Hitler’s Foreign Policy

taradiddle Hitlers Foreign Policy The Revival of Germ some(prenominal) January 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor Hitlers Foreign Policy Aims 1. Destroy pact of Versailles (Versailles had fas 10ed Germ whatsoevers fortify forces, taken away her colonies, forced Germany to give land to her neighbours which meant there were Germans to a lower place foreign rule) and impose German control in europium. This involved rearmament & the destruction of french league system. 2. amount of German-Speaking tribe Hitler was an Austrian, he longed for Union 3.Getting living Space from sub-human Slavs USSR (according to Mein Kampf Hitlers real antagonist non the West) & Poland. He argued Germans were the master race who needed living space as Germany was overcrowded and lacked food and newfangled materials. APPEASEMENT Appeasement was the policy stick withed by the British and later(prenominal) by the french. Aim avoiding fight with militant originators such as Japan, Italy and Ger many giving way to their demands provided these were not to unreasonable.Reasons Political divisions in France hard to take a unshakable stand & ref apply to go to warfare without British support as the cut were ultra-cautious Fear of con flying war headache of the bomber (particularly after Guernica) The Bomber will always get along through & consternation of poison gas heavy losses Treaty of Versailles unfair sympathetic revise clauses Anglo-German friendship Germany would have no need to be aggressive.Fear of socialism threat greater than Hitler Germany guarantee against communist expansion learn for a squiffy Germany Economic co-operation between Britain and Germany would help recover Germanys economy decrease of hysteria in Germany Public Opinion Government was supported by pacifist opinion. British economic crisis couldnt afford expenses for rearmament. Britains military shortcomings economic crisis, Britain had not re gird. From 1936-39 Britain rearmed to negoti ate from a position of strength U. S. isolationism no supportExamples Rearmament -1933 Anglo-German naval plan 1935 Hoare-laval 1935 Re-occupation of the Rhineland 1936 Anschluss 1938 Munich conference 1938 Czechoslovakia 1938 Results Did not work encouraged Hitler Allowed him to destroy Versailles Made Germany strong Disarmament Conference 1933 The compact citeed for a conference to persuade its members to disarm. Hitler hopeed to come forth morally justify before starting to rearm. Complaining Germany was the wholly violence to have disarmed, he suggested a general convening to be reached.When the others refused he withdrew Germany from the Conference & from the League, then started building up Germanys munitions industries. Re-armament To fulfill his aims, which he could only achieve by conquering the land he wanted, he had to re-build Germanys armed forces by defying Versailles. This was a popular policy as itappealed to field of studyist angry at limitations imp osed by the treaty workers salutary employment industrialists big profits GambleGermanys armed forces were exempt weak Reactions Britainno handlingBritain didnt want to get involve in European affairs internal problems Britain didnt want to spent money on rearmament spectacular Depression France no intervention put up Mignot get out a series of heavily armed forts along the border with Germany. Italy doctor to take action 1934, Austrian Nazis tried to overthrow the Austrian political science by killing the chancellor. To prevent Hitler from taking control of Austria, Mussolini position army units in the border with Austria. Non-agression Pact 1934 Germany & Poland agreed to sign a ten year non-aggression pact, which was later broken by Germany in 1939.Germany needed to buy time to build up armed forces. She had to appear reasonable, until she could dictate from a position of strength. The pact also weakened the entete. This was simply regarded as a temporary measure. Pol andlack of confidence in France (French turned down a suggestion of a preventive war) fear of losing the Polish corridor. Austria 1934 Aim Union of Anschluss Actions Austrian Chancellor (Mussolinis protege) was shot dead by Austrian Nazis who occupied the radio station Austrian political relation drive offs putsch. Reaction Mussolini moves forces to Austrian frontier.Result Hitler was still weak so he denied German interest in conspiracy. Soviet Union enters the League 1934 The French Foreign Secretary managed to secure the Soviet Unions entry to the League. This was another setback for Hitler. The Saar plebiscite 1935 intercept of French 15 year administration of Saar (coalfields, factories, railway centre) Plebiscite held Saarland returned to Germany (inhabitants-German) Hitler regarded this as a victory against Versailles Introduction of tipple 1935 After 2 years of secretly re-arming Hitler announced there would be compulsory military service of process for all men.By 193 8 Germanys armed forces were as good as Frances. Hitler justified himself arguing he was responding to the French increase in military service and British increase in airforce. Stresa Front 1935 Great powers took no military action. At Sresa Prime ministers of France, Britain & Italy joined to confirm Locarno. The League censured German rearmament. In whitethorn France & Russia signed pact for mutual assistance. Russia & Czechoslovakia signed another pact where it was understood that Soviet aid would follow French initiative.The Stresa Front was undermined by the Anglo-German naval treaty and the Abyssinian affair. Anglo-German naval plan 1935 British aim limit German navy, the British argued that Hitler would rearm anyway and that a limit was better than no limit at all. Agreement German limited to 35% of the tonnage of British fleet & 100% submarines. Results o British approval of Germanys right to rearm (disapproval of Versailles) France and Italy were angered o Stresa front bro ken Reoccupation of Rhineland 1936While the League was busy dealing with the Ethiopian affair, German troops reoccupied Rhineland defying Locarno treaties & treaty of Versailles Hitler tried to reassure France & Belgium with offers to sign pacification pacts Gamble German army was still weak Enemies could have easily defeated them Generals were nervous & ready to withdraw at first sign of trouble Humiliating for Hitler and generals coup detat Reaction Britain & France disconcert by Ethiopia Britain sympathetic ( sweard Germans were only moving back to their own back garden appeasement, they were impressed by Hitlers 25-year peace offer.France Didnt mobilise. France wasnt willing to take action without British support. France was divided, there had been riots. The French as the British were ready to see how Hitler would behave in the future. Results Hitler was encouraged to take further gambles he underestimated allies Hitler was popular almost impossible to move against him S ecure strategic position in any future war against France Germany started building Siegfried line Possibility to attack weak countries Poland Austria 1938According to Mein Kampf the absorption of Austria was the Hitlers first territorial revision of Versailles. Hitler was an Austrian and longed for this union. Hitler expected the Austrian Nazis to undermine the state and then call in the Germans. The Democracy had already ended and a type of clergical dictatorship had been open up. Shuschniggs attempts To maintain Austrian independence, Schuschnigg relied on Mussolini. He had attempted to placate the Germans with a pact in 1936. Austria announced her German character.Representatives of the national opposition entered the government and Nazis were released in exchange for no more conspiracies or illegal propaganda. When Schuschnigg discovered plans for an Austrian-Nazi coup detat he asked Von Papen to arrange a meeting with Hitler. Hitlers demands The meeting In February 1938 Hitl er met Schuschnigg for a tidings about the relationship between their countries. After threatening Schuschnigg for several hours Hitler handed him a list of ten demands Austrian Nazis should be reinstalledA leading Nazi Seyss-Inquart was to be do minister of the interior key position that gave him control over the police Close economic and military relations were to be established Schuschniggs attempts to maintain peace To prevent a Nazi take-over he organised a vote on the question of union with Germany Failure on winning international sympathy Britain refused to give any conforting advice France did not call up any reserves lack of British support Italy Mussolini was aware of where power laid, when he learned that Tyrolese would continue under Italian rule he decided not to intervene.He was not interested in Austria, Hitler promised to help Mussolini in any circumstances. Hitlers reaction He demanded the vote to be postponed & Schuschnigg to resign or the German army was to invade Austria. Schuschnigg resigned along with all government ministers except Seyss Seyss-Inquart became chancellor & invited the German army to occupy Austria Austrian Nazi opponents were arrested and the jews were deprived of civil rights A plebiscite was held & there was an official yes vote in facour of the Anschluss. Results 1.Hitler took first step to create a big Germany 2. Germany was modify by the incorporation of Austria. Population 7 million. Resources iron, steel, magnetite. 3. Strategic benefits Czechoslovakia weaker, surrounded by German territory. Open entry into the Balkans 4. Hitlers Popularity increased. Opposition became more difficult 5. Relationships with Italy improved Mussolini sided Germany 6. Jews were deprived of civil rights 7. France & Britain delivered protest to German government no arm Czechoslovakia 1938 Minorities in Czechoslovakia due toPopulations throughout Europe were mixed Sutelenland montanious district which provided a strong frontier against Germany. Czech Crisis The 1930s depression & rise to power of Nazis encouraged a German peoples army led by Henlein to demand for the Sudetenland to be transferred to Germany The Czechs mobilised part of their forces and the Russians told the French they would respect their 1935 savvy to protect Czechoslovakia. Hitler and the sudetenland Hitler instructed his generals to hold for an invasion by 1st October RisksCzechoslovakia was well-equipped for a war (large army,large air forceand industry. 2 decent allies o Franceunwilling to fight germany,the army wasnt ready o USSRgreat political problems + war with Japan Britain & France asked Hitler to be reasonable, however encouraged president Benes to accept Henleins 8 points. He accepted. Chamberlains Aeroplane Diplomacy Chamberlain followed the policy of Appeasement when the Czech crisis began. When the Czech crisis deepened, Chamberlain was encouraged to fly to Germany and say with Hitler personally.Berchtesgarten At Bercht esgarten when Hitler demanded the cession of the Sudetenland Chamberlain agreed to hand over areas of the Sudetenland with over 50% of German population. Then Chamberlain persuaded the Czechs and the French to agree. Godesburg Chamberlain flew to Germany and found Hitler wanted all of the Sudetenland and the Czechs to give land to Poland and Hungary. The British cabinet refused to accept France called up reserves Czechoslovakia had already ordered mobilisation Countries prepared for war The Munich Conference 1938Reasons Chamberlain didnt like the prospect of war unlikely to win support of empire + commonwealth He thought it was better to fight for a clearer cause and not a country which was so far away that most British had not hear of Britains air defences were still weak Germany was producing a new aircraft Me-109 Britain needed time to prepare time for factories to produce aircrafts in big numbers, develop radars, spitfires Britain was not likely to win Agreement Hitler, Mussol ini, Chamberlain and Daladier met at Munich.Neither the Czechs nor the Soviets. They all agreed that the Czechs had to give the Sudetenland to Germany or they would have to fight Germany alone. Czechoslovakia accepted Results Germany strengthen by surrender of mountain fortifications Czechs lost mountain fortifications easier to attack balance of powerGermany o Millions of Czechs o Industry armaments o Raw materials Poland seized the Teschen district coalmines & Hungary took land they were encouraged to side Hitler Chamberlain hero (short term)Soviet Union worried the westmost would do nothing to stop Hitlerthey feared they would have to face the Germans alone Hitlers ambitions increasedbelieved Britain and France wouldnt stand up to him. Czechoslovakia Destroyed 1939 Hitler claimed the Czech government had lost control and that a civil war would break if Germany didnt intervene Hitler bullied Hacha into inviting German troops to occupy the country threat to bomb Prague After Hacha issued the invitation he used this as an excuse to justify his actions March 1939 German troops marched into PragueBohemia and Moravia Protectorate of germany o Slovakiaremained independent became a puppet state o Ruthenia Hungary Britain & France protested but took no action as Germany had technically been invited into Czechoslovakia. The polish procure Agreement Britain gave Poland a guarantee to protect it from Germany. France later supported it. Reasons The Polish corridor Germany wanted it back (German inhabitants). Chamberlain completed Hitler couldnt be stopped by appeasement stronger measures were take to stop Hitler.Problem Britain and France were geographically otiose to defend Poland and succeed. Hitlers reaction ignore it issued an order to invade Poland Germany and Italy 1934 enemies Mussolini stopped Hitler from taking Austria 1935Italy was angry with Britain and France Ethiopia 1936 capital of Italy Berlin axis cooperate against socialism o Fasci sts dictators Anti-comintern pact (Italy, Germany and Japan) work against international communism 1938 Mussolini allowed Germany to take over Austria 939italy invaded Albania to span the occupation of Prague The Pact of Steel 1939 AgreementThey would support each other in a war Mussolinis request materials Italy needed to help Germany Italy was not prepared for a war Germany and the USSR Hitlerscorned communism wanted to take lebesraum from USSR. Hitler regarded the Soviets were his main enemies as stated in Mein Kampf Soviet Union most hated the Nazis The Nazi-Soviet pact 1939 (Ribbentrop-Molotov)Agreement -If Germany attacked Poland the USSR was to remain neutral Agreement -Germany could occupy the western parts including Danzig and the Polish corridor USSR empower to occupy western parts Baltic provinces Result Germany was free to attack Poland USSR only great power opened of defending Poland. USSR Reasons 1. failure to reach an agreement with the west Soviet Union was st ill backward and needed time to develop. Anglo-French weakness Stalin feared he would have to fight Germany alone. 2. British reluctance to ally Churchill urged an alliance only way to stop Hitler British Government was frightened if not more of Stalin than Hitler Conservatives hated communism Nazis guard against spread of communism in Europe Soviet strength was underestimated British believed purges had weakened the armed forces, officers had been killed Chamberlains reluctance probably as the opposition wanted an alliance British responses were slow and made by low-ranking officials in contrasts with Stalins quick responses to Birtish initiative, he took negotiations seriously. Edens offer to go on special mission rejected 3. Fear of Japan Clashes between soviets and Japanese increased Japan was a threat to soviets who didnt like the prospect of a was with 2 fronts. Stalin needed security in Europe 4. Attractiveness of German offer Territory in eastern Poland (cont ained ethnic Russians, seized by Poland after the Russo-Polish war) dampen zone against Poland 5. Desire of a breathing space Buy time to prepare defenes Get armed forces ready Industralize Russia Prepare for war Get effects of modernization through German reasons 1. Prevent a war with 2 fronts 2. Desire to invade Poland Results Germany was free to attack Poland USSR only country geographically capable of defending Poland Events -September 1invasion of Poland September 3outbreak of war -Britain and France realised the necessity to stop Hitler prevent expansion of Germany -The Czech guarantee was not honoured couldnt afford the same with Poland affect international credibility -Corridor concession had been encouraged Support of British and commonwealth -British Factories were readu to build modern fighter planes Reasons for World war II Hiters ambitions(foreign policy) o Determined to acquire Sudetenland o Germany invaded Poland U. S isolationism o U. S did not get involve in European affairs Appeasement o Allowed Hitler to destroy Versailles o Encouraged him to believe countries would not stand up to him o A stronger Policy could have destroyed Hitler (e. g. Rhineland) Nazi-Soviet Pact o Freed Hitler from a two front war o Allowed Hitler to attack Poland