Hitler's Foreign Policy

Hitler's Foreign Policy

Germany begins to rearm:  Hitler in 1935, declared his intention to rearm Germany, contrary to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles Conscription is soon introduced  Plans to increase the German army from 100,000 to 550,000  The British response to rearmament in Germany led to the signing of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement 1935 This allowed Germany to establish a navy 35% the size of the British navy 

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Hitler's Foreign Policy

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Caption: : The Rhineland

The Rhineland 1936:  Under the Treaty of Versailles, the Rhineland was a 'demilitarised zone'  Germany was forbidden to have armies or military fortifications in the region Hitler utilised the distraction of Italy in Abyssinia and the Franco-Russian Pact as an excuse to occupy the Rhineland with 25,000 troops 7 March 1936 - German troops march into the Rhineland; Hitler claims it acts as a buffer zone (an area that acts as a security zone between two rival powers)  Hitler ordered his troops to withdraw if Britain or France showed any resistance, neither did This was the beginning of a more aggressive foreign policy 

The Anschluss 1938: Germany and Austria Unite  Hitler wanted to unite many Germans living in Austria back with those in Germany (against Treaty of Versailles and St Germain)  Austria's Nazi Party and Hitler campaign for union (Anschluss)  Hitler threatened to move troops into Austria to 'restore order' Austrian chancellor called for Britain and France to make Hitler back down In March 1938, German troops march into Austria, a plebiscite was then organised where 99.75% of the population voted to unite  Britain and France lay idle as the two countries united

Hitler's Foreign Policy

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Hitler's Foreign Policy

Czech leader Edvard Benes was appalled by Anschluss and wanted British and French promises for protection against the Germans. Both countries promised to protect Czechoslovakia.  Hitler's interest lay in the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia due to the heavy population of Germans. In May 1938, Hitler expressed support for Sudeten Germans, threatening invasion if Czechoslovakia did not hand the region over. Benes was prepared to fight. The Czechoslovakian's had a modern army and British support. Tensions rose and led to crisis talks in Munich in September 1938.  In a last attempt to avoid war, talks where held in Munich over German actions in Czechoslovakia.  On the 29th September 1938, Mussolini, Hitler, Daladier and Chamberlain gathered for the Four Power Summit in Munich  Under the Munich Agreement the leaders decided to give the Sudeteneland to Hitler Neither the Czechs nor the USSR were consulted over the agreement Chamberlain believed this agreement was necessary for 'peace for our time'  The media hailed the agreement as a triumph, although there were many critical voices of the agreement. Opinion polls from September 1938 in Britain demonstrated the public thought appeasement would not stop Hitler. 

Hitler's Foreign Policy

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Caption: : Stalin (left) shaking hands with Nazi Foreign Minister Ribbentrop (right)

In March 1939, Stalin met with Nazi Foreign Minister Ribbentrop. To prepare for war the Nazis signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. The Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939:  Stalin opts for alliance with Germany Terms of the treaty: USSR and Germany would not attack one another Divide Poland between the two countries  Stalin could take the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)  The treaty was used by Germany to invade Poland and for the USSR to prepare for war  Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain and France had pledged to aid Poland upon invasion; they declared  war against Germany on the 2 September, 1939.