Master Planner vs Opportunist

Question 1

Withdrawal from Disarmament Conference MP

Answer 1

withdrawal - German forces not allowed to be equal to France
Could paint Germany as victim
Didn’t want to limit size of armed forces - planned for war in future

Question 2

Withdrawal from Disarmament Conference Opp

Answer 2

Hitler refused to negotiate in limits on German army

Question 3

Non-aggression pact w/ Poland MP

Answer 3

Disguises what he’s doing - needs time to rearm
Says he’ll be peaceful to reassure Allies

Question 4

Non-aggression pact w/ Poland Opp

Answer 4

Didn’t correspond w/ rearmament conference - signs something he won’t fulfil
Improvising as he goes - invades Poland in 39

Question 5

Assassination of Dolfuss MP

Answer 5

Refused to give public support towards Austrian Nazis - kept his ideas clear

Question 6

Assassination of Dolfuss Opp

Answer 6

Hitler not prepared to support actions of the Fascists

Question 7

Plebiscite in the Saar MP

Answer 7

Hitler still had aim of reversing ToV - reclaiming lost territory
Stuck to his aim despite the hiccup

Question 8

Plebiscite in the Saar Opp

Answer 8

Large propaganda campaign to convince voters
more than 90% wanted to re-join Germany

Question 9

Announcement of the existence of the Luftwaffe MP

Answer 9

Hitler keen to announce its existence

Question 10

Anglo-German naval agreement MP

Answer 10

Hitler always wanted increased relations w/ Britain

Question 11

Anglo-German naval agreement Opp

Answer 11

Exploit another chance as he did with Luftwaffe

Question 12

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland MP

Answer 12

Hitler ordered it
ToV reversal - especially this part

Question 13

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland Opp

Answer 13

Didn’t coincide with when they were ready for war
Generals given instructions to retreat if resistance
‘Most nerve-wracking 48 hours of my life’ - Hitler

Question 14

Hossbach Memorandum MP

Answer 14

Lebensraum outlined
Aims of Anschluss
Hitler expected and was preparing for war
blueprint for expansionist war

Question 15

Hossbach Memorandum Opp

Answer 15

Impossible for Germany to be self-sufficient
No mention of war w/ Russia
Inconsistencies such as Dates

Question 16

Anschluss w/ Austria MP

Answer 16

Revisited his plan after failed attempt in 1934
Great ambition for this union

Question 17

Anschluss w/ Austria Opp

Answer 17

Austrian chancellor holds plebiscite
Schuschnigg pressured to accept Nazi influence, not full annexation by Hitler
Goering does most for Hitler - Hitler cautious

Question 18

Annexation of the Sudetenland MP

Answer 18

Always wanted the return of Sudetenland to Germany

Question 19

Annexation of Sudetenland Opp

Answer 19

Emboldened by lack of previous allied intervention

Question 20

Invasion of Czechoslovakia MP

Answer 20

Always planned it
Broke Munich agreement - always planned to do so

Question 21

Invasion of Czechoslovakia Opp

Answer 21

Constant expansion was v risky
Germany still unprepared for war - shows lack of plan - should’ve timed it for when they were

Question 22

Invasion of Poland MP

Answer 22

Successfully rearmed Germany etc.
German military might no longer miniscule compared to allies
Non-aggression pact w/ USSR showed Hitler planned for the invasion

Question 23

Invasion of Poland Opp

Answer 23

Going to war when they were unprepared was a massive gamble
Hitler advised to delay
Emboldened by lack of Allied intervention