Rearmament

Question 1

What happened in 1919 and reparations?

Answer 1

Treaty of Versailles signed and allowed Germany a maximum of 100,000 soldiers, 6 warships, no air force and the demilitarisation of the Rhineland (France/Germany border)

Question 2

What did Churchill propose in 1919 relating to arms spending?

Answer 2

The 10 year rule. The goverment (including Churchill) believed a war wasn’t imminent so they agreed major cutbacks in government spending on the military.

Question 3

What did Churchill enforce and maintain in 1925 with his new government position?

Answer 3

As the new Chancellor, Churchill enforced the 10 year rule and cutbacks in arms spending.

Question 4

What was signed in 1928 with over 60 nations?

Answer 4

Kellog Briand Pact in which the nations agreed to never go to war again including Germany.

Question 5

What event dominated 1929?

Answer 5

Wall Street Crash which caused major economic damage and cutbacks in government spending

Question 6

Who invaded who in 1931 and what was done about it?

Answer 6

Japan invaded Manchuria (in China) and the League of Nations did nothing to stop them.

Question 7

Who became Chancellor in 1933 of Germany?

Answer 7

Hitler

Question 8

Who walked out of the League of Nations in 1933?

Answer 8

Hitler removed Germany from the League. (people confused as it was designed to diffuse international issues)

Question 9

What was the big turning point in 1935 in Germany that started to raise questions?

Answer 9

Hitler introduces conscription to the country

Question 10

Where did Italy invade in 1935 and what was the responce?

Answer 10

Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and one again the League of Nations did nothing to stop them.

Question 11

What did Hitler do in 1936 and thus break the TofV?

Answer 11

Re-militarised the Rhineland which put French and German armies head to head.

Question 12

What did Japan and Germany and eventually Italy join in 1936/37?

Answer 12

Anti comintern pact that formed an alliance against the soviet union. There was a genuine fear about Soviet expanison so this would act as a deterrent.

Question 13

What does Hitler do in March 1938 and declare?

Answer 13

Took troops into Austria and declared the unification of Germany and Austria.

Question 14

What happened over September/October 1938 and what was the response?

Answer 14

Hitler demands the Sudetenland. Thus, Chamberlain visits Germany and agrees to give up the Sudetenland but states no more invasions can occur

Question 15

What happened in March 1939 and rips up the agreement?

Answer 15

Hitler invades the rest of Czechslovakia (Munich agreement has been a failure).

Question 16

What did Hitler and Stalin sign in August 1939?

Answer 16

The Nazi-Soviet Pact which was a non aggression agreement that meant Germany wouldn’t spread east into the soviet union.

Question 17

What happens in September 1939?

Answer 17

Germany invades Poland which results in GB and France declaring war on Germany.

Question 18

Why was Churchill worried when Germany started to rearm?

Answer 18

• Churchill saw the regime as brutal
• Churchill was a MP when the TofV was signed
• Churchill was worried about the Luftwaffe

Question 19

Why did others see German rearmament differently?

Answer 19

• His critics pointed out that it was him that cut arms spending (10 year rule)
• 1929 financial crisis meant we couldn’t rearm even if we wanted to
• People saw the rearmament as fair especially after the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles

Question 20

What did Churchill’s critics use to oppose his views?

Answer 20

• Churchill was too much of an alarmist, war mongerer mindset rather than facts
• League of Nations could solve the disputes
• Unrealist cost especially post 1929

Question 21

What are the main arguments for defending the Munich agreement?

Answer 21

1. Public opinion was against war (they wanted spending on domestic policies)
2. Britain couldn’t finance the spending (-3% deflation)
3. Could lead to an arms race

Question 22

Figures about German rearmament

Answer 22

• By 1935 Germany has 3,000 planes in the Luftwaffe
• In 1936 2/3 of German investment was on arms
• By 1935, Germany had 550,000 men in the military due to conscription