Q3: Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? Flashcards
What were Hitler’s plans for Germany?
Abolish the Treaty of Versailles - He (and many other Germans) believed that it was unjust and humiliating
Expand German Territory - He wanted to reunite German minorities and give the German people more ‘living room’. He also wanted Germany and Austria to unite
Defeat communism - He was against communism and believed that it helped defeat them in WWI
When did Hitler come into power?
1933
When did Hitler stage a military rally, celebrating the German armed forces?
1935
When was conscription reintroduced to Germany?
1936
An agreement was signed between Germany and Britain, allowing them to increase their navy up to what percent of the British navy?
35%
What percentage of the population voted for the Saar region to return to German Rule?
Around 90%
When was the Saar plebiscite?
1935
When was the Rhineland remilitarised?
March 1936
How did Hitler justify remilitarising the Rhineland?
France had just signed a treaty with the USSR that agreed that they would defend each other if Germany attacked. Hitler claimed that it was a threat and that he should be allowed to defend his own borders
How did France react to the Remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
They didn’t. They decided that they didn’t want to take responsibility for starting a war.
When Hilter remilitarised the Rhineland, what would he have done if France showed any sign of resistance?
He would have retreated
When did the Spanish civil war break out?
1936
What were the sides of the Spanish civil war?
Supporters of the Republican Government and right-wing rebels
Who lead the right-wing rebels in the Spanish Civil war?
General Franco
Who supported the Republican Government in the Spanish civil war?
The USSR (in the form of weapons, and aircraft and pilots) and thousands of volunteers from around 50 countries
Who did Hitler and Mussolini support in the Spanish civil war?
General Franco
What did the German aircraft and pilots take part in for the Spanish civil war?
They bombed civilian populations and other major campains
When did Japan invade China?
1937
What did Germany and Japan sign in 1936?
An Anti-Comintern Pact, designed to oppose comunism
Comintern
The USSR’s organisation to spread communism to other countries
When did Italy sign the Anti-Comintern Pact?
1937
What year did Hitler first attempt to take over Austria but was stopped by Mussolini?
1934
When did Germany unite with Austria?
1938
What percentage of the Austrian population voted for Anschluss?
99.75%
How did Hitler ensure that he didn’t loose the plebiscite for union with Austria?
He sent German troops to “guarantee a trouble free plebiscite”
When did Hitler take over the Sudetenland?
1938
Was Hitler lying when he told Chamberlain that he did not want to take Czechoslovakia?
Yes
When did Chamberlain meet Hitler to discuss Hitler’s demands for the Sudetenland?
15 September, 1938
What were Hitler’s initial demands for the Sudetenland?
He said that he was only interested in the German parts
How did Hitler justify increasing his demands from just parts of the Sudetenland to all of it?
He claimed that the Czech government was mistreating the Germans in the Sudetenland. He intended to rescue them by 1 October, 1938
What was the Munich Agreement?
It was when the leaders of Britain, Germany, France and Italy decided what to do with the Sudetenland. They gave it to Germany
When was the Munich Agreement signed?
29 September, 1938
When did German troops march into the Sudetenland?
1 October, 1938
When did Hitler take the rest of Czechoslovakia?
15 March, 1939
Why did Stalin not trust the treaty he signed with France in 1935?
They failed to stop Hitler remilitarising the Rhineland, which was directly on their border
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
23 August, 1939
What were the terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
They agreed not to attack each other. They also secretly agreed to split Poland between them
Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet pact?
It gave him territory and time. He gained half of Poland. It also bought him time to prepare for Hitler’s inevitable betrayal
When did Germany invade Poland?
1 September, 1939
When did Britain and France declare war on Hitler?
3 September, 1939
