1. The Reoccupation of the Rhineland
March 1936

2. Aims: Where the Rhineland region was.
Why Hitler was determined to reoccupy the Rhineland.
Reactions to the reoccupation.

3. Where is the Rhineland??? Collect a map of Europe and an atlas.
Find a map of Germany in the atlas.
Locate the River Rhine.
Trace the River Rhine onto your map.
Shade in the area west of the River Rhine red and label it ‘The Rhineland, March 1936’.

6. The Importance of the Rhineland
15 million Germans
lived in the Rhineland.
France had originally wanted the area incorporated into herself.
It had been demilitarised through the Treaty of Versailles.
Demilitarisation had been reinforced through the 1925 Treaty of Locarno.

7. Why Important
Hitler needed control of his borders before he could turn his attention to his other foreign policy aims.
He wanted to test the reaction of Britain and France.
A successful remilitarisation would enhance his reputation within Germany.
This may not be seen as overtly aggressive as it is German territory.

8. Tasks
Complete questions 2 and 4 from page 18 of your work guide.

9. Reaction to the Reoccupation
Aims:
Examine the reaction of the British and French after Germany reoccupied the Rhineland.
Understand how to use a cartoon to identify opinions.

10. The German Reaction
German troops were welcomed by the German people as they entered the Rhineland.
Hitler tried to show other countries in Europe that there was nothing to worry about.
Hitler made vague promises to:
1) Negotiate a new demilitarised zone.
2) Return to the League
3) Begin disarmament talks again.

11. 3. 4. 6. 1. 2. 5.

12. Rhineland Cartoon Part of Cartoon Describe What You See
What Does This Represent? 1 2 3 4 5 6

13. Rhineland Cartoon
The Germans were planning to conquer countries just like the Ancient Romans.
The German army was rearming.
The warm welcome the Germany army received in the Rhineland.
A symbol of peace – Hitler made vague offers to reassure countries.
Germany’s actions had broken a treaty.
The form of marching that the German used.

14. The French Reaction
Thought the German army was much bigger than it actually was.
They would not take action without support from Britain

15. The British Reaction ‘They are only going into their own back garden’
Lord Lothian
Military intervention would be ‘out
of proportion to what Germany
had done’
Stanley Baldwin – Prime Minister

16. The British Reaction Overall there was no desire to take action:
No great opposition from public.
Many politicians felt that the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany
Franco-Soviet Pact made Germany feel threatened.
The Rhineland was German territory
Hitler’s offers calmed any fears.

17. How useful is this source as evidence of Britain’s reaction to the Reoccupation of the Rhineland?
Authorship
Date
Purpose
Detail
Bias
Exaggeration

18. Hitler’s Viewpoint ‘The 48 hours after the march into the
Rhineland were the most nerve-
racking of my life. If the French has
then marched into the Rhineland, we
would have had to withdraw with our
tails between our legs.’

19. British Viewpoints ‘The Treaty of Versailles was far too hard on
Germany. Germany is attacking nobody. They are
not threatening anyone. As Lord Lothian said
yesterday, Hitler is only moving troops into his own
back garden. How can we possibly punish the
Germans for moving soldiers into their own country.
Has Germany attacked anyone? No. Has Germany
invaded anyone? No. Hitler has simply taken steps
to protect Germany’s borders. By allowing Hitler
to alter the treaty slightly we remove another
cause of argument between us and the
Germans’
British Foreign Secretary, Sir Anthony Eden, March
1936.

20. British Viewpoints ‘Hitler is on the warpath. Last year
he rearmed, and broke the treaty.
This year he has moved troops into
the Rhineland, and broken the
treaty. What next? How long will
we hide from the reality that this man is
a threat to European peace. We must do
something to stop him now!’
The East Lothian News, March 1936

21. Tasks
Complete activities 11, 12 and 13 from pages of your work guide.
If you were alive in 1936 would you agree to send young British soldiers to fight and possibly die in the Rhineland?
Write a short paragraph outlining your view.
Now copy the paragraph ‘Consequences of the Remilitarisation of the Rhineland’ at the bottom of page 21.