iGCSE History Core Content B: Was Hitler's Foreign Policy to Blame for teh Second World War?

When did WWII begin?

3rd September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.

What was Hitler’s main foreign policy aim?

To overturn the Treaty of Versailles and achieve Lebensraum and Grossdeutschland.

What does 'Grossdeutschland' mean?

‘Greater Germany’ — uniting all German-speaking peoples under one Reich.

What is 'Lebensraum'?

‘Living space’ — Hitler's belief that Germany needed to expand eastward, especially into the USSR.

What did Hitler want to revise from the Treaty of Versailles?

Reparations, military restrictions, lost land (e.g., Polish Corridor), and rearmament.

Why did Hitler rearm Germany?

To prepare for expansion, restore German pride, and reverse Versailles; spending rose from 3.5 to 26 billion marks (1933–39).

What was the Saar Plebiscite (1935)?

A legal vote where over 90% voted to return the Saar to Germany — a propaganda victory for Hitler.

What happened during the remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936)?

Hitler sent troops into the demilitarised zone; the League and France failed to act.

Why was remilitarising the Rhineland important to Hitler?

It reversed Versailles, boosted morale, built the Siegfried Line, and exposed League weakness.

What did Hitler gain from the Spanish Civil War?

Tested the Luftwaffe (e.g., bombing of Guernica), closer ties with Mussolini, developed Blitzkrieg tactics.

What was the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)?

A political alliance between Italy and Germany.

What was the Anti-Comintern Pact (1936)?

Germany and Japan agreed to combat communism; Italy joined in 1937.

What was the Pact of Steel (1939)?

Formal military alliance between Germany and Italy.

What was the Anschluss (1938)?

Union of Germany and Austria; supported by 98% of Austrians in a vote, though possibly manipulated.

Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland?

To unite 3.5 million Germans, gain resources (e.g., Skoda arms factory), and weaken Czechoslovakia.

What was the Munich Agreement (1938)?

Britain, France, Italy, and Germany gave the Sudetenland to Hitler without consulting Czechoslovakia.

What was Chamberlain’s famous quote about the Munich Agreement?

'Peace for our time'

What happened in March 1939?

Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, ending appeasement.

What was the British-French guarantee to Poland?

March 1939 — Britain and France promised to defend Poland from German attack.

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact (August 1939)?

10-year non-aggression pact; secret protocol divided Poland between Germany and USSR.

Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

To buy time to rearm and avoid war with Germany; gain land in Eastern Europe.

Why did Hitler sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

To avoid a two-front war and secure the east before attacking Poland.

Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany?

Because Germany invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, breaking the Polish Guarantee.

What were the long-term causes of WWII?

Treaty of Versailles, failure of the League, Hitler’s foreign policy, and appeasement.

Why was the League's failure in the 1930s important?

Manchuria and Abyssinia showed Hitler that aggression would not be punished.

Why was appeasement a factor in causing WWII?

It allowed Hitler to break Versailles, grow stronger, and make more aggressive demands.

What were arguments in favour of appeasement?

Avoided war, public support, time to rearm, Versailles was too harsh.

What were arguments against appeasement?

Encouraged Hitler, betrayed small nations, allowed Germany to grow too strong.

What was the impact of the Nazi-Soviet Pact on the outbreak of WWII?

Made war inevitable; Germany invaded Poland without fear of Soviet opposition.

What is one example of Hitler misjudging Britain and France?

He believed they would not go to war over Poland, like they hadn’t over Czechoslovakia.