Hitler’s Foreign Policy Key Events/ Revision Power Point

The Remilitarisation of the Rhineland Causes The Abyssinian Crisis A gamble for Hitler To start to overturn the Treaty of Versailles Events Veteran soldiers, old weapons, bands etc No response – France wouldn’t act without Britain Britain – ‘only marching into their own backyard’ Consequences Gave Hitler confidence – GB sympathetic if Germany breaking the Treaty of Versailles – too harsh! If France wouldn’t act when its own security was threatened, she was unlikely to act to help others! Austria next? Last chance to oppose Hitler without going to war

The Anschluss with Austria Causes German speakers Get rid of Treaty of Versailles Austria suffer in Depression Hitler was Austrian Events Mussolini onside – Rome-Berlin Axis Threaten Schuschnigg to ‘make another Spain of Austria’ when he wanted a plebiscite Bullied Schuschnigg to make Seyss Inquart Minister of the Interior Cabinet resign – SI invited German army in Plebisctite – Over 99% vote for Anschluss – SA there! Consequences Got Austrian resources – iron, coal & men for the army. Sudetenland surrounded next target GB/F/ League protest – no action – seemed ‘reasonable’ – Austrian people in favour seemingly Gave Hitler confidence

The Sudetenland Causes The EXCUSE to get inside the Czech borders 3m German speakers Raw materials, power stations etc Events Appeasement in action Chamberlain met Hitler 3 times Giving in to Hitler’s demands as they seemed reasonable Munich Conference – 4 powers, Mussolini, Munich agreement, ‘Last territorial demand in Europe’‘Peace in our time’ Consequences Many in GB didn’t believe Hitler & thought Chamberlain was weak & war was inevitable Czechoslovakia lost its defences & could be taken over whenever Hitler wanted USSR angry & didn’t trust GB/F – left out of Munich Conf & ally of Czech Britain speeded up rearmament programme

Czechoslovakia Causes 2 huge Arms Works – need for invasion of USSR Lebensraum Easy – had the Sudetenland & inside Czech defences Events G army ‘invited in’ – bullied the Czechs – threatened to see the country break up – would encourage Slovak independence. Consequences End of Appeasement – it was UNREASONABLE – no German speakers, never been German, broken Munich promise Polish Guarantee given

The Nazi – Soviet Pact Causes G wanted to invade Poland without the threat of a 2 Front war USSR wanted to ‘buy’ time to prepare for war Stalin didn’t trust GB/ F Breakdown of GB/ F talks with USSR Events Pact signed between bitter enemies – 23 August 1939 – shocked everyone Agreed not to fight against each other in any future war Secretly agreed to invade Poland & divide it up Consequences Hitler felt free to invade Poland – no threat of 2 front war If GB/ F stuck to the Polish Guarantee war was inevitable As Danzig was 90% German, Hitler thought GB/ F would appease him again

The Invasion of Poland Causes N-S Pact German speakers Lost Polish Corridor at Versailles Lebensraum Felt sure GB/ F not act Events 1 Sept 1939 – G invade Poland. GB/F issue ultimatum – ‘withdraw or it’s war’ 3 Sept 1939 – No G withdrawal – GB/ F declare war Consequences War – 6 years. GB/ F stuck to the Polish Guarantee. British public in favour of this Poland defeated within 4 weeks – nothing GB/ F could do