Topic 7: The development of tension Flashcards
What were Hitler’s aims?
Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933 and here are his foreign policy aims:
- Lebensraum
- Overturn the treaty of Versailles
- Unite German speaking people (Volksdeutsche) in a Greater Germany (this included Anschluss)
How did Britain and France react to Hitler’s aims?
Britain and France didn’t want to start another war, so they let Hilter get away with breaking the Treaty of Versailles, even though it was international law. They did this because:
- They needed time to rearm; their armies weren’t big enough to fight and win a war.
- Many British people thought Hitler was being reasonable as the treaty had been to harsh.
- They were concerned about the USSR and thought Hitler could be a valuable ally against communism.
- Countries couldn’t afford to go to war during the depression and their gov’s were preoccupied with problems at home.
- People could remember the horrors of WW1 and they didn’t want another war.
- The policy followed by Britain and France from 1937 is known as appeasement: they tried to give Hitler what he wanted to prevent war.
What was the reaction of the USSR and the USA?
USSR: Joseph Stalin was worried by Hitler’s determination to destroy communism and by 1935 he was willing to put aside concerns about Britain and France to sign a mutual assistance treaty with France. Stalin would work with the allies to protect the USSR from Hitler.
USA: They followed the policy of isolationism during the depression. In 1934 a poll said that 70% of Americans didn’t want to get involved if a second war in Europe broke out.
What were the events and the reactions to them, leading up to the war?
1933: Hitler leaves the disarmament conference
Event: The league held a conference encouraging nations to disarm. When Hitler became chancellor he said he’d disarm if everyone else did. If they didn’t he’d disarm the same level as France. When France refused, Hitler stormed out of the conference and left the league of nations.
Reaction: There was little the allies could do. Hitler claimed he had acted reasonably and that it was the French who were being unfair.
1934: The Dollfuss Affair
Event: Fearful that Hitler would try to reunite with Austria in Anschluss, the Austrian chancellor, Englebert Dollfuss, banned the Nazi Part in Austria. Hitler ordered the Nazis cause havoc in Austria and they murdered Dollfuss.
Reaction: Mussolini moved his army to the Austrian border in support of Austria. Hitler wasn’t ready to fight so he backed down.
13 January 1935: The Saar plebiscite
Event: Under the treaty, the Saar had been controlled by the league for 15 years. In 1935 a plebiscite took place to decide whether Germany or France should control the area. 90% voted for Germany and Hitler used this as propaganda.
Reaction: Hitler gained valuable resources like the coalfields of the Saar, and there was nothing anyone could do as the plebiscite was fair.
March 1935: Rearmament
Event: Hitler held a rally where he announced that he had been rebuilding the German army and was reintroducing conscription. He had also started to develop the Luftwaffe - an air force.
Reaction: In April 1935 Britain, France and Italy agreed that they would work together against Hitler as the Stresa Front.
June 1935: Anglo-German Naval Agreement
Event: Britain signed an agreement allowed Germany to have a navy that was 35% the size of the British navy.
Reaction: Hitler realised that Britain was allowing him to break the terms of the treaty of Versailles.
