What was one of the first thing’s Hitler did when he came to power?
Started rearming
Who did he draft into the army first?
Thousands of unemployed workers
Why did he draft unemployed workers into the army?
It helped both reduce unemployment and helped grow the army (a key campaign promise)
Initially, how did Hitler rearm?
In secret
Why did Hitler rearm in secret?
He knew rearmament would cause alarm in other countries
What did Hitler claim in public?
- He did not want to rearm
2. He was only rearming because other countries were not rearming
Apart from begin to rearm, what else did Hitler do in 1933?
Withdrew Germany from the League of Nations (following Japan’s example)
What did Hitler stage in 1935?
A massive military rally to celebrate Germany’s armed forces
When did Hitler reintroduce conscription?
1935 (NOT 1936, as it says in Walsh textbook)
Why in 1935 did Hitler reveal that he had rearmed?
He predicted that most other countries would allow him to get away with it. (He was right.)
Why did other countries not act against Hitler when he rearmed?
- Amidst the Depression, they were focused on their own problems
- Other countries were also using rearmament to solve their unemployment issues
Did the German people like unemployment?
Yes - it massively boosted Hitler’s popularity
What did Hitler know about the British?
They that had some sympathy with Germany’s complaints about the ToV. Many Britons thought it was too harsh.
Why did the British think Hitler rearming might not be such a bad thing?
They figured Germany might be a counterweight to the Soviet threat
How did Britain help dismantle the Treaty of Versailles?
By signing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement which permitted Germany to increase its navy to 35% the size of Britain’s
How did France respond to the Anglo-German Naval Agreement
They were furious - but there was little they could do
What did British politician, Lord Lothian say in 1935?
‘I am convinced Hitler does not want war… what the Germans are after is a strong army which will enable them to deal with Russia.’
