German expansionism

Disarmament Conference

1932-34

Out of mutual suspicion, League members refused to disarm. France’s refusal led to Hitler walking out of the conference as well as the League in 1933 (95% support for his actions in plebiscite)

Non-Aggression Pact with Poland

1934

Hitler trying to portray himself as harmless, but this is in reality a pact of convenience until he is ready to invade Poland

Failed Anschluss

1934

Hitler backed down due to fear of confrontation with Italy —> lesson for him

Saar Plebiscite

Jan 1935

Plebiscite planned in Treaty of Versailles, resulting 90.9% support of joining Germany. This was a huge confidence-booster for Hitler, who then turned his eyes to the Rhineland

Luftwaffe & conscription —> intentionalism/aggression

Feb 1935, Mar 1935

Both of these things were prohibited in the Treaty of Versailles

Stresa Front —> responses

Apr 1935

Alliance between Britain, France, and Italy to deter Germany from aggression, but soon failed due to national interests taking precedence

Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Agreement

May 1935

First breach of the Stresa Front

Anglo-German Naval Accord

Jun 1935

Second breach of the Stresa Front, Germany navy not to exceed 35% of the British Navy’s tonnage

Italian invasion of Abyssinia

Oct 1935

League member invading League member, but limited sanctions as Britain and France wanted to keep Italy in the League —> failure in collective security

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland —> responses

Mar 1936

Key example of appeasement: France and Britain did not to oppose Hitler, even though Hitler was quite tentative

Spanish Civil War —> aggression

Jul 1936 start

Nations sign the Non-Intervention Pact, but everyone breaches it

Hitler sends the Condor Legion (Luftwaffe), gaining valuable experience for his future invasion of the east

German-Italian alliance —> aggression

Rome Berlin Axis (1936)

Anti-Comintern Pact (1937)

Pact of Steel (1939)

Four Year Plan —> aggression

1936

Directing Germany economy towards military production

Hossbach Memorandum —> aggression

Nov 1937

Hitler details his plans to invade the east and to expand the German racial community

Anschluss —> both

Mar 1938

Hitler forcefully making Schuschnigg resign and sending force to influence votes

99.75% support in plebiscite 

League does not react

Sudeten Crisis, Munich Conference, Munich Agreement —> both

Sudeten Crisis (1938): Hitler had a series of meetings with Chamberlain to demand Sudetenland, Chamberlain continues with appeasement

Munich Conference & Agreement (Sep 1938): Britain, France, Germany, and Italy agree to allow German annexation of Sudetenland without inviting Benes

More land acquisition —> aggression

Memel: Mar 1939

Albania: Apr 1939

Problem with Poland —> aggression

Since Poland refused to give Danzig, Hitler drew up plans to invade by cancelling the Non-Aggression Pact with Poland and the Anglo-German Naval Accord

Anglo-Polish Alliance 

Mar 1939

Britain would declare war on Germany if Poland was invaded

Nazi-Soviet Pact —> aggression

Aug 1939

Hitler wanted to avoid 2-front war, Stalin was wary of fascist threat and was not yet ready for military confrontation

Agreed on 10 years of non-aggression and to split Poland in half

Invasion of Poland

Sep 1939