Conflict & Tension Flashcards
(27 cards)
What were Hitler’s aims and foreign policies?
- To overturn the Treaty of Versailles
- Volksdeutsche (re-uniting all German speakers)
- Lebensraum (to gain living space)
- Anschluss (bringing Germany and Austria together)
(- Destroy communism)
What was the book called that Hitler wrote that was at one point the best selling book in Germany?
Mein Kampf, translated to - ‘my struggle’
Why did France not act to stop Hitler after they heard his aims?
- They found it hard to concentrate on Hitler with all the economical problems due to the depression
- They couldn’t afford going to war without Britain
Why did Britain not act to stop Hitler at the time he told his aims?
- They were desperate to avoid any type of future war
- Their answer to this was appeasement
Why did USSR not act to stop Hitler after they heard his aims?
- They were isolated and had no one to fight with
- They were scared Hitler would aim at them because they were a communist country and Hitler wanted to destroy communism
Why did USA not act to stop Hitler at the time he told his aims?
- Wanted to stay out of European affairs
- Unemployment for them was massive at the time from the depression
- They were isolated
- Wanted to prevent any future war if possible
Why was the Rhineland demilitarised in the Treaty?
- It was put in the Treaty to punish Germany
- Gave France a small sense of security, the Rhineland was seen as a ‘buffer zone’ between France and Germany
Why did Hitler enter the Rhineland?
- He entered in 1935
- He used the Franco-Soviet pact to claim Germany was under threat
- So he sent troops in on the 1st March 1936
What shows Hitler wasn’t totally confident in remilitarising the Rhineland?
When Mussolini lined his troops up on the border, Hitler immediately withdrew because he still knew his army was far too weak and small
Why didn’t Britain and France react to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
Britain:
- some thought they had already been too harsh on Germany with the Treaty
- Britain was hit badly by the depression and couldn’t afford to risk going to war
France:
- many French troops were moved to Tunisia when the Abyssinian crisis occurred
- France wad mainly focused on the big general election they were having at the time
- France was also affected badly by the depression and could not afford it
What were the long-term consequences of Hitler remilitarising the Rhineland?
- Hitler grew in confidence
- Hitler looked at other things he could overturn in the Treaty
- It showed Hitler the weaknesses of Britain and France
- Britain and France started rearming
- Mussolini was attracted to Hitler’s force when they soon made the Rome-Berlin pact
What was the Locarno Treaty and when was it signed?
- 1925
- Between Hitler and Britain
- Britain would support Germany if they were invaded by France
- Would try to avoid future war
What was the Anti-Comintern Pact and when was it signed?
- 1936
- Between Japan and Hitler (and later Italy)
- They would work together against communism
What was the Rome-Berlin axis and when was it signed?
- 1936
- Between Mussolini and Hitler
- Both countries agreed to work more closely together
- Help each other not feel isolated in Europe
What was the Pact of Steel and when was it signed?
- 1939/40
- Between Italy, Japan and Germany
- Their armies would work together if war ever broke out
What is the left wing group called and what counties worked this way?
Left wing = Communists
- USSR is communist
- China became a communist country after 1949
What was communism and what did it believe in?
- Obedience to a strong leader
- No opposition parties allowed
- Many personal freedoms were not allowed
- Large army
- The state owns the means of production (e.g. industry, banks, transport)
What countries had parties that were many centre / democratic?
Britain, USA, France
Parties they had that were centre were:
- Socialists
- Liberal democrats
What did democratic parties consist of?
- Personal freedoms e.g. freedom of vote and speech
- Freedom for media, trade unions, clubs, youth movements and churches
What is the right wing called and who was part of it?
Right Wing = Facists
- Italy
- Spain
(- Nazi Germany, but it differed in Germany it was more totalitarian, more brutal and racist)
What was fascism?
- Obedience to a strong leader
- No opposition parties allowed
- Nationalism
- A belief that one’s race is more superior to another
- Many personal freedoms not allowed
- A large army
- Hatred of communism
- State controls means of production
- Violence can be used if necessary
What is totalitarianism?
Total control over every aspect of peoples' lives, including what people say and believe. the following are strictly controlled: - The press - The media - Churches - Clubs and societies - Trade unions - Education - Youth movements - and Entertainment
Why did Hitler want Anschluss?
- Austria and Germany had similar cultures and shared a language
- Volksdeutsche (gaining living space)
- Hitler was born there (made it more personal)
- They had united in WW1 and Hitler thought they belonged together
- He wanted to overturn the Treaty where Anschluss was banned
When did Anschluss happen?
March-April 1938
