foreign policy

Purpose of withdraw from the League of Nations

To reject the constraints of the League of Nations and strengthen germnay’s autonomy in foreign relations

Success and failures of withdrawal from League of Nations

• strengthen Germany’s position by signalling independance from international control

• Further isolated Germany internationally and some countries like France saw this as a rejection of diplomacy

Withdraw of League of Nations stats

After 1933 Germany had to address international opposition to rearmament

Purpose of rearmament

To rebuild Germanys military strength and violate the treaty of Versailles

Success and failures of rearmament

• created a powerful military force, including the creation of the luftwaffe and conscription

• Increased tension with western powers which led to a rearmament race and heightened international concerns

Rearmament stats

By 1939 the German army reached 1.4 million and 23% of GDP spent on military

Purpose of conscription

To rebuild German military and defy the treaty of Versailles by making it compulsory

Success and failures of conscription

• increased the size of military significantly, making Germany a military powerhouse

• Violated the treaty of Versailles which led to growing tensions with Britain and France

Conscription stats

The army grew from 100,000 to 500,000 men by 1936

Purpose of remilitarisation of the Rhineland

To challenge the treat of Versailles and strengthen Germanys defensive position in Europe

Success and failures of remilitarisation of the Rhineland

• successfully remilitarised the Rhineland without facing military intervention from France or Britain

• Increased tensions in Europe and undermined international diplomacy and security

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland stats

Around 22,000 soldiers were involved with no military response coming from France and Britain despite it violating the treaty of versaille

Purpose of the anti Comintern pact

To form alliances against the spread of communism, particularly in soviet russia

Success and failures of the anti Comintern pact

• strengthened ties with Italy and japan and showed opposition to soviet influence and international communism

• Alienated the Soviet Union which led to the formation of a hostile alliance with communist nations

Anti Comintern pact stats

Pact was later signed with Italy and japan which later expanded to include other axis powers

Purpose of Austrian Anschluss

To unite Austria and Germany and expand Germany’s territory, following the concept of lebensborn

Success and failures of Austrian Anschluss

• successfully annexed Austria without military conflict, presented as a unification of German speaking peoples

• Violation of the treaty of Versailles and international law, increased hostility with austrias former allies

Austrian Anschluss stats

8 million Austrian people were incorporated into Germany

Purpose of the Munich agreement

To appease hitlers territorial demands in czesncholvakia to avoid war

Success and failures of the Munich agreement

• gave hitler Sudetenland in exchange for promises of peace, appeased both Germany and britiain temporarily

• Led to further aggression from Hitler as the promises of peace was not kept by him

The Munich agreement stat

The Sudetenland region of czechslovakia was ceased to Germany in the agreement

Purpose of Occupation of Czechoslovakia

To expand German territory and fulfil nazi territorial ambitions, further break the Munich agreement

Success and failures of occupation of Czechoslovakia

• Germany took control of all Czechoslovakia, weakening the countries défense and resources

• Violated the Munich agreement and led to Britain and Frances firm stance against further exploitation

Purpose of the nazi soviet pact

To avoid a two front war and secure German interests by agreeing its the Soviet Union to divide Eastern Europe

Success and failures of nazi soviet pact

• temporarily avoided conflict with the Soviet Union, giving Germany freedom to invade Poland without fear of soviet intervention

• Alliance was temporary but led to distrust from other European powers and eventually started war with the USSR

purpose of invasion of Poland

to expand German territory and trigger the start of ww2

Success and failures of invasion of Poland

• swift invasion and until success in Poland, expanding German control over the territory

• 1.5 million German troops invaded Poland, Britain and France declared ww2 on September 3rd

Purpose of German expansionism

To secure living space for the Aryan race in Eastern Europe, especially in Poland and the USSR

Success and failures of German expansionism

• succusfully expanded German territory in Eastern Europe and promoted nazi racial ideologies through colonisation

• Led to displacement and genocide, including the persecution of the Slavs, Jews and other minorities

Purpose of non agression pact with Poland

To ensure Poland remained neutral and prevent a two front war with both Poland and the Soviet Union

Success and failures of the non agression pact with Poland

• gained time to prepare for further military expansion and maintain peace on the eastern front

• Policy was short lived as Germany invaded Poland in 1939

Purpose of operation Barbarossa

To acquire lebensraum and destroy communism in Eastern Europe

Success and failures of operation Barbarossa

• initially successfull with rapid advances into soviet territory and the capture of key cities like Kiev

• Invasion was staled due to harsh winter conditions and soviet resistance

Purpose of the Spanish civil war

Support fasciste ideology an prevent the spread of communism by aiding Francisco franco’s nationalists

Success and failures of Spanish civil war

• strengthened ties with Italy and Spain and allowed Germany to gain military experience and test weapons

• Overextended resources and manpower, intervention alienated the Soviet Union and some European powers

Spanish civil war stats

Germany spent about 16,000 soldiers