NAZI GERMANY’S FOREIGN POLICY

We demand the union of all Germans in a GreaterGermany on the basis of the right of national self-determination.Point 1 of Nazi Programme, 1920

We demand the union of all Germans in a GreaterGermany on the basis of the right of national self-determination.Point 1 of Nazi Programme, 1920

Germany will either be a world power or there will be no GermanyMein Kampf 1925

Germany will either be a world power or there will be no GermanyMein Kampf 1925

We stop the endless German movement to the south and the West, and turn our gaze towards the land into the EastMein Kampf 1925

We stop the endless German movement to the south and the West, and turn our gaze towards the land into the EastMein Kampf 1925

Nobody wishes peace more than I.To Associated press agency 1933

Nobody wishes peace more than I.To Associated press agency 1933

An understanding must be reached between the great Germanic peoples Germany and Britain through the permanent elimination of naval rivalry. One will control the sea the other will be the strongest on the land…1935

An understanding must be reached between the great Germanic peoples Germany and Britain through the permanent elimination of naval rivalry. One will control the sea the other will be the strongest on the land…1935

Everything I undertake is directed against the Russians; If the West is too stupid and blind to grasp this, then I shall be compelled to come to an agreement with the Russians, beat the West and then after their defeat turn against the Soviet Union with all my forces. I need the Ukraine so they can’t starve us like in the last war.To League of Nations Commissioner in Danzig August 1939.

Everything I undertake is directed against the Russians; If the West is too stupid and blind to grasp this, then I shall be compelled to come to an agreement with the Russians, beat the West and then after their defeat turn against the Soviet Union with all my forces. I need the Ukraine so they can’t starve us like in the last war.To League of Nations Commissioner in Danzig August 1939.

War is the most natural, the most ordinary thing. War is constant; war is everywhere. There is no beginning, there is no conclusion of peace. War is life. All struggle is war. War is the primal condition.1939

War is the most natural, the most ordinary thing. War is constant; war is everywhere. There is no beginning, there is no conclusion of peace. War is life. All struggle is war. War is the primal condition.1939

No human being has declared or recorded what he wanted more often than I. Again and again I wrote these words – the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles.January 1941

No human being has declared or recorded what he wanted more often than I. Again and again I wrote these words – the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles.January 1941

How did the situation in Europe in How did the situation in Europe in the 1930’s help Hitler?the 1930’s help Hitler?

League of Nations: international body set up to preserve peace and prevent aggression. Power to call for economic sanctions and military action by member states.

Members should submit disputes to League before taking up arms.

USA and USSR (1934) not members. Germany joined in 1926.

France built up alliances (Yugoslavia, Czech) to defend the status quo.

“The French are bankruptFourth rate power…

US Secretary of State”H. Morgenthau

“He fully expected to beBetrayed by the British…

He considered ChamberlainA desiccated stick; the King

A moron… England had becomeSo feeble and senile that Britain

Would give away every possession… rather than stand up to Germany

And Italy.”

French PM E. Daladier in 1939Told the US Ambassador

“France never kept a secretFor more than half and hourNor a government for more

Than nine months”British PM Neville Chamberlain

By 1935, Hitler felt secure enough to announceBy 1935, Hitler felt secure enough to announce

in public Germany’s rearmament. He sensed that in public Germany’s rearmament. He sensed that

Europe there was a mood of reluctance to risk warEurope there was a mood of reluctance to risk war

In 1936, entered into the Rhineland.In 1936, entered into the Rhineland.

““More than once, even during the war,More than once, even during the war,

I heard Hitler say: The 48 hours I heard Hitler say: The 48 hours

After the march into the Rhineland were the most After the march into the Rhineland were the most nerve wracking in my life… If the French had nerve wracking in my life… If the French had

marched intomarched into

the Rhineland we would have hadthe Rhineland we would have had

to withdraw with our tails between our legs, for the to withdraw with our tails between our legs, for the military …been military …been

completely inadequatecompletely inadequate.”.”Hitler’s interpreter, Paul Schmidt, writing in 1949Hitler’s interpreter, Paul Schmidt, writing in 1949

Why did the West not intervene?Why did the West not intervene?

In Britain, public opinion was hostile to military In Britain, public opinion was hostile to military actionaction

In January 1935, the govt decided that the In January 1935, the govt decided that the Rhineland was not vital and favoured negotiationsRhineland was not vital and favoured negotiations

Germany offered itself as a buffer towards the Germany offered itself as a buffer towards the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

France was militarily too weak, it focused its France was militarily too weak, it focused its energy on the Magninot Line rather than energy on the Magninot Line rather than modernise weaponry.modernise weaponry.

Britain and France were quarrelling over their Britain and France were quarrelling over their response to Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia.response to Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia.

The French requested support over the Rhineland The French requested support over the Rhineland and the British refused.and the British refused.

Sudetenland In 1938, Germany + Austria joined togetherThis was known as ANSCHLUSS. Hitler claimedhe was uniting all German speaking people inone “greater Germany”

Seeing this, German speaking peopleIn Czechoslovakia began to demand They become part of Germany too.

Hitler could not just take the area –Czechoslovakia was a powerful newCountry and had the backing of theSoviet Union.

What did Hitler do?

•Used the argument of the Sudeten Germans’ right to self –determine and undermine the Czech state.

•Threaten war to persuade the West to dismember the Czech.

Everything depended on the actions of Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

Road to War .. Review questionsRoad to War .. Review questions What were the 3 aims of Hitler’s foreign What were the 3 aims of Hitler’s foreign

policy?policy? What was Lebenssraum?What was Lebenssraum? What was Anschluss?What was Anschluss? What were the six steps to War?What were the six steps to War? What is conscription? What date did Hitler What is conscription? What date did Hitler

introduce conscription?introduce conscription? What was the Munich Agreement?What was the Munich Agreement? What was appeasement?What was appeasement? List some reasons why Chamberlain List some reasons why Chamberlain

appeased Hitler?appeased Hitler?

AnswersAnswers To abolish the Treaty of Versailles, to expand To abolish the Treaty of Versailles, to expand

Germany territory, to defeat communismGermany territory, to defeat communism ‘‘Living space” room for the growing German Living space” room for the growing German

population, especially Eastern Europepopulation, especially Eastern Europe ‘‘Union’ specifically between Germany and AustriaUnion’ specifically between Germany and Austria Six steps to warSix steps to war:: Rearmament Rearmament 1933 onwards1933 onwards Invasion of the Rhineland Invasion of the Rhineland 77thth March 1936 March 1936 Austria Austria 11 March 193811 March 1938 Sudetenland Sudetenland 1 October 19381 October 1938 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 15 March 193915 March 1939 Poland Poland 1 September 19391 September 1939 In 1935 conscription (compulsory joining of army)In 1935 conscription (compulsory joining of army)

The Munich agreement was the “handing” The Munich agreement was the “handing” over of the Sudetenland to Hitler. over of the Sudetenland to Hitler. Appeasement to allow concessions to Appeasement to allow concessions to Hitler therefore, establishing a peace.Hitler therefore, establishing a peace.

There were many reasons why There were many reasons why Chamberlain appeased Hitler:Chamberlain appeased Hitler:communismcommunism

11stst World War World War League of NationsLeague of Nations France DemocracyFrance Democracy approvalapproval

Think ….Think ….Think back over what you canremember of the events of theperiod 1919 – 1939.

Can you think of any reasonswhy the Second World War brokeout?

There is a difference betweenhow and why the war came.

HOW the war came is the storyof the events which led to the

war.WHY the war came is the analysis

of the factors which caused the warto happen.

The five most important causesThe five most important causes

1.1. The Treaty of Versailles solved nothingThe Treaty of Versailles solved nothing

2.2. League of Nations failed to keep theLeague of Nations failed to keep the

peacepeace

Reparations left many in the victorious nations guilty. The loss of land made Hitler’s early aggression look justified. The Treaty made

angry.

It was weak from the beginning. It hadfailures in Manchuria and Abyssinia. It

failed to achieve disarmament. Countries leftthe League.

3. Appeasement

This encouraged war. It made Hitler thinkthat he could continue unchallenged. TheSudetenland led Stalin to make the Nazi-

Soviet pact , he believed he could not trust

4. Hitler

Many historians believe that WWII was Hitler’spersonal war

5. Events (the six steps to war)

Each event created anger in the allies. ThisAnger grew until Chamberlain declared WAR

On 3rd September 1939.