History Topic 3: Steps to War

What does SCRAMCUP stand for?

Saar, Conscription, Rhineland, Anschluss, Munich, Czechoslovakia, USSR and Poland.

What were Hitler's three main foreign policy aims?

Abolish the Treaty of Versailles, establish Greater Germany and acquire Lebensraum in Eastern Europe and destroy communism.

What was Hitler's overall strategy between 1933 and 1939?

He initially took calculated risks, testing international opposition, before becoming increasingly aggressive and pursuing territorial expansion.

How did Hitler's foreign policy change from 1933 to 1939?

From 1933–1937 he took calculated risks; from 1937 onwards he pursued increasingly aggressive expansion.

Why were Hitler's early foreign policy successes important?

Each success:
- increased his confidence
- strengthened Germany
- demonstrated that Britain and France were reluctant to intervene.

What was the Saar plebiscite?

A referendum allowing Saar residents to choose whether to remain under League control, join France or return to Germany.

When did the Saar plebiscite occur?

13 January 1935 (Just over 15 years after the TOV)

Why was the Saar under League of Nations control?

The Treaty of Versailles placed it under League administration for 15 years.

What were the three options in the Saar plebiscite?

Remain under League control, become part of France or return to Germany.

What percentage of Saar residents voted to return to Germany?

90.3%.

Why was the Saar plebiscite not a breach of Versailles?

Versailles had explicitly provided for a plebiscite after 15 years of League administration.

Why was Hitler not guaranteed victory in the Saar plebiscite?

Many anti-Nazis had fled there, while Communists and Social Democrats formed a united front to retain League control.

How did Saar Nazis intimidate opponents?

They boycotted and beat opponents, assisted by the Saar police and German Gestapo.

Who was Sarah Wambaugh?

An American history professor who helped oversee the Saar plebiscite and declared it fair and genuine.

Who was Spaniol in the Saar crisis?

A Nazi who led 17,000 Nazi Saarlanders in threatening to invade and impose Nazi rule.

How was the threatened Saar invasion stopped?

Britain offered to send troops to maintain peace.

How did the Saar plebiscite strengthen Hitler politically?

The result boosted his prestige and appeared to demonstrate that Germans supported his leadership and opposed Versailles.

How did the Saar plebiscite provide Hitler with moral authority?

The result strengthened his claims that German-speaking populations wanted to unite with Germany.

What did the Saar crisis reveal about the League of Nations?

The League was reluctant to confront Nazi intimidation and feared further violence.

How did Hitler breach Versailles through rearmament?

He openly expanded the armed forces and introduced conscription in March 1935.

When did Hitler publicly announce conscription and rearmament?

March 1935, at the 'Freedom to Rearm' rally.

When had Germany begun secretly rearming?

1933.

What was Germany's army limited to under Versailles?

100,000 soldiers, with conscription prohibited.

How did Germany's military expand by 1939?

Soldiers increased from 100,000 to over one million; aircraft from 36 to 8,250; tanks from approximately 20 to 3,195.

How did rearmament prepare Germany for war?

It expanded the army, air force and tank capacity, providing the military strength needed for future warfare.

How did rearmament benefit Hitler domestically?

It stimulated industrial production (through arms factories), reduced unemployment (through compulsory conscription in 18-25 year olds) and increased his popularity (by restoring military might and national pride to germans).

What was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement?

A June 1935 agreement allowing Germany a navy up to 35% of Britain's naval strength.

Why was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement significant?

Britain legitimised German naval expansion, undermining Versailles and weakening collective security.

Why was France angered by the Naval Agreement?

Britain negotiated independently without consulting France, weakening cooperation between the two powers.

Why did Britain agree to the Naval Agreement?

It believed a limited German navy could regulate expansion while maintaining British naval superiority.

How did the Naval Agreement help Hitler divide his opponents?

It created tension between Britain and France, making a united response to German aggression more difficult.

What did Hitler reportedly call the Naval Agreement?

The happiest day of his life.

What was the significance of the Rhineland?

It was a demilitarised zone bordering France, intended to protect France from German military aggression.

Which treaties required the Rhineland to remain demilitarised?

The Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the Treaty of Locarno (1925)

What was the Treaty of Locarno (1925)?

An agreement involving Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and Italy that guaranteed Germany's western borders and the Rhineland's demilitarised status.

When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?

7 March 1936.

Approximately how many German troops entered the Rhineland?

25,000 troops.

Why did Hitler want to remilitarise the Rhineland?

To strengthen Germany's western defensive position, remove Versailles restrictions and reduce French strategic influence.

Why did Hitler consider the Rhineland strategically important?

It bordered France and provided a defensive buffer against potential French intervention.

Why did Hitler feel threatened by France?

France had an alliance with the Soviet Union, contributing to his perception that Germany was strategically surrounded.

Why was remilitarisation of the Rhineland a calculated risk?

Germany's military was still weak, and Hitler ordered troops to retreat if France intervened.

Why did Hitler choose a Saturday to remilitarise the Rhineland?

He expected politicians to be away for the weekend, delaying the international response.

How did Britain and France react to the Rhineland remilitarisation?

They objected but took no military action.

Why did Britain hesitate to oppose remilitarisation?

Many believed Versailles was too harsh, the Rhineland was German territory and Germany had legitimate security concerns.

How did the Rhineland remilitarisation prepare Germany for war?

It strengthened Germany's western strategic position and opened the way for further territorial expansion.

What did the Rhineland crisis reveal about collective security?

Britain and France were unwilling to enforce international agreements through military intervention.

What was Anschluss?

The political union and annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938.

When did Anschluss occur?

March 1938; German troops entered Austria on 12 March and Hitler entered Vienna on 15 March.

Why did Hitler want Anschluss?

To unite German-speaking populations into Greater Germany and acquire Austria's valuable resources and industrial capacity.

Why did the Treaty of Versailles prohibit Anschluss?

The post-war settlement prohibited a political union between Germany and Austria.

What valuable resources did Austria provide Germany?

Magnesium, iron-related products, textiles, machinery, gold, foreign currency reserves and hydroelectric potential.

How did Austria's workforce benefit Germany?

It provided skilled unemployed workers and additional industrial labour.

How did Austria's factories benefit Germany?

Hundreds of idle factories could be incorporated into Germany's industrial economy.

How did Anschluss support the Four-Year Plan?

Austria provided raw materials, workers, factories and foreign currency to strengthen German self-sufficiency and war preparation.

Who was Kurt Schuschnigg?

The Austrian Chancellor pressured by Hitler to accept German demands.

Who was Arthur Seyss-Inquart?

An Austrian Nazi who became Interior Minister and controlled the Austrian police before facilitating German entry.

What happened in February 1938 during the Anschluss crisis?

Hitler presented Schuschnigg with ten demands, including appointing Seyss-Inquart as Interior Minister.

How did Hitler force Schuschnigg to resign?

He demanded cancellation of the Austrian plebiscite and Schuschnigg's resignation, threatening military invasion.

How did German troops enter Austria?

Schuschnigg resigned and Seyss-Inquart, the remaining government member, invited German troops into Austria.

What happened to Schuschnigg after Anschluss?

He was arrested and imprisoned.

What happened to Austrian Jews immediately after Anschluss?

They rapidly lost their rights under Nazi rule.

What percentage supported Hitler's April 1938 Greater Germany plebiscite?

Over 99%, although it was held under Nazi control and intimidation.

How did Britain and France react to Anschluss?

They protested against Hitler's methods but did not impose meaningful punishment.

How did the USSR react to Anschluss?

It demanded that the League of Nations act to stop further German aggression.

How did Anschluss prepare Germany for war?

It increased German territory, population, resources, industrial capacity and available labour.

What was the Sudetenland?

A region along Czechoslovakia's western and northern borders containing approximately 3.2 million ethnic Germans.

Was the Sudetenland originally part of Germany?

No. It had belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire before becoming part of Czechoslovakia.

When was Czechoslovakia established?

1919, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland?

To unite ethnic Germans, acquire industrial resources and gain strategically important Czechoslovak border fortifications.

What was the Sudeten German People's Party?

A political party established in 1931, led by Konrad Henlein, seeking autonomy and ultimately transfer to Germany.

How did Hitler support the Sudeten German People's Party?

He provided verbal and financial support and encouraged unrest within Czechoslovakia.

Why did Czechoslovakia refuse to surrender the Sudetenland?

It contained coal, valuable resources and vital border fortifications; surrender could also encourage other minorities to demand independence.

Why was the Sudetenland strategically important?

Its border fortifications formed an important part of Czechoslovakia's defensive system against Germany.

Why was the Sudetenland economically important?

It contained valuable industrial resources, particularly coal.

What military risks did Hitler face when demanding the Sudetenland?

Czechoslovakia had a strong professional army, steep defensive terrain, border fortifications and a French alliance.

What was Hitler's strategy for creating the Sudetenland crisis?

He encouraged the Sudeten German Party to create unrest, making it appear that Czechoslovakia could not maintain order. This created international pressure on Czechoslovakia and justification for German intervention.

What was the Berchtesgaden meeting?

Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, and Chamberlain agreed that areas with over 50% German populations should be transferred to Germany.

Why was Chamberlain's agreement at Berchtesgaden controversial?

He agreed to territorial concessions without consulting Czechoslovakia.

What happened at Bad Godesberg on 22 September 1938?

Hitler demanded immediate German occupation of the Sudetenland and additional territorial transfers; Britain and France initially rejected the demands.

What happened at the Munich Conference on 30 September 1938?

Germany, Britain, France and Italy agreed that Germany could acquire the Sudetenland.

Which countries attended the Munich Conference?

Germany, Britain, France and Italy.

Which countries were excluded from the Munich Conference?

Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union.

What did the Munich Agreement permit Germany to do?

Occupy and acquire the Sudetenland immediately.

When did German troops occupy the Sudetenland?

1 October 1938.

What happened to other parts of Czechoslovakia after Munich?

Poland and Hungary occupied areas containing Polish and Magyar majorities.

Why was the Munich Agreement an example of appeasement?

Britain and France conceded the Sudetenland to Hitler to avoid war, despite abandoning Czechoslovakia.

Why was the Munich Agreement the high point of appeasement?

Britain and France gave away a major part of an ally's territory without its participation.

How did Munich strengthen Germany economically?

Germany gained the Sudetenland's valuable coal and industrial resources.

How did Munich strengthen Germany militarily?

Germany acquired important Czech border fortifications and weakened Czechoslovakia's defensive position.

How did Munich weaken Czechoslovakia?

It lost territory, industrial resources and its most important border defences, leaving it vulnerable to invasion.

Why was Stalin angered by the Munich Agreement?

The USSR was excluded from negotiations, increasing Stalin's distrust of Britain and France.

How did Munich encourage Hitler's future aggression?

It convinced Hitler that Britain and France were reluctant to fight, encouraging further territorial expansion.

What happened in March 1939 after the Munich Agreement?

Germany occupied the remaining Czech territories of Bohemia and Moravia.

What did Chamberlain return from Munich with?

A signed agreement with Hitler, which he presented as a guarantee of peace.

What was Hitler's order of 21 October 1938 concerning Czechoslovakia?

He ordered the Wehrmacht to prepare for the liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia.

What happened in Slovakia in March 1939?

Slovak separatists campaigned for independence, creating unrest that Hitler exploited.

Who was Jozef Tiso?

The Slovak leader pressured by Hitler to declare Slovak independence in March 1939.

What happened to Tiso on 14 March 1939?

He was taken to Berlin and given a declaration of Slovak independence to sign.

Who was Emil Hacha?

The President of Czechoslovakia who was pressured by Hitler to surrender the country's fate to Germany.

How did Hitler pressure Hacha?

Through heavy bullying and threats, including a threat to bomb Prague.