'Hitler’s Foreign Policy\r'

'History †Hitler’s irrelevant Policy The Revival of Germ either January 1933 †Hitler becomes premier Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims 1. pulve move Treaty of Versailles (Versailles had shapeed Germany’s arm forces, tacklen away her colonies, forced Germany to aim to the three estates to her neighbours which meant there were Germans chthonian hostile rule) and impose German view in Europe. This involved rearmament & the destruction of cut adherence system. 2. centre of German-Speaking people > Hitler was an Austrian, he longed for coup detatling 3.\r\nGetting â€Å"living lay” from â€Å"sub-human” Slavs USSR (according to Mein Kampf Hitler’s real enemy non the West) & Poland. He argued Germans were the master race who inf each(prenominal)ible living space as Germany was everyplacecrowded and droped nourishment and raw materials. APPEASEMENT calming was the polity followed by the British and later by th e French. Aim: avoiding strugglefare with aggressive posts such(prenominal) as lacquer, Italy and Germany giving way to their demands provided these were not to unreasonable.\r\nReasons: Political divisions in France: hard to take a strong jut & refused to go to war without British sustainment as the French were ultra-cautious Fear of modern war: fear of the bomber ( regionicularly afterward Guernica) â€Å"The wedge shape will always get by” & terror of poison gas> heavy losings Treaty of Versailles: unf bloodline > sympathetic > rewrite clauses >Anglo-German friendship > Germany would take over no invite to be aggressive.\r\nFear of collectivism: flagellum greater than Hitler> Germany stock-purchase warrant against communist elaborateness Need for a strong Germany: sparing co-operation between Britain and Germany would help rec over Germany’s economy > decrease of violence in Germany Public Opinion: establishment was re of import firm by p acifist opinion. British economical crisis: couldn’t buckle under expenses for rearmament. Britain’s multitude shortcomings > economic crisis, Britain had not re gird. From 1936-39 Britain rearmed to negotiate from a plaza of dexterity U. S. isolationism > no support\r\nExamples Rearmament -1933 Anglo-German naval mean †1935 Hoare-laval 1935 Re-occupation of the Rhineland †1936 Anschluss †1938 Munich conference †1938 Czechoslovakianoslovakianoslovakia †1938 expirys: Did not work > advance Hitler Allowed him to destroy Versailles do Germany strong Disarmament convocation 1933 The conference cal lead for a conference to persuade its members to disarm. Hitler wanted to appear mor wholey justified sooner starting to rearm. Complaining Germany was the merely power to have disarmed, he suggested a frequent formula to be reached.\r\nWhen the early(a)s refused he withdrew Germany from the Conference & from the confederacy, then started building up Germany’s munitions industries. Re-armament To fulfill his aims, which he could simply bring home the bacon by conquering the land he wanted, he had to re-build Germany’s armed forces by defying Versailles. This was a popular policy as itappealed to: nationa arguing > angry at limitations obligate by the treaty workers > full date industrialists > defective profits run a risk:Germany’s armed forces were serene shoddy Re go throughs: Britain:no intervention\r\nBritain didn’t want to get involve in European personal business > internal problems Britain didn’t want to pass money on rearmament > Great depression France: no intervention put up â€Å"Mignot Line”: a series of to a great extent armed forts along the marge with Germany. Italy: pull in to take action • 1934, Austrian Nazis attempt to overthrow the Austrian governing body by killing the chancellor. To prevent Hitler from taking control of Aus tria, Mussolini placed army units in the border with Austria. Non-agression Pact 1934 Germany & Poland agree to sign a ten stratum non-aggression engagement, which was later lowly by Germany in 1939.\r\nGermany: indispensable to vitiate clip to build up armed forces. She had to appear reasonable, until she could dictate from a dumbfound of strength. The obligation also weakened the entete. This was scarce regarded as a temporary measure. Poland:lack of confidence in France (French turned obliterate a suggestion of a deterrent war) fear of losing the consume corridor. Austria 1934 Aim: Union of Anschluss Actions: Austrian Chancellor (Mussolini’s protege) was human face dead by Austrian Nazis who occupy the radio station > Austrian judicature stops coup. Reaction: Mussolini moves forces to Austrian boundary.\r\nResult: Hitler was still weak so he denied German interest in conspiracy. Soviet Union enters the League 1934 The French Foreign Secretary managed to secure the Soviet Union’s entry to the League. This was other reversion for Hitler. The Saar plebiscite 1935 End of French 15 year administration of Saar (coalfields, factories, railway centre) Plebiscite held > Saarland returned to Germany (inhabitants-German) Hitler regarded this as a victory against Versailles Introduction of Conscription 1935 afterward 2 years of secretly re-arming Hitler inform there would be compulsory array improvement for all men.\r\nBy 1938 Germany’s armed forces were as good as France’s. Hitler justified himself arguing he was responding to the French increase in military service and British increase in airforce. Stresa precedent 1935 Great powers took no military action. At Sresa Prime ministers of France, Britain & Italy joined to confirm Locarno. The League censured German rearmament. In May France & Russia subscribe pact for mutual assistance. Russia & Czechoslovakia signed another pact where it was unders tood that Soviet fear would follow French initiative.\r\nThe Stresa Front was dampend by the Anglo-German naval treaty and the Abyssinian affair. Anglo-German naval plan 1935 British aim: limit German navy, the British argued that Hitler would rearm anyway and that a limit was better than no limit at all. cartel: German particular to 35% of the tonnage of British die & 100% submarines. Results: o British blessing of Germany’s right to rearm (disapproval of Versailles) > France and Italy were infuriated o Stresa front broken Reoccupation of Rhineland 1936\r\n fleck the League was busy dealing with the Ethiopian affair, German troops reoccupied Rhineland defying Locarno treaties & treaty of Versailles Hitler attempt to reassure France & Belgium with offers to sign love-in-idleness pacts Gamble: German army was still weak > Enemies could have easily defeated them Generals were sick & determine to withdraw at beginning sign of trouble Humiliating fo r Hitler and generals > coup d’etat Reaction: Britain & France distracted by Ethiopia Britain: sympathetic (believed Germans were only moving spikelet to their own back garden > calming, they were move by Hitler’s 25-year peace offer.\r\nFrance: Didn’t mobilise. France wasn’t willing to take action without British support. France was divided, there had been riots. The French as the British were urinate to see how Hitler would expect in the early. Results: Hitler was encouraged to take hike up gambles > he underestimated allies Hitler was popular > approximately impossible to move against him Secure strategic position in any future war against France> Germany started building â€Å"Siegfried line” curtain raising to outpouring weak countries > Poland Austria 1938\r\nAccording to Mein Kampf the dousing of Austria was the Hitler’s commencement ceremony territorial decree of Versailles. Hitler was an Austrian and longed for thi s union. Hitler expected the Austrian Nazis to undermine the state and then call in the Germans. The Democracy had already ended and a type of clergical dictatorship had been established. Shuschnigg’s attempts: To adduce Austrian independence, Schuschnigg relied on Mussolini. He had move to placate the Germans with a pact in 1936. Austria announced her German character.\r\nRepresentatives of the national foeman entered the government and Nazis were released in exchange for no more conspiracies or illegal propaganda. When Schuschnigg sight plans for an Austrian-Nazi coup d’etat he asked Von Papen to originator a contact with Hitler. Hitler’s demands †The meeting In February 1938 Hitler met Schuschnigg for a discussion astir(predicate) the relationship between their countries. After laboured Schuschnigg for several hours Hitler handed him a list of ten demands: Austrian Nazis should be reinstalled\r\nA leading Nazi Seyss-Inquart was to be do ministe r of the interior †key position that gave him control over the police reason economic and military relations were to be established Schuschnigg’s attempts to maintain peace: To prevent a Nazi take-over he organised a take on the question of union with Germany Failure on winning international sympathy Britain: refused to possess any conforting advice France : did not call up any reserves > lack of British support Italy: Mussolini was aware of where power laid, when he learned that Tyrolese would continue under Italian rule he fixed not to interject.\r\nHe was not implicated in Austria, Hitler promised to help Mussolini in any circumstances. Hitler’s answer: He demanded the vote to be postponed & Schuschnigg to resign or the German army was to invade Austria. Schuschnigg resigned along with all government ministers except Seyss Seyss-Inquart became chancellor & invited the German army to occupy Austria Austrian Nazi opponents were arrested and the j ews were deprived of urbane rights A plebiscite was held & there was an official â€Å"yes” vote in facour of the Anschluss. Results: 1.\r\nHitler took first step to create a big Germany 2. Germany was strengthened by the incorporation of Austria. people: 7 million. Resources: iron, steel, magnetite. 3. Strategic benefits: Czechoslovakia >weaker, surrounded by German territory. Open door into the Balkans 4. Hitler’s Popularity increased. Opposition became more difficult 5. Relationships with Italy modify > Mussolini sided Germany 6. Jews were deprived of civil rights 7. France & Britain: delivered protest to German government > no arm Czechoslovakia 1938 Minorities in Czechoslovakia due to:\r\nPopulations throughout Europe were combine Sutelenland > montanious district which provided a strong frontier against Germany. Czech Crisis The 1930’s depression & rise to power of Nazis encouraged a German people’s army led by Henlein to demand f or the Sudetenland to be transferred to Germany The Czechs mobilised part of their forces and the Russians told the French they would respect their 1935 parallelism to defend Czechoslovakia. Hitler and the sudetenland Hitler instructed his generals to prepare for an invasion by first October Risks:\r\nCzechoslovakia was well-equipped for a war (large army,large air forceand industry. 2 Powerful allies: o France: noncompliant to fight down germany,the army wasn’t ready o USSR:great political problems + war with japan Britain & France: asked Hitler to be reasonable, however encouraged president Benes to accept Henlein’s 8 points. He accepted. Chamberlain’s Aeroplane discreetness Chamberlain followed the policy of Appeasement when the Czech crisis began. When the Czech crisis deepened, Chamberlain was encouraged to fly to Germany and speak with Hitler personally.\r\nBerchtesgarten At Berchtesgarten when Hitler demanded the cession of the Sudetenland Chamb erlain agreed to hand over areas of the Sudetenland with over 50% of German population. therefore Chamberlain persuaded the Czechs and the French to agree. Godesburg Chamberlain flew to Germany and found Hitler wanted all of the Sudetenland and the Czechs to give land to Poland and Hungary. The British footlocker: refused to accept France called up reserves Czechoslovakia: had already ordered mobilisation Countries prepared for war The Munich Conference 1938\r\nReasons: Chamberlain didn’t kindred the prospect of war > unlikely to win support of empire + farming He pattern it was better to fight for a clearer cause and not a body politic which was so far away that most British had not hear of Britain’s air defences were still weak > Germany was producing a young aircraft Me-109 Britain needed cadence to prepare: time for factories to produce aircrafts in big numbers, become radars, spitfires Britain was not likely to win treaty: Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier met at Munich.\r\nNeither the Czechs nor the Soviets. They all agreed that the Czechs had to give the Sudetenland to Germany or they would have to fight Germany alone. Czechoslovakia accepted Results: Germany strengthen by hand over of mountain fortifications Czechs lost mountain fortifications > easier to bombardment > balance of power>Germany o Millions of Czechs o manufacture > armaments o Raw materials Poland seized the Teschen district > coalmines & Hungary took land: they were encouraged to side Hitler Chamberlain > hero (short term)\r\nSoviet Union worried the west would do nothing to stop Hitler>they feared they would have to face the Germans alone Hitler’s ambitions increased>believed Britain and France wouldn’t stand up to him. Czechoslovakia Destroyed 1939 Hitler claimed the Czech government had lost control and that a civil war would break if Germany didn’t intervene Hitler bullied Hacha into inviting German troops to occupy the country > threat to bomb Prague After Hacha issued the invitation he used this as an excuse to rationalize his actions March 1939 †German troops marched into Prague\r\nBohemia and Moravia > protectorate of germany o Slovakia:remained independent > became a instrument state o Ruthenia > Hungary • Britain & France protested but took no action as Germany had â€Å"technically” been invited into Czechoslovakia. The gleam Guarantee Agreement : Britain gave Poland a guarantee to protect it from Germany. France later supported it. Reasons: The gleam corridor > Germany wanted it back (German inhabitants). Chamberlain realized Hitler couldn’t be stop by appeasement > stronger measures were take to stop Hitler.\r\nProblem: Britain and France were geographically unable to defend Poland and succeed. Hitler’s reaction: ignore it > issued an order to invade Poland Germany and Italy 1934: enemies > Mussolini stopped Hitler from taking Austria 1935:Italy was angry with Britain and France > Ethiopia 1936: Rome Berlin axis of rotation > cooperate against communism o Fascists dictators Anti-comintern pact (Italy, Germany and Japan) >work against international communism 1938: Mussolini allowed Germany to take over Austria 939:italy invaded Albania to match the occupation of Prague The Pact of brand 1939 Agreement:They would support each other in a war Mussolini’s request: materials Italy needed to help Germany > Italy was not prepared for a war Germany and the USSR Hitler: dislike communism > wanted to take â€Å"lebesraum” from USSR. Hitler regarded the Soviets were his main enemies as stated in Mein Kampf Soviet Union: most hated the Nazis The Nazi-Soviet pact 1939 (Ribbentrop-Molotov)\r\nAgreement: -If Germany attacked Poland the USSR was to remain neutral Agreement: -Germany could occupy the western part including Danzig and the Polish corridor †USSR entitled to occupy western parts: Baltic provinces Result: German y was free to attack Poland > USSR only great power subject of reason Poland. USSR Reasons: 1. failure to reach an agreement with the west: • Soviet Union was still backwards and needed time to develop. • Anglo-French impuissance > Stalin feared he would have to fight Germany alone. 2. British reluctance to ally: Churchill urged an alliance > only way to stop Hitler • British Government was frightened if not more of Stalin than Hitler • Conservatives hated communism > Nazis guard against spread of communism in Europe • Soviet strength was underestimated > British believed purges had weakened the armed forces, officers had been killed • Chamberlain’s reluctance > probably as the foe wanted an alliance • British responses were slack and made by low-ranking officials in contrasts with Stalin’s quick responses to Birtish initiative, he took negotiations seriously. Eden’s offer to go on modified mission > rejected 3. Fea r of Japan: • Clashes between soviets and Japanese increased > Japan was a threat to soviets who didn’t like the prospect of a was with 2 fronts. Stalin needed security in Europe 4. attractive force of German offer: • Territory in eastern Poland (contained ethnic Russians, seized by Poland after the Russo-Polish war) > Buffer zone against Poland 5. bank of a breathing space: • Buy time to prepare defenes • Get armed forces ready • Industralize Russia • Prepare for war Get effectuate of modernization through German reasons: 1. clog a war with 2 fronts 2. Desire to invade Poland Results: Germany was free to attack Poland: USSR only country geographically capable of defending Poland Events: -September 1:invasion of Poland September 3:outbreak of war -Britain and France realised the necessary to stop Hitler > prevent expansion of Germany -The Czech guarantee was not honoured > couldn’t afford the same with Poland >affect internation al credibility -Corridor surrender had been encouraged Support of British and commonwealth -British Factories were readu to build modern fighter planes Reasons for homo War II Hiters ambitions(foreign policy): o unconquerable to acquire Sudetenland o Germany invaded Poland U. S isolationism: o U. S did not get involve in European affairs Appeasement: o Allowed Hitler to destroy Versailles o support him to believe countries would not stand up to him o A stronger Policy could have destroyed Hitler (e. g. Rhineland) Nazi-Soviet Pact o Freed Hitler from a two front war o Allowed Hitler to attack Poland\r\n'