Hitler's Foreign Policy: Remilitarization of the Rhineland

6 Questions

To counter the threat of the Franco-Soviet Pact

The Locarno Pact was broken, and the policy of appeasement began

It set a precedent for further German aggression

Austria was facing economic and political instability

Austria lost its independence and became a province of Nazi Germany

He was a German leader who had long sought to unite Germany and Austria

Study Notes

Date: March 7, 1936
Event: German troops reoccupied the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone established by the Treaty of Versailles
Reason: Hitler claimed it was a response to the Franco-Soviet Pact, which he saw as a threat to German security
Consequences:
- The Locarno Pact, which guaranteed the Rhineland's demilitarization, was broken
- The policy of appeasement by Britain and France began, as they failed to take action against Germany
- The remilitarization marked the beginning of Hitler's aggressive expansionist policy

Date: March 12, 1938
Event: Germany annexed Austria, incorporating it into the German Reich
Background:
- The Treaty of Versailles had prohibited the union of Germany and Austria
- Hitler, who was born in Austria, had long sought to unite the two countries
- Economic and political instability in Austria created an opportunity for German intervention
Consequences:
- The annexation was met with little resistance from the international community
- Austria's independence was lost, and it became a province of Nazi Germany
- The Anschluss set a precedent for further German aggression, including the invasion of Czechoslovakia

German troops reoccupied the Rhineland on March 7, 1936, a demilitarized zone established by the Treaty of Versailles
Hitler claimed the move was a response to the Franco-Soviet Pact, which he saw as a threat to German security
The remilitarization broke the Locarno Pact, which guaranteed the Rhineland's demilitarization
Britain and France failed to take action against Germany, marking the beginning of the policy of appeasement
This event marked the start of Hitler's aggressive expansionist policy

Germany annexed Austria on March 12, 1938, incorporating it into the German Reich
The Treaty of Versailles had prohibited the union of Germany and Austria
Hitler, born in Austria, had long sought to unite the two countries
Economic and political instability in Austria created an opportunity for German intervention
The annexation was met with little resistance from the international community
Austria lost its independence, becoming a province of Nazi Germany
The Anschluss set a precedent for further German aggression, including the invasion of Czechoslovakia