RMZ of Rhineland and Anschluss Flashcards
What were the two treaties which protected the Rhineland’s DMZ status?
Treaty of Versailles
Locarno Treaty (1925)
How many armed men did Hitler send into the Rhineland?
35,000
What was happening in March 1936?
Abyssinian crisis
Hitler remilitarising the Rhineland
When did troops first enter the Rhineland?
7th March 1936
How did the LoN/France respond to the RMZ of the Rhineland?
LoN condemned after a week (14th March)
France condemned and sought British support
How did Britain respond to the RMZ of the Rhineland?
Issued formal protest but encouraged France to avoid military action
Why didn’t Britain want military action to the RMZ of the Rhineland?
Pacifist movement
Lord Lothian: “putting troops in her own back yard”
Who was the Voice in the Wilderness?
Churchill, who called Hitler’s actions “sinister”
What were the implications of Hitler’s Rhineland success?
Hitler’s became confident
LoN, Britain and France all looked weak
Rome-Berlin Axis formed in 1937
Hitler gained popularity
Why was Hitler able to attempt another Anschluss?
Mussolini would not intervene this time
What was Chancellor Schuschnigg’s approach towards Hitler?
Be cooperative to deter aggression
What was the 1936 German-Austrian agreement?
Recognised Austria’s independence but changed its foreign policies to fit Germany
What did Hitler demand of Schuschnigg in 1938?
Nazis to be given key government roles
What role did Schuschnigg give to a Nazi?
Minister of the Interior
Why did Hitler order Austrian Nazis to cause chaos?
So the law and order would crumble and he could justify sending troops to Vienna
When did Schuschnigg announce a referendum?
9th March 1938
What happened on the 10th March 1938?
Hitler demanded the referendum be called off
Schuschnigg complied and resigned
When did German troops march into Austria?
12th March 1938
What happened in the Austrian referendum of April 1938?
It was rigged so that 99.75% voted to unite with Germany
What was Austria’s new status after the rigged referendum?
Became German province Ostmark
Why didn’t France respond to the Anschluss?
Its entire government had resigned
What was Chamberlain’s response to the Anschluss?
He didn’t intervene due to his policy of appeasement
How did Churchill feel about the Anschluss?
Thought it was wrong that Hitler couldn’t use diplomacy to unite the countries
What were the implications of the Anschluss for Germany?
7 million more people added to the Reich
+100,000 to the army
Hitler had gambled again and gained confidence and popularity
Rome-Berlin Axis strengthened
