Origins and outbreak of WW2 Flashcards
1
Q
Hitler’s foreign policy aims
A
- overturn the ToV
- make Germany strong again
- Lebensraum
- unite Volksdeutsche
- Anschluss
- destroy communism
2
Q
What happened in the LoN’s disarmament conference?
A
- 1933
- Hitler said he would disarm if every other nation would too
- wanted to have same size army as France otherwise; France refused
- Hitler stormed out and left LoN
3
Q
What happened in the Dollfuss Affair?
A
- 1934
- Dollfuss banned the Nazi Party in Austria
- Hitler told Nazis to create havoc -> Dollfuss murdered
- plot failed -> Mussolini moved his troops onto the Austrian border
4
Q
What happened at the ‘Freedom to Rearm Rally’?
A
- March 1935
- Hitler showed off his weapons and troops
- announced he was reintroducing conscription
- could openly defy ToV, without other countries stopping him
5
Q
What happened at the Saar Plebiscite?
A
- 13th January 1935
- plebiscite held to see who should govern the area
- 90% voted Germany and Hitler used this as propaganda
6
Q
What was the Anglo-Naval Agreement?
A
- June 1935
- Hitler could build his navy to 35% of GB’s one
- allowed Germany to build 45% of the number of British submarines
- GB admitting ToV was unfair + could ignore it
7
Q
What was the Stresa Front?
A
- April 1935
- agreement between Italy, France and Britain
- work together to stop Hitler
8
Q
When did Hitler march into the Rhineland?
A
7th March 1936
9
Q
When was Anschluss with Austria?
A
12th March 1938
10
Q
How did Hitler achieve Anschluss?
A
- January 1938 -> police raided headquarters of Austrian Nazi Party: found plans to overthrow Schuschnigg
- Schuschnigg met with Hitler; he had little to say over the terms that they agreed
- this included appointing Seyss-Inquart as minister for the inferior; Nazis would take roles of ministers of finance and war and release Nazis from prison
- Schuschnigg decided to hold a plebiscite
- 11th March 1938 -> Hitler demanded plebiscite be postponed
- forced Schuschnigg to resign
- 12th March 1938 -> Nazi troops invaded
- 10th April 1938 -> held the plebiscite; 99% of Austrians voted for Anschluss
11
Q
When was the Sudeten crisis?
A
1938-9
12
Q
What happened in the Sudeten crisis?
A
- 15th September 1938 -> Chamberlain met with Hitler and Hitler says crisis can only be resolved if he gets the Sudetenland
- Chamberlain appeased and then met with the Czechs to force them to agree to the conditions
- 22nd September 1938 -> Chamberlain met Hitler at Bad Godsberg; Hitler now wanted Sudetenland by 1st October and Hungary and Poland should also receive Czech land
- Munich Conference -> same demands as Bad Godsberg; thought they had prevented war
- 10th October 1938 -> marched his troops into the Sudetenland
- 15th March 1939 -> Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia
13
Q
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
A
23rd August 1939
