Hitler's Foreign Policy 1933 - 1938

The ❌ of Germany was clearly against the Treaty of Versailles, so why did Britain and France not act? The only opposition was the formation of the short-lived ❌ Front to protest against the introduction of ❌ in Germany. Also, Soviet ❌, afraid of a strong Germany, joined the League of Nations. Many in Britain felt that the Treaty of Versailles was ❌ and needed to be revised. On the other hand, the French were afraid of German ❌ and wanted to see the Treaty ❌, not weakened, but could not act alone. Differences between Britain and France began to emerge, and Britain had sympathised with Germany rather than France.
Hitler took advantage of these ❌ between Britain and France to further his aims in foreign policy. Although he often ❌ to use force to achieve his aims, every time he acted against the treaty he followed it with promises of ❌. Britain paid more attention to these promises than to the ❌ of the treaty.

Later in ❌ Hitler attempted Anschluss with Austria. He encouraged the Austrian Nazi Party to rebel and this resulted in the murder of the Austrian Chancellor, ❌. It looked as if Hitler’s aim of the ❌ of Germany and Austria (Anschluss) was going to be achieved. It was prevented by ❌ moving his army to the frontier of Austria and guaranteeing Austrian independence. Hitler realised that his army was not strong enough, so he backed down and denied any ❌ with the Austrian Nazi Party.

In January 1935 a plebiscite was held in the ❌ to decide whether it should remain under the control of the ❌, return to German control or join ❌. The Saar was inhabited by mainly German people, so the result was never in any doubt. Around ❌ voted to rejoin Germany, ❌ wanted to remain under the control of the League and ❌ wanted to join France. Nazi propaganda made great use of this. Victory in the plebiscite was publicised as the removal of one of the ❌ of Versailles. It was greeted with great celebration in Germany. Hitler announced to the world that all cause of ❌ between France and Germany had now been removed. The return of the Saar to Germany was not ❌. Hitler had kept within the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which had provided for a plebiscite to be held after ❌ years.

The union of Austria and Germany (❌) had been forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler was born within the boundaries of Austria and had stated in Mein Kampf that he felt the rightful place of Austria was in a ❌ with Germany. In ❌ the Austrian Nazis, encouraged by Hitler, had tried to seize power after the murder of the Austrian Chancellor, Dollfuss. This had been prevented by Mussolini who had been prepared to give ❌ to Austria. By 1938, the situation had changed: Mussolini was now ❌ with Germany and occupied in the ❌, so he was unlikely to give help to Austria. One of Hitler’s aims was to ❌ all German-speaking people under his leadership, and the Austrians were German-speaking.
The ❌ Party remained strong in Austria and early in 1938 there were rumours of another Nazi plot to overthrow the Austrian government. The Austrian Chancellor, ❌, appealed to Hitler for help to end the plotting. Hitler refused and, instead of helping, he put pressure on Schuschnigg and forced him to appoint ❌, the leader of the Nazi Party in Austria, as Minister of the Interior, in charge of the police force. This was followed by a series of riots and demonstrations by the Nazis in Austria, ❌ by Hitler. In spite of his position, Seyss-Inquart supported the demonstrations and did ❌ to stop them.