1935: ToV had put Saar under LoN control for 15 yrs. Now, after Nazis used violence & threats, Saar voted to return to Germany. Many historians see this as 1st step to war.
• Effects
1. Validated Hitler's regime.
2. Encouraged Hitler’s expansionism.
3. Showed LoN feared confronting Nazi violence.
2. Conscription & Re-armament
1935: Hitler started rearmament, inc. conscription, breaking ToV. In Apr 1935, Br, Fr & It signed Front to oppose Hitler & defend Austria. However, Br made secret deal w. Hitler (June 1935 Anglo-German Agreement), helping him rearm.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. Started arms race.
3. Divided Hitler’s opponents (Stresa Front collapsed in 6 months).
4. Hitler sought allies → formation of Axis.
3. Rhineland
7 Mar 1936: Hitler invaded Rhineland (Operation ), breaking ToV.
(Bluff – Ger army = 22k soldiers w. orders to retreat if opposed.) Br & Fr did nothing.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. 1st successful Nazi military action.
3. Fr lost chance to stop Hitler for good.
4. Anschluss w. Austria
1938: In 1934 Austrian Nazis had assassinated Chancellor (July Putsch), but Italy stopped union
by threatening war. 1938: Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to demand union, then invaded (Operation ). Broke ToV, Br & Fr did nothing.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. 1st time Hitler annexed land outside Ger.
3. Mussolini began supporting Hitler.
4. 1st time Chamberlain appeased Hitler (Austria seen as 'too to help').
5. Munich
1938: Hitler demanded Sudetenland. Encouraged Sudeten Nazis to push for union, then planned invasion of Czechoslovakia. At (29 Sep 1938), Br & Fr gave Hitler Sudetenland (appeasement).
• Effects
1. 1st time Hitler took land beyond ToV disputes.
2. Convinced Hitler Br & Fr leaders = weak.
3. Convinced Stalin Br & Fr wouldn't stop Hitler → Nazi-Soviet Pact.
4. Ger army planned to overthrow Hitler if he was stopped; his success ended this.
6. Czechoslovakia
15 Mar 1939: Hitler invaded rest of Czechoslovakia. Br public realised war was only way to stop him.
2. 1st time Hitler annexed non-German land → suggested .
3. Czechoslovakia was a → worrying western democracies.
4. Convinced Chamberlain negotiation wouldn’t work → Polish Guarantee.
5. Outraged Br public, shifted opinion to war.
7. USSR/Nazi Pact
Summer 1939: Hitler aimed to take Poland. Germans demanded union, Hitler threatened war. Chamberlain promised to defend Poland. Aug 1939: Hitler & Stalin signed secret treaty. Hitler believed this would stop Br & Fr from defending Poland.
• Effects
1. Gave Hitler confidence to invade Poland.
2. Seen as cynical & evil, convincing Br of need to fight Hitler.
8. Poland
Apr 1939: Chamberlain issued Polish (defend Poland if Hitler invaded), marking end of appeasement.
• Effects
1. End of appeasement – war became inevitable.
2. Prevented Chamberlain from negotiating
w. Hitler again.
3. Drove Stalin into Nazi-Soviet Pact. Polish invasion = direct cause of Br declaring war (3 Sep 1939).
1 Sep 1939: Hitler invaded Poland.
1. Saar PLEBISCITE
1935: ToV had put Saar under LoN control for 15 yrs. Now, after Nazis used violence & threats, Saar voted to return to Germany. Many historians see this as 1st step to war.
• Effects
1. Validated Hitler's regime.
2. Encouraged Hitler’s expansionism.
3. Showed LoN feared confronting Nazi violence.
2. Conscription & Re-armament
1935: Hitler started rearmament, inc. conscription, breaking ToV. In Apr 1935, Br, Fr & It signed STRESA Front to oppose Hitler & defend Austria. However, Br made secret deal w. Hitler (June 1935 Anglo-German NAVAL Agreement), helping him rearm.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. Started arms race.
3. Divided Hitler’s opponents (Stresa Front collapsed in 6 months).
4. Hitler sought allies → formation of Axis.
3. Rhineland
7 Mar 1936: Hitler invaded Rhineland (Operation WINTER EXERCISE), breaking ToV.
(Bluff – Ger army = 22k soldiers w. orders to retreat if opposed.) Br & Fr did nothing.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. 1st successful Nazi military action.
3. Fr lost chance to stop Hitler for good.
4. Anschluss w. Austria
1938: In 1934 Austrian Nazis had assassinated Chancellor DOLLFUSS (July Putsch), but Italy stopped union
by threatening war. 1938: Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to demand union, then invaded (Operation OTTO). Broke ToV, Br & Fr did nothing.
• Effects
1. Broke ToV.
2. 1st time Hitler annexed land outside Ger.
3. Mussolini began supporting Hitler.
4. 1st time Chamberlain appeased Hitler (Austria seen as 'too FAR AWAY to help').
5. Munich
1938: Hitler demanded Sudetenland. Encouraged Sudeten Nazis to push for union, then planned invasion of Czechoslovakia. At MUNICH (29 Sep 1938), Br & Fr gave Hitler Sudetenland (appeasement).
• Effects
1. 1st time Hitler took land beyond ToV disputes.
2. Convinced Hitler Br & Fr leaders = weak.
3. Convinced Stalin Br & Fr wouldn't stop Hitler → Nazi-Soviet Pact.
4. Ger army planned to overthrow Hitler if he was stopped; his success ended this.
6. Czechoslovakia
15 Mar 1939: Hitler invaded rest of Czechoslovakia. Br public realised war was only way to stop him.
2. 1st time Hitler annexed non-German land → suggested WORLD DOMINATION.
3. Czechoslovakia was a DEMOCRACY → worrying western democracies.
4. Convinced Chamberlain negotiation wouldn’t work → Polish Guarantee.
5. Outraged Br public, shifted opinion to war.
7. USSR/Nazi Pact
Summer 1939: Hitler aimed to take Poland. DANZIG Germans demanded union, Hitler threatened war. Chamberlain promised to defend Poland. Aug 1939: Hitler & Stalin signed secret treaty. Hitler believed this would stop Br & Fr from defending Poland.
• Effects
1. Gave Hitler confidence to invade Poland.
2. Seen as cynical & evil, convincing Br of need to fight Hitler.
8. Poland
Apr 1939: Chamberlain issued Polish GUARANTEE (defend Poland if Hitler invaded), marking end of appeasement.
• Effects
1. End of appeasement – war became inevitable.
2. Prevented Chamberlain from negotiating
w. Hitler again.
3. Drove Stalin into Nazi-Soviet Pact. Polish invasion = direct cause of Br declaring war (3 Sep 1939).
