SHHS-History-GCSE Year 11 Unit 1/ Topic 3: Origins of World War Two

Question 1

What was Hitler’s attitude to the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 1

He despised it and condemned it, and the politicians who had signed it. His foreign policies aimed to overturn much of the Treaty of Versailles, regaining land inhabited by German people, uniting with Austria and building up German forces.

Question 2

What reason did Hitler give for withdrawing Germany from the League of Nations in 1933?

Answer 2

Because of the failure of the Disarmament Conference. He said that it was unfair that only Germany was limited in terms of arms (weapons and military force). Other countries were unwilling to disarm. Hitler really had no intention of sticking to the military limits imposed on it by the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 3

What did Hitler introduce, in Germany, in 1935 and what reason did he give for it?

Answer 3

Conscription. His excuse was that France had just increased its term of conscription from 12 to 18 months, increasing the number of trained soldiers in France.

Question 4

What were Hitler’s aims in foreign policy?

Answer 4

To unite all German-speaking people under his rule.
To make Germany a great power again.
To gain ‘living space’ for Germans in the East (Lebensraum)

Question 5

With which country did Hitler sign a ten year non-aggression pact with in 1934?

Answer 5

Poland

Question 6

Which foreign policy aim did Hitler fail to achieve in 1934 and why did it fail?

Answer 6

Anschluss (reunification of Germany and Austria). Hitler failed to achieve this because Mussolini opposed it and moved the Italian army to the border with Austria. Hitler knew his army was not strong enough to face Italian opposition so he backed down and denied any involvement with (or encouragement of) the Austrian Nazi Party.

Question 7

What were the terms of the1935 Anglo-German Naval Agreement?

Answer 7

It limited the German navy to 35% of the size of the British fleet, but did not include submarines. By signing this agreement, Britain was allowing/agreeing to German rearmament, despite the fact that it was clearly breaking the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 8

What size were German military forces by 1938?

Answer 8

The German army had about 800,000 men, the navy had 47 U-boats and the Luftwaffe had over 2000 aircraft.

Question 9

When and how did Hitler achieve the return of the Saar to Germany?

Answer 9

In January 1935, after the planned and legitimate plebiscite. The Treaty of Versailles had stated that a plebiscite on the future of the Saar (a coal-producing region of Germany) would be held after 15 years of League of Nations control. About 90% of people voted to rejoin Germany. The plebiscite was a boost for Hitler.

Question 10

When and how was the Rhineland remilitarised?

Answer 10

On 7th March, 1936. German troops marched into the Rhineland.the Rhineland was German land but the Treaty of Versailles had forbidden German forces from being any closer than 50kms from the River Rhine. Hitler correctly gambled that Britain and France would not go to war over the remilitarisation of the Rhineland or force Germany to withdraw.

Question 11

Why did France not take action over German remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936?

Answer 11

Because Britain and France were preoccupied with the Abyssinian Crisis and because Britain was unwilling to act over this particular breaking of the Treaty of Versailles ( many felt the Germans were merely ‘going into her own back garden’) and the French were unwilling to act alone.

Question 12

Why did Britain not take action over the German remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 12

Because many in Britain felt that Germany was (to quote Lord Lothian) ‘only going into her own back garden’, Britain was preoccupied with the Abyssinian Crisis and wanted to avoid conflict.

Question 13

In what ways was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland a gamble for Hitler?

Answer 13

It was done against the advice of both his generals and his economic advisers. The German army was still small and would have been easily defeated, even if France alone had opposed remilitarisation, and economic sanctions would have severely damaged the German economy.

Question 14

What were the effects of the Remilitarisation of the Rhineland for Hitler?

Answer 14

It was a huge propaganda boost for Hitler. It increased his popularity with the German people and suggested that he was both a bold and highly adept leader. It was seen to strengthen Germany and overturned a highly unpopular clause of the Treaty of Versailles. It suggested to Hitler that Britain, France and the League were weak and lacked the impetus to oppose his foreign policies. It led to the signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Question 15

Why were Hitler’s chances of achieving Anschluss in 1938 greater than they had been in 1934.

Answer 15

Because Mussolini (who had opposed Anschluss in 1934 and consequently, had forced Hitler to back down) was now an ally of Germany in the Rome-Berlin Axis and Anti-Comintern Pact. Also, Italy was involved in the Spanish Civil War and was unlikely to give any assistance to Austria to prevent Anschluss.

Question 16

Which events, in Austria, gave Hitler the opportunity to achieve Anschluss?

Answer 16

In 1938, with rumours of a Nazi plot to overthrow the government in Austria, the Austrian Chancellor, Schuschnigg appealed to Hitler to end any plotting. Hitler put pressure on Schuschnigg to appoint Seyss-Inquart, the leader of the Austrian Nazis, as Minister of the Interior. This gave Seyss-Inquart control of the police in Austria.
When Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite on Austrian independence, to end disturbances, Hitler moved Germsn forces to the border with Austria and to avoid bloodshed, Schuschnigg resigned. German troops then entered Austria on 12th March, 1938.

Question 17

When did Hitler hold a plebiscite on Anschluss, why was it not legitimate and what were the results?

Answer 17

After the German takeover of Austria in March 1938. It was staged by the Nazis and by the time it took place around 80,000 opponents of Anschluss had been put in concentration camps. The result was that 99.75% of voters were said to be in favour of Anschluss. Hitler could then claim that Anschluss (despite breaking the terms of Versailles) was fulfilling Wilson’s aim of self-determination.

Question 18

What were the effects of the Anschluss in 1938?

Answer 18

Further popularity-boost for Hitler in Germany. Another hated clause of Versailles had been overturned with no apparent cost or bloodshed.
Increased economic resources for Germany, in particular, Austrian mineral resources.
Czechoslovakia was now in a vulnerable position with the Sudetenland being surrounded on 3 sides by German land.
Proved value of Hitler’s alliance with Mussolini.
Many Austrians welcomed being reunited with Germany.

Question 19

What was Appeasement?

Answer 19

The British foreign policy of avoiding conflict through negotiation. Appeasement is most associated with Neville Chamberlain ( British PM from 1937-40). He sought to avoid war by negotiating with Hitler. He believed that if Germany’s genuine grievances could be met in a reasoned manner then war could be prevented and peace preserved. The most clear examples of Chamberlain’s use of Appeasement were during the Sudetenland crisis in 1938.

Question 20

What did the French do to improve their defences against Germany after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

Answer 20

The began to construct the Maginot Line.

Question 21

What were arguments in favour of Appeasement?

Answer 21

That Germany had genuine grievances, in particular about the Treaty of Versailles, which could be met.
People in Britain wanted to avoid another war at all costs, especially after seeing the destructive power of the Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War.
Britain was still suffering from the Depression and war was expensive.
The collapse of the League meant other methods to avoid war should be tried.
Many people feared communist USSR more than fascist Germany, with some even viewing a strong Germany as a possible defence against communist expansion.

Question 22

What arguments were used against Appeasement?

Answer 22

That Hitler had broken promises since 1933 and could not be trusted.
It made Britain look weak and encouraged Hitler to go further with his policy of expansion.
It was a betrayal of the Treaty of Versailles
It allowed Hitler to increase his strength and confidence.

Question 23

What excuse did Hitler use, in Sept 1939, for getting involved in the Sudetenland?

Answer 23

There were 3 million German-speaking people living there (it was previously part of Austria-Hungary). He argued that these people were being denied their right to self-determination, and encouraged Henlein, the leader of the Sudeten Nazi Party to riot and campaign for independence from Czechoslovakia.

Question 24

What did Hitler tell Chamberlain at Berchtesgaden on 15th Sept, 1938 and at Bad Godesberg on 22nd Sept and how did Chamberlain react?

Answer 24

Hitler stated that he wanted all German-speaking parts of the Sudetenland to join with Germany, after plebiscites.
Chamberlain got the French to agree to this and forced Benes of Czechoslovakia to accept the deal. Only USSR promised to help Czechoslovakia. But, on 22nd Sept, Hitler pushed further (encouraged at how easily Britain and France had given into his demands) and demanded the immediate occupation of the Sudetenland by Germany - no plebiscites.
Chamberlain flew back to London distraught at the prospect of war over the Sudetenland.

Question 25

Who said the following and when?
“How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing.”

Answer 25

Neville Chamberlain, in a radio broadcast on 27th Sept, 1938 after the meeting with Hitler, at a Bad Godesberg, when Hitler demanded the immediate handing over of the Sudetenland to Germany.

Question 26

In what ways did the Munich Conference demonstrate Chamberlain’s policy of Appeasement?

Answer 26

At the conference on 30th Sept 1938 (which was suggested by Mussolini, and attended by Britain, Germany, France and Italy - the Czechs were not consulted) it was agreed that the Sudetenland would be handed over to German. This met Hitler’s demands, made at Bad Godesberg on 22nd Sept. There would be no plebiscites. It avoided Britain and France going to war over the Sudetenland and left the Czech government to oppose Germany by themselves, should they choose to do so. Chamberlain and Hitler met privately to sign an agreement that Britain and Germany would never go to war with each other again (Chamberlain’s famous ‘piece of paper’ guaranteeing ‘peace in our time’).

Question 27

What were the negative effects of the Munich Agreement?

Answer 27

It gave Hitler the confidence to push on with his policy of expansion. It suggested, again, that Britain and France were weak and would give into Hitler’s demands, in order to avoid war.
Czechoslovakia lost its defensive frontier and a significant amount of its industrial strength and became vulnerable to invasion.
Germany gained armaments and mineral resources from the Sudetenland.
USSR felt betrayed by Britain and France.
Hitler had gained all this without having to fight.

Question 28

What were the positive effects of the Munich Agreement for Britain?

Answer 28

It gave Britain more time to prepare for war. The British government speeded up rearmament and made plans for evacuation and conscription.

Question 29

When did Chamberlain realise that the policy of Appeasement had failed?

Answer 29

In March 1939 when German forces invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, breaking Hitler’s promises in the Munich Agreement.

Question 30

In what ways did Hitler ‘have no excuse’ for the takeover of Czechoslovakia in March 1939?

Answer 30

There was no ‘justification’ for this invasion. There were no German-speakers living there and no demands, from the people to join Germany. Hitler could not argue that he was reversing a ‘wrong’ from the Treaty Of Versailles. It clearly broke his promises in the Munich Agreement.

Question 31

How did the German takeover of Czechoslovakia, in March 1939, change British policy towards Germany?

Answer 31

It proved to Chamberlain, much to his genuine disappointment, that Hitler could not be trusted. Britain did not help Czechoslovakia but, with France, signed an agreement promising to help Poland, if it was invaded. Britain also guaranteed the independence of Bulgaria and Greece. Peacetime conscription was introduced in Britain and the country girded itself for war.

Question 32

Why did British and French negotiations with Stalin in the summer of 1939 fail to prevent the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 32

Because Britain and France had, up to that point, failed to reassure USSR that they were acting on its behalf. They had not included USSR, for example, in the Munich Conference. Many in Britain and France feared Communism and there seemed to be a reluctance to work with USSR. Stalin felt betrayed by Britain and France and suspicious of their aims, especially over Poland.

Question 33

What and when was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 33

It was officially an agreement of ‘non-aggression’ between Germany and the USSR signed in August 1939. Behind the scenes, Germany and USSR agreed to invade Poland and divide the country between them.

Question 34

Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact a surprise to many in Britain and France?

Answer 34

Because Nazi Germany and Communist USSR were sworn enemies. Hitler was set on the destruction of Communism and had signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Italy and Japan in 1937 in keeping with his hatred of Communism. The policy of Lebensraum would be at the expense of USSR.
Also, throughout the summer of 1939, Stalin was in negotiations with the British and French governments over actions to prevent a German takeover of Poland.

Question 35

What was the significance of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

Answer 35

It meant that a German attack on Poland was virtually inevitable. Hitler had prevented the danger of a war on 2 fronts.
If Britain kept its promises to Poland (Hitler was confident, because of previous actions, Britain wouldn’t) then war between Britain and Germany was inevitable.
Britain and France had lost another possible ally in USSR.

Question 36

When and why did Germany invade Poland?

Answer 36

1st Sept 1939. Germany had long resented the land it lost to Poland in the Treaty of Versailles, particularly the ‘Polish Corridor’, and the Nazi-Soviet Pact meant that Hitler could order an invasion of Poland without fearing resistance from the massive forces of USSR. Hitler also believed that, given his alliance with USSR, Britain and France would back down over Poland - as they had done over the Sudetenland.

Question 37

When and why did Britain declare war on Germany?

Answer 37

War was declared on 3rd Sept 1939, when Germany failed to withdraw their forces from Poland, after a British ultimatum of 2nd Sept 1939.