20th Century International Relations Photo: Adolf Hitler in his car. Source: US National Archives and Records Administration. This image is in the public domain because it is a work of the US Federal Government and is therefore not subject to copyright. Hitler Challenges the League 1933–38 – Part 1

Hitler’s foreign policy aims Hitler’s intentions were not secret. He wrote them down in his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), written in 1923. Hitler wanted Germany to achieve what he saw as its destiny – to become the dominant nation in Europe. This was to be achieved through three policies: Image: Mein Kampf. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. destroying the Treaty of Versailles creating a greater Germany defeating his political enemies – the communists.

The Treaty of Versailles and Germany

Hitler and Versailles “The Treaty of Versailles is an instrument of unrestricted oppression. It destroyed our great nation. We had to disarm and lost much of our land and citizens. On top of these indignities we had to accept full blame for the war and pay for it! Germany will be a great nation again! To do this we will break from the treaty – no nation can be strong while accepting such terms.” Photo: Adolf Hitler © VECTORWORKS_ENTERPRISE, shutterstock.com Adolf Hitler

The Saar (1935) From 1935, Hitler began to claw back the territory Germany had lost at Versailles. The Saar had a mixture of French and German citizens. Since 1919 it had been controlled by the League of Nations and the industry there had been run by France. In 1935 there was a plebiscite (vote) to decide whether the Saar should be German or French. 90% of the population of the Saar voted to rejoin Germany.

Re-armament Hitler believed that a strong German foreign policy required a strong military. Hitler therefore began to re-arm Germany. The other European powers were increasingly sympathetic to German protests that the Versailles treaty had been unreasonable. They did not prevent Germany building warships, tanks and planes. Photos: German tank. Source: US National Archives and Records Administration. This image is in the public domain because it is a work of the US Federal Government and is therefore not subject to copyright. Messerschmitt Bf 110. Source: Royal Air Force Battle of Britain campaign diaries. This image is in the public domain because it is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957 and is therefore not subject to copyright. In 1935, conscription was reintroduced.

Re-armament As soon as I came to power in 1933 I left the League of Nations and started to build up the German military. I flouted the Treaty of Versailles by introducing conscription in 1935 and building aeroplanes, submarines and tanks. The army had expanded to 600,000 men by 1935 – far more than the 100,000 set down by the Treaty of Versailles! Germany was becoming a strong and powerful nation, not a weak and defeated one. Photo: Adolf Hitler © VECTORWORKS_ENTERPRISE, shutterstock.com Adolf Hitler

Are you a spy?