How far was Hitlers policy responsible for the second world war? Flashcards
How did Hitler invade Czechozlavakia?
The Nazis struck a deal (the Munich agreement) with Britain so they were allowed to take over the Sudentenland. They then took over the rest of the country.
What happened with Poland in 1939?
Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet non aggression pact, both powers agreeing to divide up Polish territory if war began. This was also called the Molotov Rippentrop pact. Hitler then invaded Poland pretending that Poland had invaded first. Britain and France then declared war on Germany.
What happened with Austria in 1934?
Hitler ordered the Austrain Nazis to create havoc in Austria. This lead to a failed Nazi attempt to overthrow the government as the military intervened. Italy honoured its treaty with Austria and moved its troops in to deter Germany.
What happened with the Rhineland in 1936?
Hitler moved troops into the Rhineland. The league of nations condemned Hitler but had no power to do anything. France refused to do anything without British support and Chamberlain famously said that they were just “walking into their own back yard. “ It was a risk for Hitler and if he had been met with resistance he arguably would have lost power as he was not prepared to face any.
What happened with Austria in 1938?
Hitler encouraged the chancellor of Austria to have a referendum to be united with Germany as he’d had the Nazis stiring up trouble. Hitler sent troops into Germany claiming it was to make sure the referendum was trouble free. The referendum had 99% people voting for reunification. The British primieninster supported this as the British and France were beginning to see the TOV as flawed.
What was the Munich agreement?
September 29–30, 1938: Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement, by which Czechoslovakia must surrender its border regions and defenses (the so-called Sudeten region) to Nazi Germany.
Who was Otto Von Bismark?
He was a chancellor who was determined to unite the German states into a single empire. He captured the provances of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark. He also won a victory against the Southern German states who agreed to join the empire. He also aimed to make Germany the most powerful empire in Europe. He negotiated an alliance with Austria Hungary to contract Russia France. He also came up with the medertarinan agreements of 1887 to preserve the status quo against a threat of Russia.
Who was Kaiser Wihelm II ?
He had a scheme of colonial expansion. He wanted to turn Germany into a global superpower, this scheme was called Wetpolitik. Colonial policies became a matter of prestige and as Germany was a late comer to colonial matters it was important for Germany to stand up for itself. However, only relatively small gains were made and the polciys ultimate failure would be forseen after the first World War. The September program drawn up by the government at the start of ww1 set out Germanys ambition to take over vast areas of eastern Europe
When had anschluss become popular?
In the late 19th century between German nationalists
Where did aryanism have its origins?
The concept of ubermensch in relation to the German people had its origin in the late 19th century works of Frederick Nietzche.
Who came up with the idea of living space?
German thinker Friedrich Ratzel in the late 19th century. He said that human beings had to migrate in order to flourish.
What does sonderweg mean?
The idea that Germany followed a special path which caused the country to be more militaristic and aggressive than others
When Churchill spoke in the house of commons in 1935 what did he say?
germany was preparing for war
How were the Nazis involved in the Spanish civil war?
German involvement in the Spanish Civil War commenced with the outbreak of war in July 1936, with Adolf Hitler immediately sending in powerful air and armored units to assist General Francisco Franco and his Nationalist forces. They then used the fact that they had showed so much force to threaten the Austrian leadership.
Why did Hitler focus his efforts on the Soviet pact?
He believed that Britain wouldn’t step into help the Polish.
Name 5 reasons why appeasement happened.
- People knew the treaty of versailles was too harsh so they didn’t want to enforce it. 2. People didn’t want a repeat of WW1. 3. They believed the empire was more important than Eastern Europe. 4. Britain wasn’t ready for war 5. Britain didn’t think they’d have any support from America and Canada was the only dominan that said they would support Britain in event of war.
What are 4 consequences of appeasement?
- Germany rearms including the Rhineland 2. Germany invades the Sudentenland and then Czechzovakia 3. The Munich agreement .4.The invasion of Poland
What’s anschluss?
The uniting of all German speakers
What event exacerbated the problems of America, Britain and France?
The Great depression. This meant that the countries were focused on their own problems instead of international ones.
What happened in Manchuria in 1931?
Japan had invaded. The league of nations had done nothing, showing its ineffectiveness which encouraged the later actions of Mussolini and Hitler. It also made clear that Britain would struggle to uphold its commitments to the empire and the league of nations at the same time.
What happened to the Saarland in 1935?
After being under the control of the league of nations for 15 years they voted to join Germany again in a free and fair plepasiste. This was seen as a great propaganda success for the Naziz.
Who did Hitler keep as foreign minister when he became chancellor?
Constain von Neurath. This presented the image of stability which reassured other nations of Hitlers good leadership.
What happened at the disarmament conference in 1933?
Hitler withdrew from that and the league of nations as France refused to accept proposals for equal numbers and military of land forces for the two countries. In this way, it appeared that the French were the ones being unreasonable whilst Germany evoked sympathy especially from Britain and Italy.
In March 1935 what did Hitler declare?
The existence of the Luftwaffe and the introduction of conscription and a peace time army of 550,000. This went against the terms of the treaty of Versailles and this lead to the Stresa Declaration.
What was the stresa declaration?
Verbal commnation of Germany by Britain, France and Italy after they’d introduced conscription and the luftwaffe.
What was Hitlers aims in the early years of Nazi foreign policy?
To cultivate friendship with Britain and Italy and to weaken French power and influence whenever possible.
What did Hitler sign in January 1934?
A 10 year non aggression pact with Poland. It created the impression of reasonableness and that Germany and Poland had come to an understanding. However Hitler did not see this as a long term plan as he viewed Poland as a gateway to lebensraum in the East.
What did Britain and Germany sign in June 1935?
A naval agreement which ignored the treaty of versailles and allowed Germany to have a navy 35 per cent the strength of the British fleet.
What was the hossbach memorandum?
The Hossbach Memorandum was a note compiled by Colonel Count Friedrich Hossbach of a secret meeting between Hitler and his top military and political leadership on the 5 November 1937. At the meeting, Hitler discussed his plans for foreign policy in the years ahead. Here, according to Hossbach, Hitler stated that the time for a war for Lebensraum was near. Hitler declared that the primary targets for this desired ‘living space’ were Austria and Czechoslovakia. The question, Hitler stated, was not if, but when and how.
Hitler also identified a time frame in which the war for Lebensraum would ideally take place: 1943-45
3 extracts from 25 point plan of 1925
- We demand unification of all Germans in the Greater Germnay and the basis of the right of self determination of the peoples 2. We demand equality of the rights for the German people in respect to the other nations abrogation of the peace treaties of versailles and St Germain. 3. We demand land and territory (colonies) for the sustenance of our people and colonisation of our surplus populations
Did Hitler talk about lebensraum in mein kampf?
Yes, he talked about getting it at the expense of russia and the ending of Russia as a state. He also mentioned it in his unpublished second book
What was the 4 year plan?
The policy of autarky attempted to make Germany self-sufficient, so it would no longer be necessary for Germans to trade internationally. In 1936, Hermann Göring was appointed leader of the Four Year Plan (1936-40). His powers and the plan itself conflicted with Schacht’s, the current economic minister, and Schacht resigned in 1937. The Four Year Plan aimed to speed up rearmament and make Germany self-sufficient to ensure it was ready for war. The measures he introduced, such as tighter controls on imports and subsidies for farmers to produce more food, were not successful. By the outbreak of World War Two Germany was still importing 20 per cent of its food and 33 per cent of its raw materials.
When did Italy invade Ethiopia and what did this have to do with the Nazis?
In 1936. As Mussolini had helped Austria in 1934 And so, when Italy invaded Abyssinia a year later, Hitler made clear his outrage through the sending of aid to Ethiopia. He couldn’t care less for the fate of the Ethiopians, he merely wished to send a message to Mussolini. It was really pretty insignificant. But the message was there, the message that if Mussolini did not support Hitler, Hitler would not support Mussolini.
What was the pact of steel?
Alliance between Germany and Italy. Signed by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on May 22, 1939, it formalized the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis agreement, linking the two countries politically and militarily.
What was the Polish guarantee?
After the invasion of Czechoslovakia Britain , the USSR and France agreed that if Poland was invaded they would act.
What’s pan germanism?
The uniting of all German speaking people.
What did Lloyd George inform military chiefs of after ww1?
He told them to plan defence spending on the assumption that no war would occur for ten years. Britain would remain parity with the United States in the building of battle ships and no new ones should be brought into service for 10 years. The government could also not afford to build any new battle ships.
Why did the British government reject a millitary alliance with France in the 1920s?
They were afraid of being dragged into another war.
What was the league of nations?
It was formed on the 10th of Januaey 1920 as a result of the Paris peace conference. The United Kingdom, France, Italy and Japan were permanent members of the executive council and had the powers to enforce its resolutions, keep to its economic sanctions and provide an army when needed. The council also had 9 temporary members elected by the council.There were 42 nations. Russia was band as it was communist and America refused to join and cut its self off from the world.
Who strongly opposed war?
Ramsay Macdonald who becme prime minister in 1924. He signed the Geneva protocol with France saying that disputes between countries should be taken to a world Court. He lost the general election but then became prime minster again in 1929. He called for the removal of reparations, support for disarmament and the finding of peaceful solutions to international problems. He called the world disarmament conference in 1932.
In 1932 how big was the British Air force?
Only the 5th largest in the word however throughout the 30s the fear of war grew.
How big was Britain’s army in the 30s?
400,000 men
In 1934 what did a survey carried out on 12 million British voters show?
Overwhelming support for the government’s policy of collective security, league of nations and disarmament
Who became primister in 1935?
Stanley Baldwin
How did Britain react to the invasion of abesenya?
The league of nations condemned it and agreed on sanctions but they were largely ineffective as they did not ban the sale of oil or close the British suez canal.
How did the British react to the Spanish Civil War?
Baldwin called for all countries in Europe to not intervene. He also told the French that if they aided the Spanish government and it lead to war with Germany Britain would not help. This lead to the Non intervention agreement signed by 27 countries including Germany, Britain, France, The Soviet Union and Italy. However Mussolini continued to give aid to the nationalists and Germany told his war minister that he wanted to do the same too. The British government was aware of this and admitted that their non intervention pact was unsuccessful.
Who became prime minister in 1937?
Neville Chamberlin after Baldwin resigned.
How did Chamberlain begin to rebuild British military strength?
He increased defence spending £1.1 billion was financed through taxation and £400 million from increased government borrowing. £80 million of this was to be spent on air raid precautions.
What type of ideology did Britain have at the start of the war?
Constitutional democracy. There were multiple parties, imperalism and racism was common as Britain controlled 1/5 of the world’s population.
When war broke out how many men could Britain muster?
897,000 which is a significantly small amount in comparison to the population they controlled.
How much recourses did Britain have?
They were still in recession however they were able to trade with their colonies such as India and tea and their African colonies and raw materials.They were also able to transport goods to the empire like lancashire cotton Mills sending cotton to India.
What was the USSRS ideology?
Communist however a group at the top enforced it
What was Italys ideology?
Militaristic nationalism and contept for electoral democracy. There was belief in a natural hierarchy of social beliefs. They believed in a people’s community and individual interests would be put down in favour of a nations.
What was the Soviet unions population like?
Overall soviet citizens spoke over 200 languages. It was a secular state with 303 divisions and had around 5.5 million solders.
What was Italys population like?
There were 55 million Italians, 48,000 being Italian Jews. They had more than 12 languages and 59 infantry divisions.
What were the USSRs recourses like?
They were the leading producers of oil, coal, ore and cement. They also became a leading produce of manganese, gold, natural gas and other minerals.
What were Italys recourses like?
They had high debt, almost no transportation or industry’s. There was a high rate of poverty and illiteracy with an uneven tax structure.
What’s an example of the league of nations having some success settling disputes?
Upper Silesia in 1921. A plebiscite was held onto who should own it. They voted to return to Germany but the league decided to spilt up the territory with Poland which both sides accepted.
What’s an example of the league of nations having failed to settle a dispute?
In Corfu 1923 5 Italian soldiers were killed by Greek soldiers and Mussolini occupied the island as a response. As Britain did not want to take action against Mussolini Greece was forced to apologise to Mussolini and pay compensation to Italy before the troops left.
