steps to war evidence

Question 1

rearmament

Answer 1

By 1935, the army had increased from 7 to 12 divisions. When conscription was introduced in July 1935, the size of the army increased again to 36 divisions, over half a million men.

In March 1935, Herman Goring revealed the existence of the Luftwaffe, which had around 2,500 planes

first breach of tov

Question 2

saar plebiscite

Answer 2

17,000 Nazi Saarlanders threatened to invade Saar - Anthony Eden countered by promising to send in British army to “keep peace”

massive majority 90.3%

re-affirms hitler’s desire to unite all german-speaking nations

first legitimate victory he encounters outside of germany - shows he has foreign support

Question 3

remilitarisation of rhineland

Answer 3

“The 48 hours after the march into the Rhineland were the most nerve-wracking of my life. If the French had marched into the Rhineland, we would have had to withdraw with out tails between our legs”. – German army was already weak at this point (humiliation) - Hitler

20,000 troops

despite such blatant, extreme violation of tov, france and britain do not intervene at all

continues to embolden hitler

Question 4

why was appeasement used

Answer 4

spread of fascism/nazism

spread of communism

sympathy for Germany after TOV

believed it would placate/satisfy Hitler so that he would not take such aggressive actions (instead emboldens him)

fear of war very real + prevalent (ww1, spanish civil war)

economic, political instability

Question 5

anschluss with austria 1934

Answer 5

portrays hitler as careful, thoughtful and patient

shows foreign military intervention (Italy) can effectively stop Hitler

Question 6

successful anschluss with austria

Answer 6

99.75% majority

had achieved major aim in Mein Kampf -

Question 7

Munich Conference

Answer 7

Proposed to appease Hitler with 50% of Sudetenland on the promise Germany would not demand extra land

Question 8

hitler’s 3 main aims - foreign policy

Answer 8

breach and revise TOV

unite all German-speaking nations under one Reich

expand eastward to achieve Lebensraum

Question 9

3 stages to hitler’s foreign policy

Answer 9

A moderate policy up to 1935.
Increased activity between 1935 and 1937.

A more confident foreign policy after 1937, certain that there would be little opposition to his plans.

Question 10

invasion of sudetenland

Answer 10

Hitler gains Czechoslovakia - moving towards Russia

Question 11

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Answer 11

Both Stalin and Hitler are part of regimes with diametrically opposing ideals on the political spectrum - fascism is far right, communism far left. Their alliance reveals the desperation and fear of Russia along with the resolution of Hitler - he will do anything to get what he wants.

It also is a symbolic culmination of the incompetence of Britain and France - this is what appeasement has amounted to - the banding together of their two worst enemies

Question 12

invasion of poland

Answer 12

facilitates outbreak of ww2 by forcing British intervention