History - Hitler's actions leading to WWII

When did Hitler withdraw from the conference and League and why?

October 1933

• Germany demanded gleichberechtigung (equality of armaments) with other countries but they refused

• Hitler withdrew from the conference, blaming the French.

What did Hitler’s exiting of the league cause France to do?

• French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou

• Barthou note in 1934 - France no longer be part of the conference

• Britain tried to persuade Germany to return, infuriating the French (who saw them as an attempted ‘sell-out’)

Why was the Barthou note a success for Hitler?

1. It wrecked the conference

2. It allowed him to rearm however he wanted

3. It drove a wedge between France and Britain

4. British politicians agreed ToV was too harsh

Why did Hitler want to colonise Russia and what term did he use?

Lebensraum for Germans - Hitler wanted to colonise Russia and the land near it because it’s ‘destiny’ to provide land for Germany to make it an empire.

Why was Hitler against communism?

He believed that the Bolsheviks had helped defeat Germany in WWI

He thought that they wanted to take over Germany.

What did Hitler sign with Poland and when?

The Non-aggression pact in 1934 was signed by Jozef Pilsudski (Polish chief of state) promising not to go to war with each other for ten years.

What were the benefits of the Non-aggression pact with Poland for Hitler?

1. Left Hitler’s eastern border safe, giving him time to rearm

2. Undermined the principle of collective security after Poland neglected the league

3. Divided countries allied against him

4. Hitler could simply invade Poland anyway when he was ready

Rearmament in Germany

• Rearmament had been secretly going on since 1933, but in 1935 Hitler held a “Freedom to Rearm” military rally

• Hitler reintroduced conscription in 1936, and from 1932-1939 the number of soldiers grew from 100,000 to a million, and airplanes grew from 36 to 8250

Why was rearmament a great success for Hitler?

1. No country questioned his breach of the ToV

2. It made him popular in Germany as it reduced unemployment and reinforced Germany

What did Britain sign with Hitler and why?

Britain had sympathy with Germany regarding rearmament, and thought ToV was too harsh.

Anglo-German Naval Agreement was signed in 1935 which allowed Germany to increase its navy to up to 35% of the size of Britain’s navy.

Why was there little point in supporting disarmament clauses of the League?

Germany was blatantly disregarding them and nobody was prepared to go to war to stop Hitler.

In January 1935 British Foreign Secretary John Simon wrote that it was wiser to make an agreement which accepted German rearmament with terms than allowing them to rearm without any regulation

Why was Hitler so happy about signing the Anglo-Naval German Treaty?

He called it the “happiest day of his life” as it:

1. secured and validated his breaking of the ToV

2. Continued to undermine collective security

3. Britain signed the treaty without consulting the French, which made them furious

4. It gave him power over Britain, as he could threaten to cancel the treaty whenever Britain questioned his actions in Europe

What was the Saar plebiscite?

The Saar had been run by the League since 1919, but in 1935 they held a promised plebiscite for the people in the region to vote if they wanted to return to Germany.

Hitler was initially wary as many of his opponents had fled to the Saar, but the League was firm on this plebiscite.

90% of the people in the Saar voted to return to Germany, which was a boost for Hitler, who declared he had “no further territorial demands”

Why did Hitler want to remilitarise the Rhineland?

• Reverse the Treaty of Versailles - Hitler saw this buffer between Germany and France as unfair

• Strengthen German borders - he feared France and Belgium could easily invade Germany

• Test the League - He wanted to see if Britain and France would react, which would give him confidence

What were the consequences of the failure of the League in the 1930’s?

• Encouraged aggression - showed dictators like Hitler they would not face serious consequences

• Undermined collective security - countries lost faith in the League

• Enabled Nazi expansion - Hitler grew bolder

In what ways was Hitler’s decision to move troops into the Rhineland well-planned?

1. Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland in March 1936, when France was in internal political instability due to elections, and Britain was focused on economic recovery and didn’t want another war

2. Hitler ordered his troops to withdraw if they faced any opposition, presenting this move as a peaceful gesture to simply claim that Germany was protecting its own territory

Why didn’t Britain take action to prevent Hitler from remilitarising the Rhineland?

British politicians believed Germany had the right to defend its borders, and that the treaty was too harsh on it. They also followed the policy of appeasement to prevent another war

Why didn’t France take action to prevent Hitler from remilitarising the Rhineland?

Its government was weak and hesitant to act without British support, and were also concerned about fighting Germany without clear backing from allies

Why didn’t the League take action to prevent Hitler from remilitarising the Rhineland?

It was already discredited after its failures in Manchuria and Abyssinia, and it had no army of itself, instead relying on Britain and France to act — which they didn’t, so there was no response.

What caused the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936?

Spain became politically divided between right-wing Nationalists and left-wing Republicans. After a military dictatorship collapsed in 1929 and the King abdicated in 1931, the Republicans came to power. In 1936, the army rebelled, triggering a civil war.

Who were the main opposing sides in the Spanish Civil War?

The Nationalists, led by General Franco, were right-wing and supported by conservatives, monarchists, the Roman Catholic Church and the army. The Republicans were a coalition of left-wing groups, including workers, trade unions, socialists and peasants.

How did Germany and Italy support Franco’s Nationalists?

Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supported Franco with thousands of troops, aircraft, and weapons. They wanted to stop the spread of communism and hoped a Nationalist victory would make Spain a future fascist ally.

Why didn’t Britain and France intervene in the Spanish Civil War?

Both feared the spread of fascism but also saw communism as a major threat. To avoid escalating the conflict, they formed a Non-Intervention Committee, blocking international aid to either side — although Germany and Italy ignored this.

How did Stalin and the USSR support the Republicans?

Stalin sent limited weapons and supplies to the Republicans, not enough to win but enough to keep them fighting. He preferred a drawn-out war that would keep Hitler distracted in Spain rather than focusing on Eastern Europe.

Why was the Spanish Civil War important to other European powers?

A Nationalist victory meant another fascist government in Europe, strengthening the German-Italian alliance. A Republican win would expand Soviet influence. Both outcomes were seen as threats, especially in the context of rising tensions before WWII.

Who won the Spanish civil war?

The Nationalists after capturing Madrid in March 1939

What alliance was formed after the Spanish civil war?

The Rome-Berlin Axis was formed which strengthened the bond between Italy and Germany

What did the Rome-Berlin Axis show Chamberlain?

That war had to be avoided at any cost, especially with the devastating impact of modern weapons

What pact was formed between the USSR and Germany?

The Nazi-Soviet Pact was formed in August 1939 after the USSR became increasingly suspicious of Britain and France because of their reluctance to get involved in opposing fascism.

Who in Japan signed a pact with the European countries?

General Tojo (nationalist leader) wanted to expand Japan’s empire across Asia, and as Hitler and Mussolini saw that they had much in common with military dictatorship, they signed an Anti-Comintern Pact in 1936 to oppose communism, become the Axis Alliance.

What did Churchill describe the 1930’s as?

A Gathering storm

Why did Hitler want to reclaim Austria?

Hitler wanted all German-speaking nations in Europe to be a part of Germany and claim more territory for its ‘lebensraum’.

Who was Engelbert Dollfuss and what actions did he take as Chancellor of Austria?

Dollfuss became Chancellor of Austria in 1932. He banned the Nazi Party in 1933 and tried to suppress both Socialist and Nazi movements, believing they threatened Austria’s independence.

What happened in 1934?

Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to launch a coup. They murdered Dollfuss, but the Austrian military crushed the uprising. Mussolini moved Italian troops to the border, forcing Hitler to back down.

What was the German-Austrian Agreement of 1936?

Austria remained independent but had to align foreign policy with Germany. Nazis were allowed to hold official positions in Austria, giving Hitler influence without invasion.

What did Hitler demand from Schuschnigg?

For Nazis to be given government posts in Austria. Schuschnigg compromised and Seyys-Inquart (Nazi) was made Minister of the interior.

Hitler ordered Austrian Nazis to create as much trouble as possible to put pressure on Schuschnigg. If he could claim that Austrian law and order had broken down, he could justify marching German troops into Vienna to restore peace.

What happened on 9 March 1938?

Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg announced a plebiscite (referendum) to let Austrians vote on independence, hoping it would weaken Hitler's claim to support.

How did Hitler react on 10 March 1938?

Hitler told his generals to prepare for the invasion of Austria. He ordered Schuschnigg to call off the referendum, and knowing he would not receive help from Italy, and that France and Italy would not interfere in Hitler’s plans, Schuschnigg conceded and called it off and resigned.

What happened on 12 March 1938?

German troops marched into Austria unopposed and were greeted by cheering crowds. This was the official start of the Anschluss (union with Germany).

What happened in the plebiscite of April 1938?

Hitler held a rigged vote to confirm the Anschluss. Officially, 99.75% voted in favour of union with Germany, but it was conducted under heavy Nazi influence.

How did foreign powers respond to the Anschluss?

Britain and France protested but did nothing. Mussolini now supported Hitler due to their closer ties. The League of Nations did not intervene.

Why did Britain do nothing during the Anschluss?

Britain followed appeasement (as Anthony Eden resigned), saw the union as natural between two German-speaking nations, and feared another war. Chamberlain ignored anti-appeasers like Churchill who argued Hitler should’ve used diplomacy, not force.

Give three reasons why Hitler wanted Anschluss with Austria.

• Unite all German-speaking people (Pan-Germanism).

• Reverse the Treaty of Versailles (which forbade unification).

  • Access Austria’s resources (iron, steel, soldiers, and land).

Why did Britain trust Hitler?

Hitler claimed each demand was his last, and Britain believed him. Appeasement was based on the mistaken idea that Hitler was trustworthy.

How did fear of communism justify appeasement?

Britain and France feared the spread of communism more than Nazism. Hitler was seen as a buffer to the threat posed by Stalin and the USSR.

Why did memories of WWI support appeasement?

Leaders and citizens feared repeating the horrors of WWI and were desperate to avoid another major conflict.

How did Hitler’s actions appear to some as reasonable?

Some believed Hitler’s actions (like rearmament) were fair since Germany had been treated too harshly by the Treaty of Versailles.

Why was British military weakness a reason for appeasement?

Britain’s armed forces were not ready for war. Rearmament only began in 1935, and some felt Britain was far behind Germany.

How did American isolationism influence appeasement?

The USA had withdrawn from global affairs and was unlikely to support Britain. This left Britain more cautious about conflict.

Why was the British Empire a factor in appeasement?

Britain needed support from its empire to fight, and there were concerns about Japan threatening colonies like Singapore and India.

Why did the Treaty of Versailles influence appeasement?

Many felt the Treaty had been unfair to Germany. Some thought Hitler’s demands were reasonable corrections.

How did Hitler exploit appeasement?

Hitler tested the limits, gambling with increasing demands. Britain and France’s inaction encouraged him to take more risks.

What did Hitler’s alliances show about appeasement?

Hitler aligned with aggressive dictatorships like Italy and Japan, proving he would not stop at small gains.

How did appeasement affect the Soviet Union?

Appeasement showed Stalin that Britain and France wouldn’t oppose Hitler, leading him to doubt them and eventually sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

How did military weakness cause Britain to appease Hitler?

Britain’s military wasn’t ready for war, and they were rearming slowly compared to Germany.

How did the economy influence appeasement?

Britain and France faced high war debts and unemployment due to the Depression and couldn’t afford another war.

How did public opinion affect appeasement?

Many in Britain remembered WWI’s horrors and strongly opposed another war, supporting appeasement.

How did fear of communism play a role?

Hitler was seen as a buffer against Stalin and communism, so appeasing him seemed safer than risking a Soviet threat.

Why did Hitler want Czechoslovakia?

• Czechoslovakia had a strong army, industry, and railways.

• The Sudetenland had 3 million German speakers.

  • Taking Czechoslovakia would expand German territory and power (LEBENSRAUM)

Why was it harder to invade than Austria?

• Czechoslovakia had a strong, well-equipped army.

• It had alliances with France and the USSR.

• It had defensive fortifications in the Sudetenland.

Who was Henlein and what did he do?

• Henlein was leader of the Sudeten Nazi Party.

• He stirred up trouble in the Sudetenland, demanding more rights for Germans.

• Hitler supported Henlein’s demands and threatened to fight Czechoslovakia.

What happened at the first meeting (15 Sept 1938)?

• Chamberlain met Hitler in Berchtesgaden.

• Hitler claimed he only wanted parts of the Sudetenland.

• Chamberlain agreed in principle, believing it was reasonable.

What happened at the second meeting (22 Sept 1938)?

• Hitler increased his demands and wanted all of the Sudetenland.

• He accused the Czechs of mistreating Germans.

• Chamberlain felt betrayed but still tried to reach a peaceful solution.

Munich Agreement (29 Sept 1938)

• Britain, France, Germany and Italy met in Munich.

• They agreed Hitler could have the Sudetenland.

• Czechoslovakia was not consulted.

Why did Hitler see the Munich agreement as a victory?

• He got land without war.

• Britain and France had backed down again.

• It showed their weakness and encouraged further aggression.

Chamberlain’s response to Munich Agreement

• He returned to Britain claiming it brought "peace for our time".

• He believed Hitler's aims had been satisfied.

• He thought war had been avoided.

Consequences of Munich Agreement

• Czechoslovakia lost its defences and key industries.

• Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

• It showed appeasement had failed — Hitler could not be trusted.

What were Stalin's fears about Germany?

• Hitler openly opposed Communism.

• Mein Kampf had called for the destruction of the USSR/invasion

Significance of USSR joining the League (1934)

• Stalin hoped to build alliances against Hitler.

• It showed the USSR’s desire to be part of collective security.

Why did Stalin's fears grow in mid-1930s?

• League failed to stop aggression (e.g. Abyssinia, Spain).

• Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland and broke the Treaty.

• Britain and France appeased Hitler and didn’t consult USSR.

What happened in Stalin’s negotiations?

• March 1939: Talks with Britain and France began.

• Britain was reluctant to fully commit as Chamberlain was suspicious of the USSR

• Britain guaranteed to defend Poland without consulting Stalin, who did not approve of this as he thought that Britain may oppose the USSR later on.

Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact (23 Aug 1939)?

• He gained half of Poland and the Baltic states.

• He needed time to prepare for war with Germany.

• He didn’t trust Britain or France to help him.

Consequences of the Pact

• Hitler invaded Poland on 1 Sept 1939.

• Britain and France declared war on Germany (3 Sept).

• The pact made war in Europe inevitable.