Hitler’s Expansion 1938-1940

Context Hitler has eliminated rivals in the military through the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair Now in a position to execute more aggressive foreign policy Working towards revision of Versailles, Lebensraum and Generalplan Ost Order of Attack Austria 1938 Sudetenland 1938 Rest of Czechoslovakia 1939 Poland 1939 Western Europe 1940 USSR 1941

Anschluss, 1938 Had signed an Austro-German agreement in 1936 Secretly gave pro-Nazi politicians a role in the government 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschniss alarmed by the activities of the Austrian Nazis and requests a meeting with Hitler Hitler launches into attack

Anschluss, 1938 Two hour rant by Hitler, demanding The release of Nazi agitators Lifting the formal ban against the Nazi Party The appointment of Nazi ministers Assimilation of the two nations Schuschnigg calls for a plebiscite, but Hitler decides to intervene prior and marches the Wehrmacht into Austria on March 12 Subsequent April vote confirms the incorporation of Austria into the Reich

Sudeten Crisis, 1938 Hitler turned his attention to Czechoslovakia, reasons Hitler considered the Slavs untermenschen Many Czechs had resisted Austrian rule Czechoslovakia was an example of successful ethnic blending, which Hitler could not accept The Sudetenland held a major German demographic Czechoslovakia was a major supporter of the League and an ally of France and the USSR

Sudeten Crisis, 1938 Sudetenland was a natural border provided for the Czechs after WWI which had then been fortified with a strong army Many of the Sudeten people had resented their fall from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire Grievances rising as a result of the Depression Sudeten Germans led by Konrad Heinland, demanding self-determination Propped up by Hitler, though the Fuhrer at first did not want to use force

Sudeten Crisis, 1938 Hitler changed his mind with the May Crisis Unfounded rumors of German troops massing on the Sudetenland border Czech, British and French mobilization Made Hitler seem as if he had backed down Summer of 1938, began to order further agitation by the Sudeten Germans Heinland actually granted them self-determination, but Hitler now desired conquest

Sudeten Crisis, 1938 British PM Neville Chamberlain now organizes an intervention, desperately trying to avoid the war Three meetings Berchtesgaden, Sept 15 Agreed Sudetenland would be transferred to Germany Godesberg, Sept 22 Hitler furious, looking for an excuse for war Now insists that the Hungarians and Poles get their own territory as well Czechs rejected these terms

Sudeten Crisis, 1938 Three meetings (cont.) Munich, Sept 29 German occupation Czechs would be allowed to leave and Germans allowed to enter Poland was to be given Teschen Hungary was to be given South Slovakia Germany would guarantee remaining Czechoslovakian independence Notes on Munich Benes nor Stalin invited Mussolini acting as mediator Brtain and France told the Czechs they would not be supported unless they accepted the terms

Liquidation of Czechoslovakia Czech Pres. Eduard Benes resigns Oct. 21, Hitler orders the “liquidation of the remainder of the Czech state” Czechs had just lost 70% of industry, 66% of population and natural defenses Hitler urges continued agitation in Czechoslovakia Czech Pres. Emil Hacha orders troops to suppress uprising Hitler used this as an excuse to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia on March 15 Britain no longer works with Germany

Poland, 1939 Clear that Hitler’s next target is Poland Part of the TOV that had been greatly resented by the Germans Particularly West Prussia and the “free city” of Danzig Germans proposed that the corridor be returned to allow for access to East Prussia Refused

Poland, 1939 Early March, Hitler asks Lithuania to turn over Memel With no support, Lithuania is forced to accept March 30, Britain creates a new Anglo-Polish Treaty, pledging assistance Hitler was furious: “I’ll cook them a stew that they’ll choke on.” Declared the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and his 1934 Non-Aggression Pact with Poland Began preparations for Operation White, the limited invasion of Poland

Pact of Steel, May 1939 Affirmed the alliance between Hitler and Mussolini Italy still wary of full-scale conflict and admits it will not be ready for three-four years Hitler intent on immediate war with Poland

Nazi-Soviet Pact Both the West and Hitler approached Stalin for an alliance Hitler needs temporary protection against two-front war Stalin had shown desire to work with the West Joined the League in 1934, pact with France I 1935 Undone by the Munich Agreement Now Stalin seeking an alliance with either side for practical reasons First to an agreement was Hitler in August of 1939 Pledged to remain neutral in a third-party attack Included secret protocols for the division of Northern and Eastern Europe

Nazi-Soviet Pact Why did Hitler sign? Why did Stalin sign? Now had a free hand in Poland Assured he will not fight a two-front war Secured valuable raw materials from the USSR Why did Stalin sign? Kept the Soviets out of war – facing the Japanese in the East and the effects of 1937 military purges Hoped that Germany and the West would weaken one another and he would be left standing Hoped to get territorial gains – half of Poland, Finland, the Baltics Mechanical goods from Germany

Outbreak of War Hitler did not believe Britain and France would act Gave a last minute proposal to Britain to leave the Empire alone and agree to later disarmament if the Poles gave up the corridor Not accepted by either Britain and Poland Hitler fabricated an attack by Polish nationalists along the German border Sept. 1, invasion of Poland had begun Britain presented an ultimatum With no response, two days later Britain and France declare war on Germany

Polish Conflict Hitler using “blitzkrieg’ style, quickly defeats Poland Divided up between Germans and Poles at Molotov-Ribbentrop Line Germans now transport forces to the West Britain and France did very little until the next spring Was referred to as the Phoney War

Hitler Takes Over Europe Occupied Denmark and Norwegian ports in April 1940 Attacked Holland, Belgium and France in May 1940 British miracle at Dunkirk to continue fighting Moved south through France, which surrendered six weeks later Planned the invasion of Britain, Operation Seal Lion, but needed control of the English Channel Thwarted by the Royal Air Force in the Battle for Britain throughout the summer of 1940 Switched to the bombing of British cities, which still had limited effect June 1941, returns to original war aims, invades the Soviet Union