German Expansionism (1933-1940) EA1

The Move to Global War

Causes of Expansion

Nazism

Domestic economy issues

Changing diplomatic alignments in Euro.

Nazism impact on foreign policy

withdrew from LoN

Non-aggression pact → securing border with Poland and used to claim peace

collective security undermined

remilitarized Rhineland and re-arm

stop paying reparations

parties/unions banned, state gov. abolished

Unify Austria & Germ., anti-communists (Russia, Fr were enemies)

Antisemitism, ethnic cleansing

Enabling Act: Transfer law-making power to Hitler

Domestic economic issues impact on foreign policy

Weimar Republic = depend on US loans → GD → economic crash

• unemployment, farmers badly affected

Hitler makes promises like Mussolini did (provide food and jobs) → increased “stabbed in the back” mentality

antisemitism, Aryans

Anti-US, Fr; conquer Poland, Czech, Austria

Received Saar through referendum → economic boost as it was agriculturally rich

Had survived the Great Depression without beocming dependent on Br., US, Fr. (Hitler proved himself to the people)

Changing diplomatic alignments in Euro.

Hitler wanted Austria, Mussolini denied idea (Hitler wanted satellite state) → Italy mobilized and stopped Hitler’s coup d’etat

anti-communism (Br & Fr)

France=economically unable to respond

Spanish civil war → solidified Axis-Pact

Significant Events

German Challenges to the Post-War settlements/Treaty of Versailles

German Expansion

• Anschluss

• Sudeten Crisis

• Poland

Pact of Steel

Nazi Soviet Pact

Outbreak of WWII

German Challenges to the Post-War settlements/Treaty of Versailles

stop paying reparations

rearming, remilitarizing (Rapallo Treaty with USSR)

expansion into Austria, Poland, Czech

Anschluss

improved Germany’s strategical geographical position

no resistance from Austrian people, welcoming

revenge for ToV

high Germanic population

historical allies

redemption from previous fail when Mussolini mobilized to stop this happening the first time

Strengthened Hitler’s stance & position

1936: Austro-Germ. agreement, 1938: Austrian Chancellor and Hitler meet

• Hitlers demands unmet → German troops sent to Austria

• no Br. or Fr. aid

Sudeten Crisis

Had resources valuable to Germany

Czechoslovakia had good military

German population in “trouble”, “duty to save”

moral duty to unite → Germans in Czech. encouraged to rebel

Both sides mobilize → liquidation of Czech; Br & Fr send warning to Hitler

Poland (Danzig, port city)

access to the sea

separated Germany from Prussia

British aid to Poland → Germany prepares to fight Br and Fr

Pact of Steel

Mussolini wanted reassurance if Br & Fr attacked that Germany would be allies with Italy → agreement to aid in case of foreign attack

Italy not ready to go to war, but Hitler attacked anyways, drawing Italy into WWI b/c of this Pact

Seen as coordinated action between dictatorship → sent guarantees to Greece and Romania

Nazi-Soviet Pact

to prevent a 2-front war on Germany’s side with Russia & Poland

prevent Soviet - Br & Fr alliance (which is was Russia first wanted)

promise to remain neutral

divided Europe

British Response to German Agression

Financially unable to start war

pity for ToV punishments

needed public opinion in their favor to win election; civilians did not want war

no aid sent to Austria

Munich conference: Br met w/ Hitler 3x, gave Saar if he promised to stay away from Czechoslovakia

• Desperation to prevent war blinded Br from Hitler’s intentions

French response to German agression

felt back stabbed and abandoned when Br felt pity for ToV punishments and US failed to ratify ToV

financially unable to finance war or retaliation against Germany

appeasement

diplomatic policy of making concessions to nations in order to avoid conflict

pushoverness; let nations walk all over another one, violations left unpunished or recognized