Hitler’s Foreign Policy and the causes of World War II

Outline of what we’ll cover....Hitler’s aims and The Treaty of VersaillesRearmamentExpansionAnchlussAppeasementNazi-Soviet Pact

Task...Let’s see what you already know..work in pairs..

3 Facts or statements about each bullet point..

Hitler’s Aims and the TofV?Hitler’s Aims were outlined in Mein Kampf?

(1924)Part of his popular support was due to

attitude to the Treaty... Come up with 4 issues that Germans disliked?

Hitler comes to power in January 1933...

AIMS: DESTROY THE TofV – REARM & RECAPTURE

UNITE ALL GERMAN SPEAKERS EXPAND EAST – LEBENSRAUM DESTROY COMMUNISM

Rearmament

Use pp45 to list at least 3 actions of aggression or rearmament. What was the REACTION to Hitler’s actions?

How is this a CAUSE of WW II?

Rhineland 1936

32,000 invadersHitler’s gambleReaction of Rhinelanders

Why did the British and French fail to enforced the TofV?

What does the cartoon tell us about Nazi attitude to military restrictions imposed by the TofV? (6)Use the sources and your own knowledge,

ContextInterpretationKnowledge

Anchluss with Austria 1938

Anchluss 1938Objective to unite German speaking peoplePrevious attempt 1934 (Mussolini & von

Schuschnigg)Spanish Civil War 1936 improved Nazi-Italian

relationsRome-Berlin Axis (1936) & Anti-Commitern Act

(1937)

Austrian Nazi plot to overthrow governmentRioting in Austria. Hitler sent troops in to

restore peace.80,000 opponents imprisoned, Hitler enters

AustriaPlebicite, (vote) 99.75% said ‘yes’ to Anchluss

Appeasement

Winston Churchill

Appeasement: The policy of granting concessions to potential enemies in an attempt to maintain peace.

Timeline of Invasion/Appeasement12-13 September 1938:

Hitler encourages Konrad Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Nazis, to rebel, and demands a union with Germany.

When the Czech government declares martial law, Hitler threatens war.

15 September 1938: Chamberlain goes to see Hitler at Berchtesgaden. Without consulting Czechoslovakia, he promises to give Hitler

all the areas where more than 50 per cent of the population is German. Then he persuades France to agree.

22-23 September 1938: Chamberlain goes to Bad Godesberg to tell Hitler about the

decision, but Hitler now demands ALL the Sudetenland. Chamberlain refuses; it looks like war.

Chamberlain calls the crisis 'a quarrel in a faraway country, between people of whom we know nothing'.

30 September 1938: At Munich, France and Britain agree to give Hitler the

Sudetenland. Chamberlain waves 'a piece of paper' with Hitler's statement

that he does not want to go to war. German troops march into the Sudetenland, and are welcomed as heroes.

Appeasement “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is, that we should be

digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here, because of a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing...

However much we may sympathise with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbour, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve the whole British Empire in war simply on her account. If we have to fight, it must be on larger issues than that. I am myself a man of peace to the depths of my soul; armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me... War is a fearful thing, and we must be very clear before we embark on it, that it is really the great issues that are at stake.”

Neville Chamberlain

AppeasementFor Appeasement Against Appeasement

Not ready to fightMemory of WW1Public didn’t want warNeed for a strong

GermanyTofV had been unfairHitler admired!

Green light to HitlerLegitimise his actionsGermany not ready for

warMade war inevitableForced Nazi/Soviet

Alliance

Results of Appeasement

Hitler invades the rest of CzechoslovakiaHitler had captured non-German speaking people...Britain no longer trusted GermanyBritain promised to defend Poland if Germany

attacked.

Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement was the best policy to avoid war with Nazi Germany.

To what extent do you agree with this statement.Use your own knowledge and the source.

Nazi Soviet Pact August 1939Silly Video

Stalin wanted to work with Britain and France to halt Hitler’s advance.

Negotiations didn’t go well:

Britain and France didn’t trust StalinStalin didn’t think the British & French could halt

HitlerPoland weren’t happy to have Soviet troops in Poland

Nazi Soviet Pact August 1939SURPISE! Hitler and Stalin signed the Pact in

secret!

Promised not to fight one anotherSecretly agreed to split Poland

Why would Stalin and Hitler sign an agreement They hate each other!

HitlerAllowed Germany to

continue expansionLebensraumDivided his

‘enemies’Buying time to

rearmStalinAllowed USSR to

expandStalin didn’t trust

Britain and FranceAvoid conflictBuying time to

rearm

Nazi Germany

France & Britain

Soviet Union

Treaty of Versailles

Cause of World War II

Hitler’s Aims & TofV Expansion Rearmament

Anschluss Appeasement Nazi-Soviet Pact