1. Appeasement and the Road To War
The Reoccupation of the Rhineland

2. Aims: To look at the position of the Rhineland by 1936.
To identify the importance of the Rhineland to both Germany and France.

4. Importance of the Rhineland
15 million Germans lived there
Had been demilitarised as part of the Treaty of Versailles
France had at one point wanted the Rhineland to become a small independent republic.
Demilitarisation of the Rhineland was reinforced by the Treaty of Locarno 1925.

5. Franco-German Hostility
France had been invaded twice by Germany in 1870 and 1914
France feared Germany wanted revenge for the Treaty of Versailles
Rhineland provided an important buffer between France and Germany.
France regarded the area as essential for her long-term security.

6. Treaty of Locarno 1925 Signed by Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
Germany accepted and recognised her Western borders with France and Belgium.
Britain and Italy would act as guarantors of this treaty.
No mention was made of Germany’s eastern borders.

7. Class Discussion Why do you think that the Rhineland
was important to Hitler?
Think about:
Aims of Hitler’s foreign policy
Ethnic table – Cameron page 16

8. Why March 1936?
The French Parliament had just ratified the Franco-Soviet pact in February Both countries agreed to come to the other’s assistance if they were attacked.
Hitler claimed this was an attempt by hostile powers to encircle Germany – on the 7th March ,000 German troops moved into the Rhineland.
France was between governments and in the middle of a general election campaign.
The invasion took place on a Saturday when politicians were away for the weekend.
Events were a ‘fait accompli’ by the time politicians could formulate a response.

9. Hitler’s Viewpoint ‘Why must Germany continue to be
threatened? France refuses to disarm and
has now made a treaty with Russia. Why?
A look at the map of Europe will tell you.
France and Russia want to destroy
Germany. We are facing a threat from two
sides. We must defend ourselves. The first
step must be to defend our borders in the
Rhineland. It is not fair that France could
easily attack us and destroy our industry.
We must have a strong frontier, defended
by our brave soldiers.’

10. Reoccupation of the Rhineland – Key Opinions
Study the following sources which
outline different views on the
Rhineland crisis.
In your own words, explain the view
contained in each source.

11. 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.’

12. Lord Lothian’s Viewpoint
‘They are only going into their own
back garden.
Lord Lothian was an influential British
politician and diplomat during the
1920s and 1930s.

13. Stanley Baldwin’s Viewpoint
Military intervention would be ‘out of
proportion to what Germany had
done’
Baldwin was the British Prime Minister
at the time of the Rhineland crisis.

14. Harold Nicholson’s Viewpoint
‘We know that Hitler gambled on this coup.
Thus if we send an ultimatum to Germany she
ought in all reason to climb down. But what
is the good of that? It would only mean
communism in Germany…….. Moreover the
people of this country absolutely refuse to
have a war.
Nicholson was a Labour MP at the
time of the Rhineland crisis.

15. AJP Taylor’s Viewpoint
‘It has been said at the time, and has often
been said since, that 7 March 1936 was ‘the
last chance’….when Germany could have been
stopped without all the sacrifice and suffering
of a great war. Technically, on paper this was
true: the French had a great army, and the
Germans had none.’
AJP Taylor, a well-known historian who wrote
‘The Origins of the Second World War’ in 1964

16. Reaction to the Reoccupation
Aim:
To examine the reaction of Britain,
France and Germany to the
reoccupation of the Rhineland.

17. The French Reaction
Politically unstable – there had been rioting by right wing fascist groups in There was concern this might happen again.
They were in the middle of an election
Overestimated strength of the German army
Would not take action without British support

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

19. The British Reaction No great opposition from public.
Many politicians felt that the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany
Franco-Soviet Pact had unduly provoked Hitler.
The Rhineland was German territory
Military defeat of Hitler could lead to a communist takeover in Germany.
A more conciliatory approach was needed rather than confrontation.

20. The German Reaction Hitler suggested:
A new demilitarised zone on both sides of the French-German border
That perhaps Germany might return to the League AND resume disarmament talks.

22. 3. 4. 6. 1. 2. 5.