How did Hitler challenge and exploit the Treaty of Versailles 1933 - March 1938?

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the Treaty of Versailles 1933 - March 1938?

1. Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims

   • to unite all german-speaking people under his rule
   • to make Germany a great power again
   • to gain territory for Germany in the east to provide Lebensraum (living space) for the German people.
   • to destroy the Treaty of Versailles

2. To what extent were Hitler's early moves a foreign policy success for Germany?

   • Disarmament Conference and Rearmament
     • Germany joined LoN in 1926.
     • Disarmament Conference began in 1932, by which time the LoN had had little success in persuading countries to disarm
       • France would not disarm due to fears of attack from Germany
     • Germany left the LoN in 1933
       • Began to rearm while insisting that Ge wanted peace and would disarm if others did.
     • Ger introduced conscription in 1935
       • His excuse was that France had increased term of conscription from 12 to 18 months, which would increase the number of trained soldiers in France
   • Ten year non-aggression pact
     • In 1934 Hitler signed a ten year non-aggression pact with Poland, which guaranteed the boundaries of Poland
     • This satisfied the Poles that Hitler would not try to take back the Polish Corridor
     • It pleased Britain, who saw it as further proof that Hitler's aims were peaceful, as it meant that he had accepted the frontier with Poland that was set up at Versailles
   • Failed Anschluss
     • In 1934, Hitler suffered a setback
     • He encouraged the Austrian Nazis to rebel, resulting in the murder of Dollfuss, the Austrian Chancellor
     • Anschluss
       • The union of Germany and Austria that was forbidden by the treaty of Versailles
     • It appeared Hitler would achieve Anschluss but he was prevented by Mussolini moving his army towards Austria and so guaranteeing Austrian independance
     • Hitler backed down and denied any involvement with the Austrian Nazi Party
   • Anglo German Naval Agreement
     • Signed in 1933
     • Hitler's willingness to sign was further proof to Br that he had peaceful intentions
     • It limited the Ge Navy to 35% of the British fleet
       • did not include submarines
     • Britain was agreeing to Ge Rearmament
     • Britain felt that if there was no agreement on disarmament, it was important to limit the size of the Ge Navy
     • Weakened the Stresa Front
     • Germany procceded with rearmament without opposition
       • By 1938 Ge had around 800,000 soldiers, 47 U-boats and over 2000 aircraft
   • Return of the Saar
     • In Jan 1935, a plebiscite was held.
     • Plebiscite
       • where the citizens vote to determine the future of their country
     • The people of the Saar had the choice to remain under LoN control, return to Ge, or go to France
     • The Saar was inhabited by mainly German people, so the result was never in any doubt.
       • 90% voted to rejoin Germany
       • 8% to remain under the control of the LoN
       • and 2% wanted to go to France
     • Nazi Propaganda could make use of the result
       • Victory in the plebiscite was published as the removal of one of the injustices of the ToV
     • Hitler announced that all trouble between Ge and Fr had now been removed
     • The return of the Saar was legal as Hitler had kept within the terms of the ToV

3. Locarno Treaties

   • Oct 1925
   • France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland & Czechoslovakia
   • Ge agreed to accept borders w/ Fr; that the Rhineland would remain demilitarized; and that Fr & Ge would solve any further disputes via the LoN
   • Cleared the way to allow Ge to become a member of LoN in 1926

4. Remilitarization of the Rhineland

   • 7th March 1936 German soldiers marched into the Rhineland
     • Br anf Fr more concerened about Mussolini's invasion of Abyssnia
       • French Security not affected (Maginot Line)
       • Some move to rearmament in Br
     • Fr not prepare to act without Br support
   • This was against the ToV and the Locarno Pact, which the German government had willingly signed in 1925 (see orange)
     • Br felt nothing was wrong - the ToV was unjust so he had the right to change it.
       • Hitler had successfully reversed the ToV, giving him the confidence to go further.
         • Remaining territorial grievances were Danzig & the Polish Corridor
     • Hitler held a vote in Germany on his policies
       • was used to demonstrate Ge power and German support for Hitler's government
       • 99% of voters voted in favour of the policies
   • Hitler followed the remilitarization with promises that Germany would sign a 25-year non-aggression pact and had no further territorial ambitions in Europe.
     • Nobody wanted another war and they took more notice of Hitler's promises
       • Hitler's position in Germany was strengthened: he had been right and very successful
     • He was only moving troops into his own territory rather than invading another country.
     • lead to the signing of the Rome - Berlin Axis with Mussolini
       • gave Hitler a chance to test out his armed forces, weapons and tactics
   • Britain, France and the LoN should have acted against Germany. All that happened was that Germany was condemned by the League but, when a vote was passed, only Soviet Russia voted in favour of imposing sanctions on Germany.
     • Marked the end of the League of Nations as a means of keeping peace

5. Anschluss with Austria

   • With the success of 1936 behind him, Hitler turned his attention to Austria. The Austrians were mainly Ge and he made it clear he thought the two states belonged together.
   • Many in Au supported a union with Ge since their country was so economically weak.
     • Hitler was confident he could bring them together into a greater Ge
   • He had attempted Anschluss in 1934 but Mussolini had stopped him.
     • Four years later the situation was different, Hitler and Mussolini were now allies.
   • Hitler convinced Schuschnigg (The Au Chancellor) to appoint Seyss-Inquart, leader of the Au Nazis, as minister of the Interior. This was followed by a series of riots and demonstrations by the Au Nazis and Seyss-Inquart supported these and so did nothing to stop them.
     • He then told the Au chancellor Schuschnigg only Anchuss could solve these problems
       • Schuschnigg asked Br and Fr for help but they refused
   • So Schuschnigg called a plebiscite to see what the people wanted.
     • Hitler was not prepared to take the risk so he sent his troops into Austria to guarantee a trouble-free vote .
       • Under the watchful eye of the Nazi troops 99.7% vote for Anschluss