Hitler's Actions and Policies (1930s) PDF

ANSCHLUSS, I938 This bold step would fulfil two key aims, overturning the Treaty and uniting German speaking peoples. In 1934, Hitler makes initial attempt however Mussolini is in his way and prevents him. Hitler tried to use the murder. Of the chancellor as an excuse for invasion, Mussolini masses...

ANSCHLUSS, I938 This bold step would fulfil two key aims, overturning the Treaty and uniting German speaking peoples. In 1934, Hitler makes initial attempt however Mussolini is in his way and prevents him. Hitler tried to use the murder. Of the chancellor as an excuse for invasion, Mussolini masses troops on the border to stop him. Germany and ltaly bccome allics, by 1937 Mussolini informs the Austrian Chanccllor Schussnigg he will no longer Defend them from attack. WHAT WERE THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE TREATIES? Dissatisficd powers – many power countrics were left unhappy. Japan was not given a racial cquality clausc, ltaly wanted. Grcater share of former German and Ottoman colonics, Germany unhappy with cvery clause – naturaly they would. Seck to change these terms at the right time. Germany’s potential -Versailles dealt with Gernmany in the worst way possiblc. Punished severcly cnough to anger Them but still lcave them with considerablc resources. Hitler’s foreign policy – Destruction of Versailles gave Hitler a forcign policy agenda, actions aways cleariy linked to this. Impact on British opinion: many people quickly began to question the treaty and saw it as unfair, Hitler’s demands often Seen as understandable and Britain had a duty to assist him. WHAT WERE HITLER’S FOREIGN POLICY AIMS? Abolish the Treaty: Hitler shared the vicw of many Germans that the Trcaty was unjust. Thosc who signcd it were the.‘Novembcr criminals’. He promised to reverse it if he became leader. Expand German territory: He wanted to regain all lost territory from the treaty and unite all German speaking pcoples. Additionaly believed in carving out an empire in castern Europe to create lebensraum’. Defcat Communism: Hitler was rabidly anti-Communist and believed they were actively plotting to take over Germany. He therefore sought to stamp out Communist nations, cspecially USSR. ROAD TO WAR – SAAR PLEBISCITE, 1935 The Treaty of Versailles had put the Saar under the control of the Lcaguc of Nations for I5 ycars. In 1935 the Inhabitants of the Saar voted to return to Germany. Hitler was initially worricd about the vote as he had many political enemies there. However Gocbbels launch a huge Propaganda campaign there. In the end 90% of people voted to return to Germany. The Saar plebiscite is cited by many historians as the first step to war despite being a fair vote which didn’t contradict The Treaty.-Validated Nazi regime and future claims to try and unite othcr German spcakers. CONSCRIPTION AND REARMAMENT, I935-40 Hitler began to slowly rearm at first, using the excuse of other countries failure to disarm. Signed Anglo-German naval trcaty in 1935 which allowed German navy to bc up to 35% of British,. In 1936 hec reintroduced conscription to the army, violation the Treaty. German military had 95 warships, I million soldiers and 8,000 aircrafts by 1939. Britain were sympathetic towards these aims as they felt Treaty had overly tight restrictions and a strong Germany was A good buffer against Communism. REMILITARISATION OF THE RHINELAND, 1936 The Treaty declare the Rhineland had been made into a demilitarised zone. Germany were not allowed to put anyTroops into it. Many Germans concluded that they did not actually fully control the arca despite it being in Germany Itself. In March 1936, Hitler took a huge gamble - He ordercd that his troops should openly re-enter the Rhineland thus Breaking the terms of Versailles once again. His generals were ordered to retreat out of the Rhineland if the French showed any hint of making a military stand Against him. This did not occur. Over 32,000 soldiers and armed policemen crossed into the Rhineland unopposed. SPANISH CIVIL WAR, I936-39 Civil war broke out in Spain betwccn the fascist army and republican/Communist government. Hitler and Mussolini both became blatantly involved despitc agrecing not to intervene. Germany sent aircrafts and pilots to help transport Franco’s forces from North Africa to Spain. They participated in major bombing raids on civilians, most famously in Guernica. Due to German and Italian help, Franco was able to win the war in 1939. SPANISH CIVIL WAR Significance for Hitler: Important test for Hitler of his ncw air force bcfore a full-scale Europcan war. Successful perfected dive-bombing Techniques on Guernica. Succeeded in persuading Mussolini to abandon Britain and France. Instead form 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis, important step On road to formal alliance. A long and protracted war in Spain (thrce ycars) helped act as a smokescrcen for his activities elsewhere. Helping Franco win the war would help fulfil his aims of eliminating Communism in Europe. ANSCHLUSS Feb 1938- Hitler begins bullying Austria and Nazi party there begins stirring up troutble. Hitler begins to demand that Schuschnigg agree to union to sort out these problems. Schuschnigg wants to hold a plebiscite. Hitler is opposed to this, thrcatens to invade Austria if they hold it. He sends in troops in March to guarantce a troublc frcc vote. April 10 -A Plcbiscite was held which gave a 99.75 % majority in favour of Anschluss.Austria was immediately Incorporated into the German Reich. SUDETENLAND CRISIS AND MUNICH AGREEMENT, I938 With the takeover of Austria, Hitler was fecling bolder than cvcr and had his sights firmly on the Sudetenland, a few Pieces of land in the north and west of Czechoslovakia. Reasons: Continue to fulfil the aim of uniting the German speaking peoples The Sudetenland was important fortified area to defend against German attacks SUDETENLAND CRISIS AND MUNICH AGREEMENT Lcader of Sudeten Nazis began stirring trouble and dcmanding unification. Hitler began to thrcaten Czechs with war if they did not agrec to their demands. The British and French however had an agreement to defend the Czechs from Hitler. Czechoslovakia itself had modern army, therefore threat of war and tensions rose over the summer. Cities across Britain begun digging air raid shclters, people were buying gas masks. War seemed inevitable. SUDETENLAND CRISIS AND MUNICH AGREEMENT Chamberlain flew to meet Hitler in |5h September, Hitler claimed he only wanted small parts of the Sudetenland, and Only after a plcbiscite. Chamberlain thought this reasonablc. 19th – Br + Fr put their plan to the Czcchs, howcvcr Hitler incrcases demands thrce days later, actually wanted all of The Sudetenland. Claimed that he simply wanted to reunite German speakers and that would be it! Chamberlain initially refuses, navy is mobilised and war is imminent. Mussolini helps arrange final meeting in Munich, 29th September. Br, Ger, Fr, Ita all meet to decide their fate and decide To give in.The Czechs would lose the Sudetenland. USSR or Czechs not consulted. Joint declaration published the Following morning. CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1939 – END OF APPEASEMENT The loss of the Sudetenland was followed by Poland and Hungary taking territory off of the Czechs, they were left Severely weakencd and Hitler sensed a further chancc. Reasons for taking over rest of the country: Would be start of policy of creating ‘lcbensraum’ Czechoslovakia had considerable coal reserves, iron deposits and the famous Skoda works – all necessary for war A free and hostile Czechoslovakia would make it impossible for Germany to fight in the West, as Hitler would then Face a war on two fronts which he wanted to avoid CZECHOSLOVAKIA, I939 – END OF APPEASEMENT Hitler marched into the rest of the country in March 1939 and took over it. The Czechs offered no resistance, neither did Britain or France. However this was the final straw for Chamberlain, Hitler had proven himsclf to be untrustworthy. This was an invasion. The next target was clearly Poland, Br+Fr informed Hitler they would declare war if he invaded Poland.Appeasement Was officially over, however Hitler still believed they would not risk war. NAZI-SOVIET PACT, 1939 In a huge shock, Stalin agreed to a 10 ycar non-aggression pact in August, despite bcing arch-cnemies. Additionally, they agreed a private deal to divide up Poland betwcen cach other. Both Britain and France had been trying to ncgotiate a deal with Stalin however he decided instead to sign a deal with Nazi foreign minister Ribbentrop. Hitler was convinced Br + Fr would not risk war over Poland, but he nceded an agreement with Stalin to feel secure About making a move. NAZI-SOVIET PACT, I939 Reasons for the pact: Stalin had no trust at all in Britain and France 1 They had failed to tackle militarism of Mussolini or help against Franco in Spanish Civil war and even worse Seemed to welcome German rearmament to fight Communism 2 He was not consulted over Munich, and thought it proved they were happy for Hitler to take over eastern Europe British-French guarantee to Poland was scen as support for a potential cnemy Nazis sent top official, Ribbentrop to ncgotiate – Britain sent minor official on a slow boat Would allow Stalin to re-arm to help preparc for war in the long term POLAND, SEP |939 -WAR BEGINS Securing the pact with Stalin cleared the way for invasion of Poland.Attacked from cast and west, Poland was quickly Defcated. Br and Fr order Hitler to withdraw or face war, Hitler refuses. To Hitler’s surprise howcver, the guarantce to Poland was kept and war is declared on 2nd September. Hitler found himsclf fighting the ‘wrong war’. APPEASEMENT WAS JUSTIFIED Hitler was standing up to Communism -a more serious threat Lack of US support in case of war against Hitler Britain is not ready for war Hitler had fair and reasonable demands, the Trcaty was unfair and should be reversed Fragile cconomy was a more important priority Refusal to repcat horrors of the Great War