Hitler’s main foreign policy plans? [4]
Abolish ToV
Expand German territory, and reverse all changes in ToV
Lebensraum - carve out empire in Eastern Europe to give German population extra ‘living space’
Defeat communism
What year did LoN disarmament conference collapse?
1934
When was Hitler’s massive rally and what was it celebrating?
1935 celebrating the German armed forces
When was the Anglo-German naval agreement and what were the terms?
1935, Hitler to restore German naval strength to 35% of the Royal Navy
When was conscription reintroduced?
1936
How much did armaments spending increase between 1935 and 1939?
7.4% in 1935 to 23% in 1939
How many warships did Hitler have in 1932 vs 1939?
30 in 1932, 95 in 1939
How many military aircraft did Hitler have in 1932 vs 1939?
36 in 1932, 8,250 in 1939
How many soldiers did Hitler have in 1932 vs 1939?
100 000 in 1932, 950 000 in 1939
Why did Hitler get away with re-armament? [3]
Began in secret
Many other countries were using re-armament to help tackle unemployment.
Britain had sympathy for Germany - ToV too harsh
Results and impact of 1935 Saar Plebiscite? [3]
90% vote to return to German rule
Boosted Hitler’s prestige
Propaganda success for Hitler
Why was Rhineland Remilitarisation allowed? [3]
Britain felt Germany was only going into ‘its own backyard’
France would not act without British support
The LoN issued a condemnation but nothing more
What led to the Anschluss, when was it, and what were the impacts? [9]
Mussolini had prevented it in 1934, but was now an ally of Hitler
Chamberlain felt it should be allowed
Hitler used the Austrian Nazi Party to put pressure on Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss
Austrian Nazi Party killed Dollfuss in 1934
ANP caused a ruckus calling for Anschluss in 1938
German troops marched in and plebiscite took place
99.75% voted for German rule
In 1938
Austria’s soldiers, weapons, and rich resources were added to Germany’s
How many German speakers lived in the Sudetenland?
3 500 000
Why and when was the Sudetenland transferred to Germany? [5]
In 1938
Sudetenland Nazis caused trouble
Hitler said Sudetenland Germans were being mistreated
Hitler said he would fight Czechoslovakia for Sudetenland
Germany, Britain, France, and Italy agreed at Munich to give Sudetenland to Germany
When did Hitler invade Czechoslovakia?
March 1939
When did Hitler invade Poland?
1 September 1939
When did Britain and France declare war?
2 September 1939
Why did Britain and France allow the Anschluss? [4]
Britain and France wanted to avoid war at all costs
They were unsure they would defeat Hitler
France would not take action without Britain
British PM thought the Anschluss should be allowed and ToV was too harsh
Why did Hitler support Franco?
to save Spain from ‘communist barbarism’
What did Hitler hope to gain from the Spanish Civil War?
raw materials for his armaments industry, such as iron, copper, mercury and pyrites.
What techique did Hitler try in the Spanish civil war?
Carpet bombing
When did Hitler start supporting Spanish Nationalists?
late July 1936
What did Hitler send to Franco and why?
Hitler sent transport planes so Franco could move troops and equipment from Morocco to Spain
When did Hitler set up the Condor Legion and why?
At the end of 1936 to support Franco
What was in the Condor Legion?
personnel and equipment from the army, air force, and navy
What did Spanish aid from Hitler add up to by May 1939?
£43 million
What happened in Guernica in April 1937? [3]
Guernica was bombed
Over 1500 civilians were killed.
Germany used the Luftwaffe/Condor Legion
Why did Britain and France follow a policy of Appeasement in the 1930s? [5]
Communism - Hitler was standing up to communism
WW1 - Britain and France wanted to avoid another world war at all costs
The USA - They would not fight without the USA as they were likely to lose
Versailles - They though once ToV had been reversed, Germany would be peaceful
Economy - They were still suffering from Great Depression, and recovering from this was a higher priority
Why were Britain and France prepared to sign the Munich Agreement? [3]
Wanted to avoid war at all costs
Conservatives though Russian communists was larger threat than Hitler
British military chiefs told Chamberlain they would lose against Hitler
Criticisms of appeasement? [6]
Encouraged Hitler to be aggressive
Put too much faith in Hitler
Allowed Germany to become too strong
Misjudged Hitler’s ruthlessness
If they ended it in October 1938, Britain and France would have had support from the Czech army
Alarmed the USSR
Justifications of appeasement? [4]
Avoid war at all costs
Britain wasn’t ready for war with Germany
Public opinion was in favour of appeasement
Many thought it was only fair for Germany to be able to defend itself
When and why did USSR join LoN?
In 1934, hoping it would guarantee security against Germany
What demonstrated the powerlessness of the LoN?
Abyssinian Crisis
When and why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact? [4]
Munich agreement showed Hitler could want Eastern Europe and Russia
Britain and France refused to guarantee support to Russia
Stalin wanted the Baltic States, which he could not do if he had to go against Hitler
It gave Stalin time to build up an army
Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact important? [2]
Gave Stalin time to build military
Hitler could invade Poland without interference from Stalin
Why did Britain go to war over Poland?
Britain had guaranteed they would preserve the independence of Poland
What caused the outbreak of war in 1939 [3]
Hitler left the League, began re-arming, re-occupied the Rhineland and united with Austria.
Hitler could not justify the occupation of Czechoslovakia or Poland
Britain and France had pledged alliance to Poland
What did Hitler say in Mein Kampf and when was it written? [2]
Written in 1924
He would abolish the Treaty of Versailles, expand German territory and defeat communism.
When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland and why? [3]
In March 1936
The League’s attention was on the Abyssinian affair
the French were involved in a general election.