Appeasement - Revision

Reasons for Appeasement

• Britain and France wanted to avoid another war due to the horrors of World War I.
• The Great Depression caused economic problems, making it difficult for countries to afford another war.
• Britain and France needed time to build their military strength.
• Some leaders saw Hitler as a defense against the spread of Soviet communism.

Results of Appeasement

• Hitler became more aggressive because he believed Britain and France would not stop him.
• Germany grew stronger as Hitler expanded his army and territory without opposition.
• Countries such as Poland doubted the support of Britain and France.
• Appeasement allowed World War II to happen, as Hitler took more risks, leading to the invasion of Poland in 1939.
• The USSR signed a pact with Germany because they could not trust Britain and France.
• Appeasement was meant to keep peace but instead helped cause World War II.

Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims and Plans

• Hitler wanted to acquire new soil, preserve the peasant class, and focus on Russia and vassal border states.
• Hitler was most hostile towards the Soviet Union due to anti-communism and belief in the racial inferiority of Slavic peoples.
• In Mein Kampf, Hitler admired the British Empire, but by the time of the Hossbach Memorandum in 1937, his attitude changed as he saw Britain as an obstacle.
• In the Hossbach Memorandum, Hitler argued that war for Lebensraum was needed by the mid-1940s due to constraints on Germany's resources and the need for strategic advantage.
• The Hossbach Memorandum is most valuable for understanding Hitler’s foreign policy, as it provides insight into his strategic thinking.

Factors Helping Hitler

• France was seen as weak due to economic and political instability, and its internal instability prevented it from being a strong adversary.
• French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier lacked trust in the British, which weakened the alliance.

Factors Hindering Hitler

• If countries such as France and Britain overcame their differences, they might form a stronger front against Germany.
• A lack of confidence and unity among Germany's potential adversaries could change and lead to a more coordinated effort against Hitler's plans.

Czechoslovakia

• Czechoslovakia had a mutual defense pact with the USSR and France in 1935.
• Hitler used false accusations to force those he did not like to resign.

Rearmament

• Germany withdrew from the disarmament conference in 1933.
• Military aircraft production increased significantly between 1932 and 1936.
• Conscription was introduced in 1935.
• Goring revealed the existence of the Luftwaffe in March 1935.
• German military expenditure increased from 1933 to 1935.
• Battleships and submarines were produced.

Timeline of Key Events Leading to War (1933-1939)

• 1933: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and the Reichstag Fire occurred.
• 1933: The Enabling Act was passed, granting Hitler dictatorial powers.
• 1933: Jewish businesses were boycotted, and the first anti-Semitic laws were introduced.
• 1933: All political parties except the Nazi Party were banned.
• 1934: Hitler purged Nazi rivals in the Night of the Long Knives.
• 1934: Hitler combined the roles of Chancellor and President, declaring himself Führer.
• 1935: Hitler announced the Luftwaffe and reinstated conscription, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
• 1935: The Anglo-German Naval Agreement allowed Germany to expand its navy.
• 1935: The Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of citizenship.
• 1936: Germany remilitarized the Rhineland and supported Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
• 1936: The Rome-Berlin Axis was formed between Italy and Germany.
• 1936: Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union.
• 1937: The Hossbach Memorandum outlined Hitler’s plans for territorial expansion.
• 1938: Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss.
• 1938: The Munich Agreement granted Hitler the Sudetenland.
• 1939: Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, breaking the Munich Agreement.
• 1939: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
• 1939: Germany invaded Poland, beginning a Blitzkrieg.
• 1939: Britain and France declared war on Germany.

International Politics (1933-1939)

• 1933: Hitler became Chancellor.
• 1934: Anschluss attempt.
• 1935: Hitler announced rearmament.
• 1935: Anglo-German Naval Pact.
• 1935: Saarland plebiscite.
• 1936: Remilitarization of Rhineland.
• 1936: Anti-Comintern pact with Japan.
• 1936-1939: Spanish Civil War
• 1936: Rome-Berlin axis.
• 1937: The Hossbach Memorandum.
• 1938: Anschluss successful.
• 1938: Annexation of Sudetenland due to Munich Agreement.
• 1939: Germany broke the Munich agreement.
• 1939: Memel taken by the Germans.
• 1939: Poland rejects Hitler’s demands after receiving guarantees from France and the UK
• 1939: Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was signed.

Remilitarization of the Rhineland (March 1936)

• The Rhineland was demilitarized under the Treaty of Versailles to provide security for France.
• Hitler sought to remilitarize the Rhineland to strengthen Germany's position.
• Hitler recognized the risk involved and had orders to withdraw if the Allies resisted.
• Britain and France were preoccupied with Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia.
• Hitler ordered German troops to march into the Rhineland in March 1936.
• The League of Nations condemned the action but took no concrete measures.
• France wanted to respond militarily but lacked British support.
• Hitler’s gamble succeeded, strengthening his domestic and international position.

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

• The Spanish Civil War was caused by underlying socio-economic inequalities.
• Hitler intervened to bypass blockades, gain mineral resources, test out his Airforce, and pose as a defender of Europe from communism.
• Franco won and a right-wing dictatorship started for 36 years.
• German troops gained combat experience.
• Britain's lack of reaction made Hitler think he would not face any opposition.
• German bombing shocked Britain and made them reluctant to go to war with Germany.
• The Spanish Civil War improved relations between Mussolini and Hitler, leading to the Rome-Berlin axis in October 1936.
• The USSR became more suspicious of France and Britain since they did not react to Hitler.
• In November there was an agreement with Japan through the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Anschluss (1938)

• Lack of action from Britain would prove detrimental.

Hitler’s September Speech

• Chamberlain was cheered as a hero when he came back from Munich.
• Churchill lost the very first post-war election, but public opinion later changed.
• Chamberlain was the leader of the UK when World War II began.
• German troops occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939.
• Bohemia and Moravia were declared a protectorate of Germany on March 16, 1939.
• Slovakia became Germany’s puppet state.
• Chamberlain’s approach was that the UK shouldn’t care since it's happening so far away.
• The Great Purge in Russia in the 1930s involved industrialization and transformation under harsh conditions.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

• Germany offered the Anti-Comintern pact + 10 years of peace in exchange to Germany gaining Gdansk and constructing the railway.
• British and French wanted to talk to the Soviets, but Germany also wanted to talk with the Soviets
• Hitler and Stalin were both dictators and only cared about their countries' interests.
• Negotiations with France and the UK lasted a long time, while Germany sent Joahim Ribbentrop to Russia to seal the deal.
• Officially the pact was labelled: Non-Aggression Pact
• Secret protocols: The Soviet Union was to control the Baltic states and Bessarabia in Romania, and Poland was to be divided between them.
• Germany and Russia would exchange technology and knowledge (Germany) and resources (USSR).
• Germany promised Stalin half of Poland.
• Britain and France were not ready to commit as much as Germany did to gain Russia as an ally.
• Hitler misjudged France and Britain because they had nothing to gain from fighting.
• September 1 - border attack
• September 3 - war declared

Remilitarization of Rhineland March 1936

• German troops entered Rhineland.
• Hitler’s popularity increased.
• Germany’s military and geopolitical position strengthened.
• France and Britain didn’t react, fulfilling the policy of appeasement which encouraged Germany to make aggressive moves.
• France increased its defensive preparations.

Spanish Civil War 1936

• Germany and Italy supported General Franco (Legion Condor).
• Allowed Germany to test their military.
• Strengthened relations with Italy.
• There was no intervention from F and B.
• Increased ideological division in Europe.

Rome-Berlin Axis October 1936

• Formalization of the German-Italian alliance.
• Secured Italian support for future expansion.
• Increased Hitler’s popularity.
• Increased Germany’s power.
• F and B continued appeasement.

Anti-Comintern Pact November 1936

• Anti-communist agreement between Germany and Japan.
• Italy joined in 1937.
• Strengthened Germany’s position against USSR.
• Japan served as a prospective ally
• F and B continued appeasement.

Pact of Steel May 1939

• Formalized a military and political alliance between Germany and Italy.
• Committed both nations to mutual support in case of war.
• Strengthened the Axis bloc.
• Ensured Italian support for German expansion.
• B and F were alarmed but did not trigger actions

Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939

• Non-aggression pact between Germany and USSR (official part).
• Division of Poland and Eastern Europe (secret part).
• Allowed German expansion to Poland without Soviet intervention.
• Secured resources from the USSR for Germany’s army
• Shocked B and F.
• B and F guaranteed Poland’s independence.

Invasion of Poland September 1939

• Germany’s Blitzkrieg in Poland.
• USSR invaded from the east.
• Start of WWII
• Germany gained territorial control, but got involved in a larger conflict than projected.
• F and B declare war on Germany
• End of appeasement

Alternatives to Appeasement

Using the League of Nations More Effectively

• Advantages: Promotes collective security, could deter dictators through global pressure, and avoids military confrontation.
• Disadvantages: The League lacked enforcement power, key nations were not members, and there was a risk of inaction.

Being Prepared to Use Force Against Hitler in the Rhineland

• Advantages: Could have stopped Hitler early and maintained international order.
• Disadvantages: Risk of escalating into conflict, Britain and France were not prepared for war, and public opinion favored peace.

Standing Up to Hitler Over the Sudetenland

• Advantages: Sends a strong message against aggression and supports Czechoslovakia’s sovereignty.
• Disadvantages: Risk of immediate war, Britain and France were weaker militarily, and Czechoslovakia was geographically vulnerable.

Spending More on Armaments in the Early 1930s

• Advantages: Provides a stronger deterrent and prepares Britain and France for potential conflict.
• Disadvantages: Financial strain during the Great Depression, could be seen as provocative, and risked alienating public opinion.

Analysis of AJP Taylor’s Thesis

• Taylor created a new way to look at Hitler and he did not have a master plan for the War
• Both sides committed diplomatic blunders
• Hitler was not planning this war but he was made to have this war

Contrasting Views on the Munich Agreement

Similarities

• Avoidance of War
• Recognition of Chamberlain’s Role
• Significance of the Event

Differences

• Tone
• Perspective on Czechoslovakia
• Long-Term View

Momentum

• Hitler was able to gain momentum with each victory, decreasing the opposition.
• Rhineland secured position in relation to France, Sudetenland → munition factories, Saarland → exploit resources
• The strengthening of the axis powers gave Hitler potential allies that strengthened his position in the world.