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Hitler's Foreign Policy: How It Led to WW2

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Hitler's Foreign Policy: How It Led to WW2
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@bajake

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Hitler's foreign policy led to World War II through a series of aggressive actions and strategic alliances. This summary outlines the key events and policies that contributed to the outbreak of war.

  • Hitler's foreign policy aims included dismantling the Treaty of Versailles, expanding German territory, and uniting all German-speaking people.
  • Key events: Remilitarization of the Rhineland, Anschluss with Austria, annexation of the Sudetenland, and invasion of Czechoslovakia.
  • Strategic alliances: Anti-Comintern Pact, Rome-Berlin Axis, and Nazi-Soviet Pact.
  • Hitler's actions gradually eroded the post-World War I order and emboldened Germany's expansionist ambitions.

22/03/2023

238

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Spanish Civil War and Its Impact

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) provided Hitler with an opportunity to test his military capabilities and forge closer ties with Mussolini's Italy. This collaboration eventually led to the formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Hitler's involvement in the Spanish conflict allowed him to:

  1. Test and improve his air force and military strategies
  2. Strengthen his alliance with Mussolini
  3. Indirectly facilitate the future Anschluss with Austria due to improved relations with Italy

Highlight: The Spanish Civil War served as a crucial testing ground for German military technology and tactics, foreshadowing the larger conflict to come.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Anti-Comintern Pact

The Anti-Comintern Pact, signed in 1936-1937, was a key element of Hitler's foreign policy. This agreement united Germany with Italy and Japan in opposition to international communism, particularly the Soviet Union.

Key aspects of the Anti-Comintern Pact:

  1. It strengthened Germany's alliances with other expansionist powers
  2. The pact was viewed positively by some Western governments due to widespread fear of communism
  3. It presented the League of Nations as ineffective, as both Italy and Japan had left the organization

Highlight: The Anti-Comintern Pact not only strengthened Germany's international position but also exploited Western fears of communism to gain tacit approval for fascist expansion.

Example: The pact's anti-communist stance made it more palatable to some Western observers, despite the clear threat posed by fascist expansionism.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Anschluss: Events and Consequences

The final stages of the Anschluss unfolded rapidly in March 1938:

  1. Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg announced a referendum on independence, which Hitler forced him to cancel
  2. Schuschnigg resigned, realizing Austria would receive no support from Italy, Britain, or France
  3. German troops marched into Austria on March 12, 1938
  4. A heavily biased referendum was held, resulting in 99.7% approval for German control

Consequences of the Anschluss:

  1. Germany's population increased by 6.7 million
  2. Austria's iron ore and steel industries bolstered German military production
  3. Czechoslovakia became surrounded on three sides by German territory

Example: The Anschluss referendum exemplified Nazi manipulation of democratic processes, with soldiers overseeing voting and Jews and Roma excluded from participation.

Highlight: The international community's failure to respond to the Anschluss emboldened Hitler and set the stage for further aggression.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

Early International Reactions

The Stresa Front of 1935 represented an attempt by Britain, France, and Italy to form a united front against German rearmament. However, this alliance proved short-lived and ineffective in curbing Hitler's ambitions.

The Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 allowed Germany to build a navy up to 35% of the size of Britain's fleet. This agreement was a significant breach of the Treaty of Versailles and an early example of appeasement by the British government.

Definition: Appeasement refers to the policy of making concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.

Example: The Anglo-German Naval Agreement is a clear instance of appeasement, as it legitimized Germany's violation of the Versailles Treaty.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

Hitler's First Moves

Hitler's initial foreign policy actions focused on challenging the constraints imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and reasserting German power on the international stage.

In 1933, Hitler withdrew Germany from the Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations, signaling his intention to pursue an independent and aggressive foreign policy. He also refused to continue paying reparations, further defying the post-World War I settlement.

The Saar plebiscite in 1935 marked an early success for Hitler's expansionist agenda. This region, rich in coalfields, had been under League of Nations control since 1919. A vote was held to determine its future, resulting in 90% support for reunification with Germany.

Highlight: The Saar plebiscite's outcome was influenced by intimidation tactics, with armed guards present at voting locations.

Vocabulary: Anschluss refers to the political union of Austria with Germany, a key goal in Hitler's foreign policy.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed in August 1939 and represented a shocking diplomatic maneuver that paved the way for World War II.

Key aspects of the Nazi-Soviet Pact:

  1. It was a non-aggression agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union, lasting for 10 years
  2. The pact included economic agreements beneficial to both parties
  3. A secret protocol divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence

Consequences of the pact:

  1. Hitler gained access to Soviet raw materials, crucial for his war plans
  2. The agreement to partition Poland removed the threat of a two-front war for Germany
  3. The pact shocked the international community and demonstrated Hitler's diplomatic cunning

Highlight: The Nazi-Soviet Pact, seemingly at odds with Hitler's anti-communist ideology, revealed his pragmatic approach to foreign policy in pursuit of his expansionist goals.

Example: The division of Poland agreed upon in the secret protocol of the pact directly led to the outbreak of World War II when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Invasion of Czechoslovakia

In March 1939, Hitler violated the Munich Agreement and invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia. This action marked the end of appeasement and a turning point in international relations.

Key events of the invasion:

  1. Hitler claimed that 2 million Germans in Bohemia and Moravia were being mistreated
  2. Czech President Hácha was summoned to Berlin and pressured into accepting German "protection"
  3. German troops marched into Prague on March 15, 1939

Consequences of the invasion:

  1. Germany gained control of the Skoda armaments factory, significantly boosting its military capabilities
  2. The invasion marked the end of the appeasement policy
  3. Britain and France began to take a firmer stance against German aggression

Highlight: The invasion of Czechoslovakia demonstrated that Hitler's ambitions extended beyond uniting ethnic Germans and revealed the true extent of his expansionist goals.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Anschluss with Austria

The Anschluss, or union between Germany and Austria, was a long-standing goal of Hitler's foreign policy. The process that led to the Anschluss in 1938 involved several key events:

  1. The 1934 assassination of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss, who had banned the Nazi Party
  2. The 1936 German-Austrian agreement, which aligned Austria's foreign policy with Germany's
  3. The formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936, which left Austria vulnerable
  4. The appointment of Nazi sympathizer Seyss-Inquart as Austrian Minister of the Interior in 1938

Definition: Anschluss literally means "joining" or "union" in German, referring to the political unification of Austria and Germany.

Highlight: The Anschluss was a significant victory for Hitler, adding 6.7 million people to the German Reich and providing valuable resources and strategic depth.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Sudetenland Crisis

The Sudetenland crisis of 1938 was a pivotal moment in Hitler's foreign policy and a key step towards World War II. The crisis centered on the German-speaking population in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

Key events of the Sudetenland crisis:

  1. Hitler supported the Sudeten German Party, which claimed mistreatment of ethnic Germans
  2. In September, Hitler ordered plans to destroy Czechoslovakia by October
  3. British Prime Minister Chamberlain attempted to negotiate a compromise
  4. Hitler escalated his demands, insisting on full control of the Sudetenland

Vocabulary: The Sudetenland refers to the predominantly German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia bordering Germany and Austria.

Highlight: The Sudetenland crisis demonstrated Hitler's strategy of using ethnic German populations as a pretext for territorial expansion.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

View

The Munich Agreement and Its Aftermath

The Munich Agreement of September 1938 was a failed attempt to appease Hitler and prevent war. Key aspects of the agreement include:

  1. Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met to decide the fate of the Sudetenland
  2. The agreement allowed German occupation of the Sudetenland in October 1938
  3. Czechoslovakia was not invited to participate in the negotiations about its own territory

Consequences of the Munich Agreement:

  1. Hitler gained control of the Sudetenland, further encircling what remained of Czechoslovakia
  2. British Prime Minister Chamberlain famously declared "peace for our time"
  3. Britain and France increased their rearmament plans, recognizing the growing threat

Quote: Chamberlain's declaration of "peace for our time" became a symbol of the futility of appeasement in the face of Nazi aggression.

Highlight: The Munich Agreement is often seen as the pinnacle of the appeasement policy, which ultimately failed to prevent war and instead emboldened Hitler.

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Subjects

/

History

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World war two & the holocaust

/

The rise of hitler & the nazis

Hitler's Foreign Policy: How It Led to WW2

user profile picture

b

@bajake

·

19 Followers

Follow

Hitler's foreign policy led to World War II through a series of aggressive actions and strategic alliances. This summary outlines the key events and policies that contributed to the outbreak of war.

  • Hitler's foreign policy aims included dismantling the Treaty of Versailles, expanding German territory, and uniting all German-speaking people.
  • Key events: Remilitarization of the Rhineland, Anschluss with Austria, annexation of the Sudetenland, and invasion of Czechoslovakia.
  • Strategic alliances: Anti-Comintern Pact, Rome-Berlin Axis, and Nazi-Soviet Pact.
  • Hitler's actions gradually eroded the post-World War I order and emboldened Germany's expansionist ambitions.

22/03/2023

238

 

10/11

 

History

4

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Spanish Civil War and Its Impact

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) provided Hitler with an opportunity to test his military capabilities and forge closer ties with Mussolini's Italy. This collaboration eventually led to the formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Hitler's involvement in the Spanish conflict allowed him to:

  1. Test and improve his air force and military strategies
  2. Strengthen his alliance with Mussolini
  3. Indirectly facilitate the future Anschluss with Austria due to improved relations with Italy

Highlight: The Spanish Civil War served as a crucial testing ground for German military technology and tactics, foreshadowing the larger conflict to come.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Anti-Comintern Pact

The Anti-Comintern Pact, signed in 1936-1937, was a key element of Hitler's foreign policy. This agreement united Germany with Italy and Japan in opposition to international communism, particularly the Soviet Union.

Key aspects of the Anti-Comintern Pact:

  1. It strengthened Germany's alliances with other expansionist powers
  2. The pact was viewed positively by some Western governments due to widespread fear of communism
  3. It presented the League of Nations as ineffective, as both Italy and Japan had left the organization

Highlight: The Anti-Comintern Pact not only strengthened Germany's international position but also exploited Western fears of communism to gain tacit approval for fascist expansion.

Example: The pact's anti-communist stance made it more palatable to some Western observers, despite the clear threat posed by fascist expansionism.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Anschluss: Events and Consequences

The final stages of the Anschluss unfolded rapidly in March 1938:

  1. Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg announced a referendum on independence, which Hitler forced him to cancel
  2. Schuschnigg resigned, realizing Austria would receive no support from Italy, Britain, or France
  3. German troops marched into Austria on March 12, 1938
  4. A heavily biased referendum was held, resulting in 99.7% approval for German control

Consequences of the Anschluss:

  1. Germany's population increased by 6.7 million
  2. Austria's iron ore and steel industries bolstered German military production
  3. Czechoslovakia became surrounded on three sides by German territory

Example: The Anschluss referendum exemplified Nazi manipulation of democratic processes, with soldiers overseeing voting and Jews and Roma excluded from participation.

Highlight: The international community's failure to respond to the Anschluss emboldened Hitler and set the stage for further aggression.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

Early International Reactions

The Stresa Front of 1935 represented an attempt by Britain, France, and Italy to form a united front against German rearmament. However, this alliance proved short-lived and ineffective in curbing Hitler's ambitions.

The Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 allowed Germany to build a navy up to 35% of the size of Britain's fleet. This agreement was a significant breach of the Treaty of Versailles and an early example of appeasement by the British government.

Definition: Appeasement refers to the policy of making concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.

Example: The Anglo-German Naval Agreement is a clear instance of appeasement, as it legitimized Germany's violation of the Versailles Treaty.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

Hitler's First Moves

Hitler's initial foreign policy actions focused on challenging the constraints imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and reasserting German power on the international stage.

In 1933, Hitler withdrew Germany from the Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations, signaling his intention to pursue an independent and aggressive foreign policy. He also refused to continue paying reparations, further defying the post-World War I settlement.

The Saar plebiscite in 1935 marked an early success for Hitler's expansionist agenda. This region, rich in coalfields, had been under League of Nations control since 1919. A vote was held to determine its future, resulting in 90% support for reunification with Germany.

Highlight: The Saar plebiscite's outcome was influenced by intimidation tactics, with armed guards present at voting locations.

Vocabulary: Anschluss refers to the political union of Austria with Germany, a key goal in Hitler's foreign policy.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed in August 1939 and represented a shocking diplomatic maneuver that paved the way for World War II.

Key aspects of the Nazi-Soviet Pact:

  1. It was a non-aggression agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union, lasting for 10 years
  2. The pact included economic agreements beneficial to both parties
  3. A secret protocol divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence

Consequences of the pact:

  1. Hitler gained access to Soviet raw materials, crucial for his war plans
  2. The agreement to partition Poland removed the threat of a two-front war for Germany
  3. The pact shocked the international community and demonstrated Hitler's diplomatic cunning

Highlight: The Nazi-Soviet Pact, seemingly at odds with Hitler's anti-communist ideology, revealed his pragmatic approach to foreign policy in pursuit of his expansionist goals.

Example: The division of Poland agreed upon in the secret protocol of the pact directly led to the outbreak of World War II when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Invasion of Czechoslovakia

In March 1939, Hitler violated the Munich Agreement and invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia. This action marked the end of appeasement and a turning point in international relations.

Key events of the invasion:

  1. Hitler claimed that 2 million Germans in Bohemia and Moravia were being mistreated
  2. Czech President Hácha was summoned to Berlin and pressured into accepting German "protection"
  3. German troops marched into Prague on March 15, 1939

Consequences of the invasion:

  1. Germany gained control of the Skoda armaments factory, significantly boosting its military capabilities
  2. The invasion marked the end of the appeasement policy
  3. Britain and France began to take a firmer stance against German aggression

Highlight: The invasion of Czechoslovakia demonstrated that Hitler's ambitions extended beyond uniting ethnic Germans and revealed the true extent of his expansionist goals.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Anschluss with Austria

The Anschluss, or union between Germany and Austria, was a long-standing goal of Hitler's foreign policy. The process that led to the Anschluss in 1938 involved several key events:

  1. The 1934 assassination of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss, who had banned the Nazi Party
  2. The 1936 German-Austrian agreement, which aligned Austria's foreign policy with Germany's
  3. The formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936, which left Austria vulnerable
  4. The appointment of Nazi sympathizer Seyss-Inquart as Austrian Minister of the Interior in 1938

Definition: Anschluss literally means "joining" or "union" in German, referring to the political unification of Austria and Germany.

Highlight: The Anschluss was a significant victory for Hitler, adding 6.7 million people to the German Reich and providing valuable resources and strategic depth.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Sudetenland Crisis

The Sudetenland crisis of 1938 was a pivotal moment in Hitler's foreign policy and a key step towards World War II. The crisis centered on the German-speaking population in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

Key events of the Sudetenland crisis:

  1. Hitler supported the Sudeten German Party, which claimed mistreatment of ethnic Germans
  2. In September, Hitler ordered plans to destroy Czechoslovakia by October
  3. British Prime Minister Chamberlain attempted to negotiate a compromise
  4. Hitler escalated his demands, insisting on full control of the Sudetenland

Vocabulary: The Sudetenland refers to the predominantly German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia bordering Germany and Austria.

Highlight: The Sudetenland crisis demonstrated Hitler's strategy of using ethnic German populations as a pretext for territorial expansion.

Hitler's first moves → take Germany Out of Disammarent Conference + withdrew from LoN in 1933) 4 refused to pay reparations. Dolfuss Affair

The Munich Agreement and Its Aftermath

The Munich Agreement of September 1938 was a failed attempt to appease Hitler and prevent war. Key aspects of the agreement include:

  1. Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met to decide the fate of the Sudetenland
  2. The agreement allowed German occupation of the Sudetenland in October 1938
  3. Czechoslovakia was not invited to participate in the negotiations about its own territory

Consequences of the Munich Agreement:

  1. Hitler gained control of the Sudetenland, further encircling what remained of Czechoslovakia
  2. British Prime Minister Chamberlain famously declared "peace for our time"
  3. Britain and France increased their rearmament plans, recognizing the growing threat

Quote: Chamberlain's declaration of "peace for our time" became a symbol of the futility of appeasement in the face of Nazi aggression.

Highlight: The Munich Agreement is often seen as the pinnacle of the appeasement policy, which ultimately failed to prevent war and instead emboldened Hitler.

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.