German Expansion & International Responses (1933–1939)

What was Hitler's main foreign policy aim in the early 1930s?

To overturn the Treaty of Versailles, rebuild Germany's military, and expand territory.

What was the significance of Germany leaving the League of Nations in 1933?

It rejected collective security and allowed Germany to rearm freely.

What was the goal of German rearmament?

To rebuild the military and prepare for expansion.

What did the 1935 Saar Plebiscite show?

Over 90% voted for the Saar to return to Germany, boosting Hitler's support.

What was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935)?

A treaty letting Germany build a navy up to 35% of Britain's, undermining Versailles.

Why was the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 important?

It violated Versailles and Locarno; Britain and France did nothing, encouraging Hitler.

What was the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)?

An alliance between Germany and Italy.

How did the Spanish Civil War support German expansion?

Germany tested weapons, gained experience, and strengthened ties with Italy.

What was the significance of the Hossbach Memorandum (1937)?

It revealed Hitler's long-term plan for expansion and war.

What was Anschluss (1938)?

The annexation of Austria by Germany.

After Austria, what territory did Hitler target next?

The Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.

What was the Munich Agreement (1938)?

Britain and France allowed Germany to take the Sudetenland to avoid war.

Why was the Munich Agreement significant?

It encouraged Hitler and showed appeasement had failed.

What happened to the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939?

Germany invaded and occupied it.

Why was the occupation of Czechoslovakia important?

It proved Hitler wanted conquest, not just to unite Germans.

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

A non-aggression pact with a secret deal to divide Poland.

Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact important for Germany?

It ensured the USSR would not oppose the invasion of Poland.

How did World War II begin?

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

Why did the League of Nations fail to stop aggression in the 1930s?

It had no army, slow decision-making, and weak cooperation.

How did the League respond to Italy invading Ethiopia in 1935?

Issued weak sanctions that didn't stop Italy.

Why did Britain and France avoid confronting Italy and Germany strongly?

They feared war and saw fascism as a barrier to communism.

What is appeasement?

Giving in to aggressive demands to avoid war.

Why did Britain support appeasement?

Fear of war, lack of military readiness, and hope diplomacy would work.

How did France respond to German aggression?

It relied on Britain and faced internal political divisions.

What was the impact of U.S. isolationism?

The U.S. stayed out of European conflicts, reducing global resistance to aggression.

How did the USSR react to rising fascist aggression?

Distrusted Western powers and signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact for protection.

Why were international responses to aggression ineffective?

Nations were divided, focused on domestic issues, and unwilling to fight.

How did weak international responses contribute to WWII?

They emboldened Hitler to take more risks, leading to war.