Part Three: Outbreak of WW2 Flashcards
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding the Treaty of Versailles?
He wanted to overturn the Treaty of Versailles because he thought it humiliated Germany
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding rearmament?
He wanted to rearm to make Germany stronger and create jobs in factories and the armed forces
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding living space?
Take Lebensraum (living space in the East). Hitler wanted to make sure that Germans all had enough land to farm and live.
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding German blood?
Unite Volksdeusche and create a Greater Germany. 10% of the German population lived outside Germany and were treated badly
What is Volksdeusche?
People with German blood but without German citizenship
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding Anschluss?
Unite Austria and Germany again in Anschluss.
What was one of Hitlers policies regarding Communism?
Abolish communism. The founder of Communism was Jewish, and Hitler hated Jews
Why would Lebensraum lead to war?
If Hitler wanted land in the East, he would have to invade countries, which would be considered an act of war.
Why would rearmament of Germany lead to war?
The ToV placed specific restrictions on Germany’s military, so to rearm would be breaking the Treaty. Other countries may also be suspicious of Germany’s large army
Why would Volksdeusche lead to war?
To build a greater Germany, Hitler needed to reclaim land lost from the Treaty.
Why would destroying Communism lead to war?
The USSR was developing its strong army and relations with Britain and France. Hitler was provoking a powerful nation who was bound to fight back.
Who was Neville Chamberlain?
Britian’s Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940
Which country did Hitler sign a non aggression pact with in 1934
Poland
Why were some British people turning a blind eye to Hitlers policies?
Their fear of war was so strong that they would do anything to provoke another one. And many felt the treaty was too harsh so Germany could reclaim what was theirs.
Why were some British politicians sure that Hitler did not want war?
Hitler signed a non aggression pact with Poland
Which person was ‘appeasement’ linked with?
Neville Chamberlain
How did Neville Chamberlain use appeasement?
He gave Hitler a little of what he wanted to avoid a full war
What was the Stresa Front?
An alliance between Britain, France and Italy to unite against Hitler.
Which year was the Stresa Front signed
1935
Who was Daladier?
President of France for most of the 1930’s
How did France react to Hitlers policies?
Many people were rebelling against the French government, so the gov didn’t have time to focus on Hitler
Who was Joseph Stalin?
Communist leader of the USSR
How did Stalin react to Hitlers policies?
He was concerned as one of his main policies was to eradicate Communism, but was still wary of Britain, France and the USA
Who was Franklin Roosevelt (FDR)
Became President of the USA in 1932
Why didn’t FDR interfere with Hitlers policies?
After the Depression, 25% of Americans were unemployed, so the gov wanted to focus on creating jobs
Who was Englebert Dolfuss?
Austrian Chancellor from 1932
What was Austrian politics like in the 1930’s?
Austria was a dictatorship
What year was the Dolfuss affair?
1934
What was the Dolfuss affair?
Hitler wanted an Anschluss again, but Dolfuss wanted his dictatorship, so banned Nazism in Austria. So, Hitler told Austrian Nazis to wreak havoc in Austria and they killed Dolfuss
When was the Freedom to Rearm Rally?
1935
What was the Freedom to Rearm Rally?
Hitler showed off new weapons and troops which he had been keeping secret
What was the Luftwaffe?
Air force
What is the significance of the freedom to rearm rally?
Hitler could break terms of the Treaty and other countries would not stop him
Was Hitler bothered by the Stresa Front (1935)
No
When did Hitler march into the Rhineland?
7th March 1936
How many soldiers marched into the Rhineland?
22,000
Why did Hitler rearm the Rhineland at this time?
To defend his Western borders in case of a British/ French attack
When was the Franco-Soviet pact signed?
1935
What did the Franco-Soviet pact entail?
France and the USSR would alliance in threat of Hitler
How did Hitler use the Franco Soviet pact to his advantage?
He claimed Germany was under threat, allowed him to have an excuse to invade the Rhineland
Why didn’t the League react to the reoccupation of the Rhineland?
They were too busy dealing with Abyssinia
How did Mussolini react to Hitler reoccupating the Rhineland?
He signed the Rome-Berlin axis with him
What else did Hitler and Mussolini do together?
Sent weapons to the civil war in Spain
How did sending weapons to Spain help Hitler?
Allowed him to test out his creations
When was the Anti-Comintern pact signed?
25th November 1936
Who was the Anti-Comintern pact between?
japan and germany
Who later joined the Anti-Comintern pact?
Mussolini
Who was in the Pact of Steel?
Italy, Japan and Germany
Why did Hitler want his Anschluss?
-the two countries had similar cultures and language
-unite volskdeusche
-destroy tov
Who replaced Dolfuss when he was killed?
Schusnigg, in 1934
what did schusnigg do that was different to Dolfuss?
schusnigg was scared of what happened to Dolfuss, so made an agreement that the Nazi’s would support schusnigg, and some Nazi’s could have government roles
what happened in January 1938 in the Austrian Nazi party’s headquarters?
police raided the headquarters and found plans to kill Schusnigg
how did Schusnigg react from having his murder plans revealed?
he met with hitler in berchesgaten. hitler intimidated him and forced Nazi Seyss Inquart as having control over austrian police. all nazis had to be rid from jail
what did Schusnigg do after meeting Hitler at Berchesgaten?
he called for a plebiscite in Austria, asking if they want an Anschluss
how did Hitler react to the proposed plebiscite?
he demanded it was postponed and forced Schusnigg to resign and Seyss Inquart took over as chancellor
what were voting conditions like for the Anscluss plebiscite?
very intimidating, stormtroopers guarded ballot rooms and the yes circle was larger than the no circle
what was the outcome of the Austrian plebiscite?
99% voted in favour of the Anschluss
How did Germany react to the Anschluss?
overjoyed. Hitler had united Volksdeusche and righted the wrongs of the treaty
How did Britain react to the Anschluss?
most felt Austria and Germany were the same country so they should unite
How did France react to the Anschluss?
they were preoccupied by the whole French government resigning during the events
How did Czechoslovakia react to the Anschluss?
they were very scared as Hitler wanted Lebensraum
Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland?
-Czechoslovakia was set up under the Treaty of Versailles, which Hitler wanted overturned
-Sudetenland had useful forts and railways
-3 million German speaking people lived in the Sudetenland
-good base to attack rest of Czechoslovakia
where and when did Hitler and Chamberlain meet to discuss the Sudetenland?
September 1938, at Berchesgaten
what did Hitler demand at Berchesgaten?
that Hitler would stop fighting for the Sudetenland if he was given it, and Chamberlain agreed
what did hitler demand at Bad Godsberg in september 1938?
that the Sudetenland had to be his by the 1st of October, and that Poland and Hungary must have some land too
what was the munich agreement?
Germany, Britain, France and Italy all met to discuss Czechoslovakia’s borders, and Hitler got everything he demanded
How did Stalin react to the Munich agreement?
he was upset that he wasn’t consulted, as Hitler was invading countries that the USSR had close relations with
When was the Nazi-Soviet pact signed?
23 August 1939
What did the Nazi Soviet pact entail?
If Germany successfully invaded Poland, the USSR could have some land
Why did Hitler want Poland?
Poland was German land, taken from the treaty of versailles. Hitler wanted to abolish the tov and gain lebensraum
why did the depression lead to WW2?
-countries were preoccupied with their own problems to support the League (less international cooperation
-desperate people turn to dictators and give them power
why did the failure of the league lead to WW2?
their lack of discipline allowed dictators to act aggressively
how did Hitler’s foreign policy lead to WW2?
he wanted Lebensraum and would need to invade countries to get it
he wanted to stop communism by controlling Russia
how did the treaty of versailles lead to WW2?
too harsh on Germany so they wanted revenge
new states with German speaking people created
how would appeasement lead to WW2?
-Munich agreement alienated Stalin
-nobody stopped Hitler
