The Role of Germany: Hitler s Foreign Policy

Transcription

1 The Role of Germany: Hitler s Foreign Policy The Big Questions As you read through this pack, consider these questions: 1. Germany: Was Hitler a planner, or an opportunist, in foreign affairs? 2. Britain and France: Was the policy of appeasement justifiable? Overview As far as Hitler was concerned, Germany foreign policy needed to get itself out of a RUT: Rearm Germany had been disarmed under the Treaty of Versailles. This needed to be reversed. Unite all Germans - Border changes after World War One left many German speakers in foreign countries. This needed to be reversed. Territory to be seized Hitler claimed that Germany needed Lebensraum ("living space") in the East (new countries after WW1 again). If you were Hitler, in what order would you deal with these issues, and why?

2 1. Rearmament A. General Points 1934 Hitler pulls Germany out of the League of Nations after the League s final World Disarmament Conference fails Military Rallies start being held on an annual basis to generate public enthusiasm for rearmament Hitler re-introduces conscription (compulsory military service) 1939 Since Hitler came to power, the army has increased 10X B. Remilitarizing the Rhineland After the Treaty of Versailles, the Rhineland remained part of Germany. But to protect France, it was demilitarized (no troops were allowed there). i. Preparing the Ground Forming Alliances 1935 The Stresa Pact: Italy, France and Britain agree to stand together against future Nazi aggression The Anglo-German Naval Agreement: Hitler weakens the Stresa Pact by reaching a private deal with Britain about naval expansion. ii. In for the Kill In 1936, Hitler ordered his army to march into the Rhineland. Hitler only had 30,000 fully equipped troops, and was so nervous that he gave them secret orders to withdraw if they faced any opposition! However, nothing happened - Britain was still smug after signing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement France was busy dealing with a corruption scandal Italy was too busy invading Abyssinia Russia was distracted by the Purges of Stalin s opponents Boss of the Universe Rhineland Remilitarisation Rearmament A David Low cartoon of What is his message? With the benefit of hindsight, what words could you place in the remaining steps?

3 2. Uniting All Germans A. Austria: the Anschluss Hitler was keen to incorporate the German-speaking country of Austria into the Third Reich. Hitler himself was an Austrian by birth. Uniting with Austria was forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, so Hitler would have to proceed carefully. i. Preparing the Ground Forming Alliances 1934 Hitler attempts to take control of Austria, but backs off when Italy sends troops to the Austrian border The Stresa Pact is formed against Hitler, but he destroys it with the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (see previous page) 1935 The Abyssinian Crisis: Italy invades Ethiopia and is condemned by her Stresa Pact allies The Rome-Berlin Axis: Italy, no longer on good terms with Britain or France, agrees to fight side by side with Germany against the Communists in the Spanish Civil War. ii. In for the Kill Hitler secretly ordered Austrian Nazis to vandalise property and assault government officials. He suggested a new Nazi government be formed to "restore order". The Austrian Chancellor, Schussnig, refused to resign and instead called for a plebiscite (referendum) to decide whether Austria should join the Third Reich in an Anschluss. Hitler was alarmed he might lose the vote so he threatened to invade if Schussnig stayed in power. When it became clear that the international community was not going to get involved, Schussnig resigned. Hitler then sent in troops to "restore order" and to "supervise" the plebiscite, which gave a 98% "Ja!" to the idea of an Anschluss. Hitler then made a triumphant entry into Vienna as Fuhrer of Austria. Figure 1: Hitler threatens Schussnig - a play on the famous WW1 cartoon "Bravo Belgium!"

4 B. Czechoslovakia: the Sudetenland Over 3 million Germanic people lived in the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia. Many wanted to join with Germany. The Czechs realized that giving in would mean losing out: (a) militarily their border defences. (b) economically their industrial resources (factories and raw materials). (c) politically their independence. 1938: April Hitler encourages German speakers in the Sudetenland to start causing trouble and demanding union with Germany. Hitler threatens to invade if their demands are not met, but promises that this is "the last problem to be solved" 1938: 15 th Sep 1938: 22 nd Sep 1938: 29 th Sep The Berchtesgarten Conference. Chamberlain and Hitler agree that a plebiscite should be held in the Sudetenland to decide its future, in accordance with Wilsonian ideas of self-determination. The Bad Godesberg Conference. Hitler changes his mind and demands that the Sudetenland be surrendered immediately. Chamberlain refuses but expresses concern that "a quarrel in a faraway land between peoples of whom we know nothing" could lead to war. The Munich Conference. Chamberlain (UK), Mussolini (Italy) and Daladier (France) agree to hand over the Sudetenland to Germany. The USSR and the Czechs are not consulted even though both countries have alliances with France. Chamberlain comes back from Munich claiming to have secured "Peace in Our Time". German tanks roll into Czechoslovakia the following week. Figure 2: "What, no chair for me?" - what is the message of this cartoon? Q. In what ways were the takeovers of Austria and Czechoslovakia: (a) Similar? (b) Different?

5 3. Seizing Foreign Territory A. Czechoslovakia On March , Hitler broke the Munich Agreement and invaded western Czechoslovakia. Hungary and Poland divided the rest of the country between them. Hitler made no attempt this time to justify his actions by saying that he was simply uniting German speakers into the Reich. This was invasion, pure and simple. Britain and France pledged to resist any further German expansion. Unfortunately, by this time Italy had become a strong ally of Germany, and the USSR was angry with France and Britain for not inviting her to the Munich Conference. Figure 3: What message does this photo convey? B. Poland i. Preparing the Ground Forming Alliances 1938 Hitler demanded the city of Danzig part of the Polish Corridor. Poland refused. Britain and France promised to defend Poland at all costs The Anti-Comintern Pact: Japan joins the Rome-Berlin Axis. All three member countries agree to stand up against communism The Pact of Steel: The Rome-Berlin Axis is strengthened into a firm military alliance. Germany and Italy agree to fight on the same side if either one of them is attacked (Aug.) The Nazi-Soviet Pact: Non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR; secretly, they also agree to divide Poland between them. This meant Hitler could invade Poland without worrying that the USSR would attack. Figure 4: What is the opinion of the cartoonist?

6 ii. In for the Kill The following month, Hitler launched a massive attack upon Poland which he called Blitzkrieg (lightning war). France and Britain declared war on Germany. World War II had begun. Tasks 1. Complete the table which accompanies this unit to make sure you have understood the key points in the story. 2. EITHER (a) Produce a mindmap based on the information in this handout. You will be given a factual test on it next lesson. OR (b) Produce a short story / cartoon strip designed for young children entitled (grippingly) as Hitler s Foreign Policy. Just as you did in the Big Brother House story about World War One, follow the same format by deciding which people (countries) will be important; which events needs to be described, and how, and so on. 3. Do the interactive cartoon analysis task on Hitler s Foreign policy. 4. Do the Fling Quiz on Hitler s Foreign Policy.