Hitler and Nazi Germany military policies

Nazi military policies In today’s class, I am learning to: Describe military policies introduced by the Nazis Analyse the impact of these policies

Nazi military policies One of Hitler’s goals after taking power was to restore Germany’s national pride. This meant improving and then using a strengthened German military.

Nazi military policies Hitler’s military actions were partly driven by the need to reverse the Treaty of Versailles. To do this, Hitler wanted to: Strengthening the military’s size and power Take back German land, and increase German territory too

Nazi military policies German military In 1936, Hermann Goering was put in charge of the Office of the Four Year Plan. This government organisation’s job was to ensure that within four years Germany would be fully ready to fight a war similar to World War One.

Nazi military policies Before that, in March 1935, the Nazis announced the establishment of a German Air Force – the Luftwaffe. Having an air force broke the Treaty of Versailles so the Nazis at first trained pilots in secret. They then gambled they would not be punished.

Nazi military policies On 16 March 1935, Hitler announced that conscription into the Wehrmacht would be reintroduced; 100,000 more conscripts were to be trained each year. Due to secret training, the army was already bigger than allowed by under Versailles conditions.

Nazi military policies German strength also increased with the building of more naval warships (breaking the Treaty of Versailles but with Britain’s agreement). The Nazis also made more weapons such as tanks and guns, also helping create jobs in Germany.

Nazi military policies German territory The Nazis wanted to win back land that had been taken from Germany as part of the Treaty of Versailles. They rearmed the Rhineland by sending in 20,000 soldiers (March 1936). Neither France nor Britain stopped Hitler doing this.

Nazi military policies In March 1938, Hitler – an Austrian – then joined Austria and Germany (known as Anschluss). He sent a huge German army into Austria, and then used a referendum to get the Austrian people to support this. Again this broke Versailles conditions.

Nazi military policies In September 1938, Germany invaded the Sudetenland, an area taken from Germany and given to Czechoslovakia as part of the Versailles Treaty. In March 1939, Germany fully invaded Czechoslovakia, an area that had never been under German control.

Nazi military policies

Nazi military policies This caused huge fears across Europe. Until now many countries had sympathised with Germany after the harsh way they were treated in 1919. They also wanted to avoid war. Now Britain and France warned the Nazis against any further aggression.

Nazi military policies On 1 September 1939 the Nazis invaded Poland. Britain and France demanded that they withdraw, but Hitler refused to do so. On 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, and the Second World War began.

Nazi military policies Successes and weaknesses

Nazi military policies National pride The Nazis were hugely successful in rebuilding national pride. Germans were delighted to have a government that took back German land and rebuilt the military, especially as this ended the hated Treaty of Versailles.

Nazi military policies However there were major fears in Germany that Hitler’s actions would eventually lead to war, and one that Germany might again lose. To try and avoid this some army generals even plotted a coup to remove Adolf Hitler from power.

Nazi military policies Military strength Hitler made Germany a much stronger country. A bigger army and navy, and new air force, ensured that Germany would not be a target for attack. This larger military also created jobs for soldiers and civilians (making weapons).

Nazi military policies However having a bigger military came at a huge financial cost. Germany struggled to pay these costs, and many ordinary Germans had a poorer standard of living as German money and resources went into building the army, navy and air force.

Nazi military policies German territory Taking back German land pleased German nationalists, and also those Germans that had been taken out of their country. This land also gave Germany access to more natural resources, as well as soldiers and workers too.

Nazi military policies However the Nazis’ plans to take control of land around Europe is ultimately what cost them power. The invasion of Poland caused World War Two, leading to the end of Nazi Germany. Without this Hitler may have held power for many more years.