Hitler Foreign Policy

1933

1933

Geneva disarmament conference

Call on other European states to come down to Germany's level of arms, or to allow military parity between states

This was rejected by France, Britain and others, after which Germany withdrew from the conference and eventually left the League of Nations

1934

In January:

10-year Non-aggression Pact with Poland

Nazis didn't really like the Polish (they're untermensch), and didn't recognize Poland

Polish, concerned with the weakness of the League and Germany's rearmament entered a 10 year non-aggression pact with Germany

Temporarily secured Germany's eastern border

Gave appearance that Hitler could be 'worked with'

Hitler: "all of our agreements with Poland have a temporary significance"

1935

13 Jan

Saar Plebiscite was held, which was a referendum held in Saar (back then in French occupation), and 90.9% of the people voted to reunite with Germany

16 March

Germany started rearmament and publicly announced it

Also announced conscription

Has airforce of 2500 planes

14 April: Stresa Pact:

Signatories = Italy, Britain, France

formal declaration against German rearmament and a commitment to stand united against Germany

Italy withdraws due to the Abyssinian Crisis 1935/36

June 18: Anglo-German Naval Pact:

Britain withdraws from Stresa

1936

March:

With the world distracted by the Abyssinian Crisis, Hitler moved to remilitarize the Rhineland

Justified his actions following the signing of a French-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty and the fear of encirclement by the Soviet and French (from both sides of Germany)

October:

The Rome-Berlin Axis

Established areas of mutual interest between the two nations

25 November: Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan and Italy:

Opposition of international communism

Mutual defence should the USSR attack

Spanish Civil War 1936 - 1939

Hitler and Mussolini each supported Spanish Fascists in the civil war

German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the Navy (kriegsmarine) were each very important in the victory of the Fascists

Condor legions targeted civilian centres, such as the famous Guernica

1938

March 12: Anschluss:

Hitler mobilized his army on the border of Austria in an attempt to influence the vote

Facing no international opposition, Germany invaded Austria on March 12, 1938

Sudetenland and Munich Conference:

Hitler found another success and increased public support at home following the successful annexation of the Cezchoslovakian Sudetenland region:

Over 3 million Sudeten Germans called for union with Germany

30 September: In Munich the Anglo-German declaration is agreed upon by Hitler and Neville Chamberlain, and Munich Agreement is signed

Disputes would be resolved through consultation, not military conflict

Chamberlain proclaimed he had achieved 'peace in our time'

1939

March:

Hitler violated the Munich Agreement by occupying Bohemia and Moravia, present-day Czech Republic:

Hitler now moved beyond what he could 'legitimately' claim as 'German' Lands

On 30 March, seeing an inevitable invasion of Poland, Britain and France offered a guarantee of security

Germany ended Non-Aggression pact with Poland

22 May Pact of Steel

Alliance between Germany and Italy in case Britain and France become hostile

Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact

With plans made to invade Poland, Germany reached out to USSR for a non-aggression pact

24 August - Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact:

25 August: Poland and Britain sign a full military alliance

Mussolini, not ready for war, tried to organize a conference to resolve the crisis, but Hitler was not willing to wait

31 August: Germany claimed a radio station near the Polish border was attacked by Polish forces (Nazi forces disguised as Polish forces)

1 September: Germany invaded Poland with the Luftwaffe bombed Warsaw

1941

Germany declares war on USA due to Japan attacking Pearl Harbour