1.9 German Expansion — Rebuild and Remilitarize the Rhineland (1933 - 1936)

Withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference

  • Context: The Geneva Conference (1933) was convened with the aim of achieving disarmament among nations.

    • Consensus Issues:

    • Delegates at the conference had difficulty reaching an agreement on how to implement disarmament completely.

    • The lack of decision-making was evident, leading to frustrations among countries.

    • Hitler's Demands:

    • Adolf Hitler articulated demands for Germany to possess arms comparable to those of Britain and France.

    • His demands were DENIED by the other nations involved in the conference.

  • Outcome:

    • In response to the failure of the conference and feeling disrespected, Hitler withdrew Germany from the disarmament discussions and subsequently from the League of Nations in the year 1933.

Rearmament (1935)

  • Military Expansion:

    • Germany significantly increased its military capacity by expanding its army to 500,000 men.

    • Germany's air power was publicly revealed through the establishment of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force).

Remilitarization of the Rhineland

  • Historical Context:

    • The Locarno Treaty (1925) established a series of agreements regarding European borders and security.

    • Germany had previously promised to respect the borders with France and Belgium and was allowed to join the League of Nations as a result of this treaty.

  • Strategic Focus:

    • In 1936, Hitler concentrated on remilitarizing the Rhineland, recognizing that it presented a strategic opportunity.

    • His objectives included:

    • Constructing fortifications on the western frontier, specifically targeting France.

  • Timing and Excuses:

    • The remilitarization occurred at a politically opportune moment:

    • The international community was preoccupied with the Abyssinian Crisis, diverting attention away from European tensions.

    • Additionally, France and the USSR had recently signed the Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty, which Hitler perceived as a threat to Germany.

  • Military Action:

    • On March 1936, Hitler's troops marched into the Rhineland.

    • This action received minimal response from Britain and France, signifying a lack of immediate military intervention.

    • In a strategic move, Hitler even assured neighboring countries of his commitment to peace, attempting to legitimize his actions.