K.I. 1.3 Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles The weakness of the League of Nations The effects of the Depression The Polish Guarantee and the Nazi-Soviet Pact were the short-term causes The aggressive foreign policies of Italy and Japan Hitler’s aggressive foreign policies in Germany The policy of appeasement followed by Britain and France

How was the Treaty of Versailles viewed by the Germans? Almost all Germans resented it. This includes politicians like Gustav Stresemann, Foreign Minister in 1923-29. He wanted the Treaty of Versailles to be altered, but peacefully. Look at source A. What changes did he want? Which of these changes had been achieved by the time he died in 1929?

What were Hitler’s aims for his foreign policy? He wanted to destroy the Treaty of Versailles He wanted to unite all German-speaking people. He called this Grossdeutschland (Greater Germany). He wanted to conquer Lebensraum (living space) for the “superior” Aryan race, by taking over “inferior” races’ territory.

The places Hitler wanted

What actions would be needed to destroy the Treaty of Versailles? Leave the League of Nations Rearm the army, navy and air force Remilitarise the Rhineland Defy the ban on the Anschluss and unite with Austria Take back German territory given to other countries against the principle of self-determination e.g the Sudetenland

In what month and year did Hitler achieve each of these? Leave the League of Nations Admit to having an airforce Increase his naval strength Introduce conscription and a bigger army Remilitarise the Rhineland October 1933 March 1935 June 1935 March 1936

Let’s go over a couple of points Why is it wrong say that he wanted to reunite with Austria? The Saar became a part of Germany again in 1935. Why isn’t this an example of Hitler breaking the Treaty? Because Austria had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, not Germany. Because the T of V had ordered a plebiscite after 15 years and this had taken place. Most people in the Saar chose German rule.

What actions would achieve GrossDeutschland? Unite with Austria Take over the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia Take back the the area of Poland called West Prussia Take back Danzig from League of Nations control

The places Hitler wanted

In what month and year did Hitler take these actions? Unite with Austria Take over the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia Take back West Prussia Take back Danzig March 1938 October 1938 September 1939

What actions would give Germany Lebensraum? Take over the rest of Czechoslovakia Take over the rest of Poland Take over the USSR (this would be a double gain for Hitler as he would also be destroying the Communist government there). Whether Hitler really planned to take over the rest of Europe is a matter of debate!

In what month and year did Hitler take these actions? Take over most of Czechoslovakia Take over Poland Take over the USSR March 1939 September 1939 Invaded June 1941, but was unable to conquer the USSR and was eventually driven out.

The limit of Hitler’s expansion

Test yourself! What: ..is Grossdeutschland? ..is Lebensraum? ..took place in March 1936? ..propaganda success happened in 1935? .. were the two aims Hitler could achieve if he took over the USSR?

Test yourself ! When .. ..was the Anschluss? ..was conscription introduced? .. was the Sudetenland taken over? ..did Hitler invade Poland? ..did Germany leave the LON?

Why did Britain and France allow all this to happen? Britain (especially under P.M. Neville Chamberlain) and France followed a policy called appeasement. This means finding out what the dictators wanted and giving into their demands peacefully. The objective was to avoid a repeat of the death and destruction that had happened in the First World War.

Did David Low think that appeasement would succeed?

Hitler and Chamberlain