Hitler’s Foreign Policy The Munich Crisis and the Question of Appeasement

Goal of Today We will look at some of the events that eventually led to the Second World War We will learn about Appeasement and how Great Britain tried to avoid another major world war. Terms Lebensraum Appeasement Munich Agreement

Hitler’s Foreign Policy was built on three aims To reverse the Treaty of Versailles To create a “Greater Germany” by uniting all German speaking people The creation of Lebensraum - living space for the German people.

The Treaty Of Versailles The German Army was limited to 100,000 men Germany had to pay reparations to the allies Germany had to accept the War Guilt Clause (231) Germany lost 13% of its territories and all her colonies

Creation of a Greater Germany Hitler wanted a single homeland for all German speaking people After Versailles millions of Germans were living in Foreign countries

LEBENSRAUM Hitler’s Greater Germany would have a population of over 85 million people Germany’s land would be insufficient to feed this many people Hitler intended to expand eastward towards Poland and Russia Russians and Poles were Slavs-Hitler believed them to be inferior and so Germany was entitled to take their land.

How Did Hitler Violate the Treaty of Versailles?

Hitler soon ordered a programme of rearming Germany Hitler visits a factory and is enthusiastically greeted. Many Germans were grateful for jobs after the misery of he depression years.

Germany Invades the Rhineland March 7, 1936 The Rhineland was a region of Germany that was ‘demilitarised’ after the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was not allowed to have troops in the region. Hitler’s actions showed how he was willing to directly challenge the treaty.

The Treaty of Versailles had forbidden the union of Germany and Austria Hitler wants to reunite with Austria Hitler encourages the Austrian Nazis to demand a union with Germany. Then he invades when the Austrian chancellor announces a vote to see what Austrians want. After the German invasion, 99 per cent of Austrians vote "Ja- yes. Britain and France do nothing. The Austrian Anschluss, March 1938

The arrival of German troops was met with great enthusiasm by many Austrian people.

Hitler again wanted to unite all German people living in Czechoslovakia The “Problem” of the Sudetenland

Series of Events September- Hitler encourages Sudeten Nazi’s to rebel and demand a union with Germany. Czech government declares martial law. Hitler threatens war against Czechoslovakia. 15 September- Chamberlain (Prime Minister of Britain) promises to give Hitler all areas where 50% of the population is German. France agrees with this. (Czechoslovakia doesn’t) September Hitler demands all of Sudetenland. Chamberlain refuses and it looks like war. September 30- At Munich France and Britain agree to give Hitler Sudetenland. German troops march into Sudetenland, and are welcomed as heroes.

Czechoslovakia Becomes Part of the Third Reich: 1938

APPEASEMENT A policy aimed to prevent aggressors from starting wars by finding out what they want and agreeing to demands that seem reasonable Neville Chamberlain was the British Prime Minister that negotiated with Hitler in called Munich Agreement Now we have “peace in our time!” Hitler is a man we can do business with. Now we have “peace in our time!” Hitler is a man we can do business with.

· Sept – At the Munich Conference, Hitler invited the leaders of Britain and France to Germany and assured them that he wanted no more territory. Before signing the Munich agreement. From left to right: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, CianoMunich agreement ChamberlainDaladierHitlerMussoliniCiano

Soviet poster of the 1930's by Kukryniksy on the Munich agreement. Kukryniksy

LANDMARKS OF APPEASEMENT 1933-Germany leave the League of Nations - start to rearm in secret 1935-Anglo-German Naval Agreement, German announces conscription Remilitarization of the Rhineland 1938 (March) Anschluss 1938 (Sept) Sudetenland crisis and the Munich agreement Germany take over the rest of Czechoslovakia 1939 Britain and France abandon appeasement and guarantee to defend Poland

Why Appeasement? Most politicians wanted to avoid war The people of Britain wanted to avoid war Hitler’s complaints appeared reasonable at the time- especially about the Treaty of Versailles. Chamberlain wanted a strong Germany to serve as a buffer against expansion by communist Russia. Britain’s armed forces were not ready for war, and they could not have helped Czechoslovakia anyway. Many people admired Hitler Time Magazine Man of the Year. Remember how bloody WWI was?

The results of Appeasement Europe saved from war? Possibly though some historians say that if the Czechs, French, British and Russians had stood up to Hitler he would have been defeated, and would have faced war on two fronts Czechoslovakia was abandoned, and weakened by the loss of important military defences and resources Germany gained the Sudetenland- another step towards the Greater Germany. Britain and France gained time to build up their armed forces, but so did Germany Hitler decided Britain and France were unlikely ever to oppose him by force Stalin was offended at being excluded from the talks and decided he could not rely on Britain to help the USSR stand up against Germany

Is Hitler Done? We shall see……….