Part 4: the origins and outbreak of WW2 Flashcards
What were Hitler’s main aims outlined in Mein Kampf?
- Aryan Superiority: Belief in the racial superiority of Germans, opposing intermarriage with Jews.
- Lebensraum: Expansion into Eastern Europe for living space and to destroy communism.
- Revising the Treaty of Versailles: Rearming Germany, regaining lost territory, and restoring military power.
- Grossdeutschland: Uniting all German speakers, including Anschluss with Austria.
What were the three key aims of Hitler’s foreign policy?
- Abolish the Treaty of Versailles: Reverse territorial losses, rearm Germany, and restore military power.
- Lebensraum (Living Space): Expand eastwards into Poland and the USSR to secure land and resources for Germans.
- Unite all German-speaking people: Achieve Grossdeutschland by annexing Austria and German-speaking regions like the Sudetenland.
How did Hitler systematically break the Treaty of Versailles?
1933: Left the League of Nations and began secret rearmament.
1935: Publicly announced rearmament and introduced conscription.
1936: Remilitarised the Rhineland.
1938: Achieved Anschluss with Austria.
1939: Annexed Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland.
How did Britain and France initially react to Hitler’s rise in 1933?
- Britain: Focused on recovering from the Great Depression, not concerned about Hitler initially.
- France: Feared German aggression but hesitated to act, prioritising appeasement due to WWI losses.
How did the USSR respond to Hitler’s rise?
- Identified Nazism as a threat from 1933, warning about Hitler’s anti-communism.
- Warnings were dismissed by Britain and France as exaggerated.
What were the major steps taken by Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles?
- 1933: Left the League of Nations after the World Disarmament Conference failed.
- 1935: Reintroduced conscription and publicly expanded the military.
- 1936: Remilitarised the Rhineland, violating the treaty’s terms.
- 1938: Achieved Anschluss with Austria.
- 1939: Fully annexed Czechoslovakia, surpassing Versailles restrictions.
Why did Britain and France allow Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles?
- Belief that the treaty was too harsh.
- Desire to avoid another war, leading to appeasement.
- Focus on their own economic recovery during the Great Depression.
What were the causes of Anschluss?
- Hitler’s desire for a Grossdeutschland.
Economic instability in Austria made union with Germany appealing. - Austrian Nazi Party agitated for unification.
How did Anschluss happen?
- Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg was pressured to hold a plebiscite in March 1938.
- Hitler sent troops into Austria under the pretext of restoring order.
- The plebiscite was held under Nazi intimidation, with 99% voting for union.
What geographic advantages did Austria’s annexation offer Germany?
- Austria bordered Germany, facilitating easy troop movement.
- The union added Austria’s army, gold reserves, and resources to Germany’s strength.
- It gave Hitler a strategic position for further expansion into Eastern Europe.
What were the consequences of Anschluss?
- Hitler gained Austria’s resources and military.
- Increased confidence to pursue further aggression (e.g., Sudetenland).
- Britain and France did not intervene, emboldening Hitler.
What was the Sudeten Crisis?
- Hitler demanded the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, citing mistreatment of 3.5 million Germans.
- The region was rich in resources and had key fortifications.
Why was the Sudetenland significant to Germany’s foreign policy?
- It was rich in resources like coal and had key fortifications.
- 3.5 million German speakers resided there, aligning with Hitler’s aim of uniting German-speaking people.
- Annexation weakened Czechoslovakia, paving the way for full occupation.
What was the result of the Munich Agreement on the Sudetenland?
- Hitler gained the Sudetenland without military conflict.
- Britain and France appeased Hitler, believing his demands were satisfied.
What were the key outcomes of the Munich Agreement?
- Czechoslovakia was forced to cede the Sudetenland to Germany without consultation.
- Neville Chamberlain famously declared “peace for our time,” believing Hitler’s demands were satisfied.
- In March 1939, Hitler broke the agreement, invading the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Why did Hitler and Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- Hitler’s Goals: Avoid a two-front war, gain Soviet neutrality for invading Poland.
- Stalin’s Goals: Secure time to rearm, gain territory (Baltic states, parts of Poland).
What were the terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- A non-aggression pact for 10 years.
- Secret protocol dividing Poland and Eastern Europe between Germany and the USSR.
What does the cartoon of Hitler and Stalin shaking hands symbolise about the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- The pact was a marriage of convenience, with both sides secretly plotting against each other.
- It shows mutual distrust but a shared interest in dividing Poland.
What did the secret protocol of the Nazi-Soviet Pact involve?
- Germany and the USSR agreed to divide Poland.
- Stalin gained territory in the Baltics, while Hitler secured Soviet neutrality for his invasion.
How did the pact lead to WWII?
- Allowed Germany to invade Poland on 1st September 1939 without Soviet interference.
- Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3rd September 1939, ending appeasement.
What were the arguments for appeasement?
- Avoiding another devastating war like WWI.
Gave Britain and France time to rearm. - Belief that Hitler’s demands were reasonable (e.g., reversing Versailles injustices).
What were the arguments against appeasement?
- Emboldened Hitler to take greater risks (e.g., Czechoslovakia, Poland).
- Undermined trust between Britain, France, and the USSR.
- Failed to account for Hitler’s long-term expansionist goals outlined in Mein Kampf.
What was Neville Chamberlain’s famous statement after the Munich Agreement?
“We have achieved peace for our time.”
Why did Neville Chamberlain’s statement “We have achieved peace for our time.” become infamous?
It symbolised Britain’s misplaced trust in Hitler, who broke the Munich Agreement by invading Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany?
- Hitler’s invasion of Poland demonstrated the failure of appeasement.
- Britain and France had guaranteed Poland’s borders in March 1939.
Why was Hitler surprised by Britain’s declaration of war?
- Assumed Britain and France would not act, as they had not defended Czechoslovakia.
- Believed Britain was unprepared for war and would prioritise avoiding conflict.
How did Hitler’s expansion reshape Europe’s map by 1939?
- Germany annexed Austria (1938) and the Sudetenland (1938).
- Hitler dismantled Czechoslovakia (1939).
- Poland was divided between Germany and the USSR after the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939).
What was the significance of Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September 1939?
- Marked the end of appeasement, as Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3rd September 1939.
- Demonstrated Hitler’s disregard for diplomacy, as he used a false flag operation (the Gleiwitz Incident) to justify the invasion.
How did Hitler strengthen Germany’s economy in the 1930s?
- Rearmament: Created jobs in weapons production and infrastructure.
- Public works programmes: Built motorways (autobahns) and restored national pride.
- Autarky policies: Reduced reliance on imports by increasing domestic production.
