anschluss.
How did Britain react to Anschluss?
Many felt that Germany and Austria were essentially the same country and should be allowed to unite.
Most didn’t feel it was worth going to war over.
How did France react to Anschluss?
France had its own political problems two days before Anschluss the French government resigned because of the economic issues.
How did Czechoslovakia react to Anschluss?
With fear. They knew that they were next on the hit list. They looked to Britain and France for support.
Why did Hitler target the Sudeten?
- Czechoslovakia had been set up under the TofV which Hitler wanted to overturn.
- The Sudeten was home to about 3 million German-speaking people, German-speaking Czechs said they had been persecuted by the Czechs Hitler used this as an excuse.
- The Sudetenland was a good place to launch an attack on Czechoslovakia.
What was agreed at the Munich Agreement
Britain and France agreed to all of Hitler’s demands
What did Hitler demand in the Sudeten crisis?
- The Czech army must leave must leave the Sudetenland.
-Hungary and Poland should get part of Czechoslovakia
How did other countries react to Hitler’s demands?
The French and British prime ministers were eager to prevent war so therefore gave in to Hitler’s demands.
The USSR was annoyed that Britain and France hadn’t included them in discussions.
Why was the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia significant?
- This was the first time Hitler invaded a country where he had no claim
- Czechoslovakia was a strong country invading meant Hitler had resources for war.
- He broke any promises he had made to Chamberlain and Daladier showing appeasement didn’t work.
Arguments for appeasement by Chamberlain?
- Many people felt the TofV had been too harsh
- No one wanted to have another world war.
- Hitler said he was a man of peace.
- The Great Depression meant Britain didn’t have the money to fight a war.
- The threat of communism meant Britain was glad that Germany was strong.
- The USA signed a neutrality acts meaning that Britain would not have the resources.
Arguments against appeasement by Chamberlain?
- People missed opportunities to stop Hitler
- The more Hitler got the more he took and wanted
- Appeasement was morally wrong it left smaller countries occupied at the expense of powerful countries.
- The relationship with the USSR was strained by appeasement
