Remilitarisation of the Rhineland Flashcards
What stipulated the demilitarisation of the Rhineland?
The ToV (1919) and the Locarno treaties (1925)
What did the situation mean to Hitler?
It was a constant humiliation that he couldn’t even control part of his own country
What was his excuse?
Due to the Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance (May 1935), German was encircled by the Franco-Soviet Union and so Hitler could say the remilitarisation was only self defence.
What did he do in March 1936?
He sent two divisions of troops into the Rhineland. They were given explicit orders to retreat at any sign of the French army, but France were struggling economically and were in the middle of a heated election campaign, so couldn’t start a war with Germany.
What did Britain and France do?
They did nothing as they were distracted by the Abyssinian crisis (1935)-neither felt prepared to face Germany.
