Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims 1933-1939

This page outlines the main objectives of Hitler's foreign policy in the years leading up to World War II.

Hitler's foreign policy had four primary aims:

1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles

   • Hitler resented Germany's military weakness and loss of territory imposed by the treaty
   • He sought to rebuild Germany's military strength and regain lost lands

2. Unite all German speakers

   • Hitler aimed to create a greater German empire by incorporating regions with German-speaking populations
   • This included annexing Austria (Anschluss) and claiming the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia

3. Acquire Lebensraum (living space) for Germans

   • Hitler believed Germany needed more territory to support its growing population
   • He planned to expand eastward, targeting countries like Poland and the Soviet Union

4. Eradicate Communism

   • Hitler saw Communism as the ideological opposite of Nazism and a threat to Germany
   • He intended to invade the Soviet Union to destroy Communism at its source

Definition: Revisionism - The policy of seeking to rewrite or overturn the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

To achieve these aims, Hitler planned to:

• Increase the size of the German army
• Build weapons, tanks, and planes
• Remilitarize the Rhineland
• Annex Austria and the Sudetenland
• Invade countries to the east for Lebensraum

Highlight: Hitler's foreign policy was fundamentally aggressive and expansionist, directly contributing to the outbreak of World War II.

Causes of World War II

This page examines various factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War II, beyond just Hitler's foreign policy.

1. League of Nations weakness

   • The League failed to stand up to aggressive countries like Japan, Italy, and Germany
   • Its inability to enforce collective security emboldened expansionist powers

2. 1929 Wall Street Crash and Great Depression

   • Led to severe economic problems in many countries
   • Created conditions for the rise of extremist political movements

3. British self-interest

   • Britain's focus on its own interests sometimes came at the expense of European stability

4. Treaty of Versailles

   • Germany resented the harsh terms of the treaty
   • Hitler used this resentment to gain popular support for his aggressive foreign policy

5. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy

   • His expansionist aims and willingness to use force destabilized Europe

6. Appeasement

   • The policy of giving in to Hitler's demands made him more aggressive
   • It failed to prevent war and may have encouraged further German expansion

Example: The Munich Agreement of 1938, where Britain and France allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, is often cited as a prime example of failed appeasement.

Highlight: While Hitler's actions were central to causing World War II, other factors such as economic instability, weak international institutions, and misguided diplomatic policies also played significant roles.

Timeline of the Sudetenland Crisis

This page provides a chronological overview of key events leading up to and during the Sudetenland Crisis of 1938.

March 12, 1938: Anschluss - Germany annexes Austria

May 1938: Hitler makes it clear he is willing to fight for the Sudetenland if necessary

Summer 1938: Tensions rise across Europe as the Sudetenland issue intensifies

September 15, 1938: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with Hitler at Berchtesgaden. The meeting initially seems to go well.

September 19, 1938: France and Britain present their plans to the Czechoslovak government

September 22, 1938: Hitler increases his demands regarding the Sudetenland

September 29, 1938: Final meeting in Munich with leaders of Britain, Germany, France, and Italy

Highlight: The Sudetenland Crisis was a pivotal moment in the lead-up to World War II, demonstrating the failure of appeasement and emboldening Hitler's expansionist ambitions.

Vocabulary: Anschluss - The political union of Austria with Nazi Germany in 1938.

This timeline illustrates the rapid escalation of the crisis and the diplomatic attempts to resolve it, ultimately culminating in the Munich Agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland.

Uniting All German Speakers: The Sudetenland Crisis

This page details the key meetings and negotiations during the Sudetenland Crisis, focusing on Hitler's goal of uniting all German speakers under Nazi rule.

1. Berchtesgaden Meeting - September 15, 1938

   • Location: Hitler's private home in Berchtesgaden, Germany
   • Attendees: Adolf Hitler (Germany), Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister)
   • Not Present: Czech President Edvard Beneš

2. Bad Godesberg Meeting - September 22, 1938

   • Location: Bad Godesberg, Germany
   • Attendees: Adolf Hitler (Germany), Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister)

3. Munich Conference - September 29, 1938

   • Location: Munich, Germany
   • Attendees: Adolf Hitler (Germany), Neville Chamberlain (Britain), Benito Mussolini (Italy), Édouard Daladier (France)
   • Not Present: Joseph Stalin (USSR), Edvard Beneš (Czechoslovakia)

Highlight: The absence of Czechoslovak and Soviet representatives at the Munich Conference was a significant factor in the outcome, as decisions were made about Czechoslovak territory without their input.

Quote: Neville Chamberlain famously declared after the Munich Agreement: "I believe it is peace for our time." This statement would prove tragically misguided as World War II began less than a year later.

These meetings culminated in the Munich Agreement, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, home to a significant German-speaking population. This agreement was a prime example of the policy of appeasement and a major step towards World War II.

Causes of World War II: Hitler's Foreign Policy

This page summarizes the key aspects of Hitler's foreign policy that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

1. Lebensraum (Living Space): Hitler sought to acquire more territory in Eastern Europe for German expansion.

2. Eastward Expansion: Hitler planned to take over Poland and parts of the Soviet Union to achieve Lebensraum.

3. Revisionism: Hitler aimed to abolish the Treaty of Versailles, which he saw as unfair to Germany.

4. Uniting German Speakers: Hitler wanted to create a Greater Germany by incorporating all German-speaking populations into one country.

5. Destroying Communism: Hitler was determined to eradicate Communism, particularly in the Soviet Union.

Key events in Hitler's foreign policy:

• 1936: Germany remilitarized the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles
• 1938: Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss)
• October 1938: Germany took over the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia
• September 1939: Germany invaded Poland, triggering the start of World War II

Definition: Anschluss - The political union of Austria with Nazi Germany in 1938, which was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles.

Highlight: Hitler's foreign policy was characterized by aggressive expansionism and a willingness to use force to achieve his goals, directly leading to the outbreak of World War II.

Hitler's actions consistently violated international agreements and pushed Europe towards conflict, culminating in the invasion of Poland that marked the beginning of World War II.

Causes of World War II: Multiple Factors

This page outlines various factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War II, providing a broader context beyond Hitler's actions.

1. Treaty of Versailles: The harsh terms imposed on Germany after World War I created resentment and instability.

2. Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party: Hitler's aggressive policies and ideology played a central role in causing the war.

3. The Great Depression: Economic hardship fueled political extremism and nationalism across Europe.

4. Japanese Expansionism: Japan's aggressive actions in Asia contributed to global tensions.

5. Anti-Communism: Fear and opposition to communism influenced international relations and alliances.

6. Appeasement: The policy of giving in to Hitler's demands failed to prevent war and may have encouraged further aggression.

7. Militarism: The arms race and emphasis on military strength increased the likelihood of conflict.

8. Nationalism: Extreme patriotism and belief in national superiority fueled tensions between countries.

9. Isolationism: Some countries' reluctance to get involved in international affairs weakened collective security.

Definition: Appeasement - The diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.

Highlight: While Hitler's actions were central to causing World War II, a complex interplay of political, economic, and ideological factors created the conditions that made global conflict possible.

Understanding these multiple causes provides a more comprehensive view of the origins of World War II, highlighting the complex international situation that led to the outbreak of war in 1939.

Causes of the Second World War: GCSE Test

This page presents a GCSE test on the causes of World War II, including source analysis and essay questions.

The test consists of three questions:

1. Analysis of Source A: A British cartoon about the reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936.

   • Students must explain how the source opposes the reoccupation using visual elements and contextual knowledge.

2. Comparison of Sources B and C: Evaluating the usefulness of sources about opinions on the Munich Agreement of 1938.

   • Source B is a newspaper article praising the agreement.
   • Source C is a Soviet cartoon criticizing the agreement.

3. Essay question: "The main reason for the outbreak of the Second World War was the policy of Appeasement followed by Britain."

   • Students must argue to what extent they agree with this statement.

Highlight: This test assesses students' ability to analyze historical sources, compare different perspectives, and construct arguments about the causes of World War II.

Vocabulary: Appeasement - The policy of making concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict, particularly associated with Britain's approach to Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

The test covers key topics such as:

• The remilitarization of the Rhineland
• The Munich Agreement and its consequences
• The policy of appeasement and its impact
• Various perspectives on pre-war diplomacy

Students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of these events and their ability to critically analyze historical sources and arguments.

GCSE Examination Questions

Presents analytical questions testing understanding of the causes of WWII and source interpretation skills.

Highlight: The examination focuses on source analysis and evaluation of appeasement's role in causing WWII.

Hitler's Foreign Policy and Early Events Leading to World War II

This page provides an overview of key events and policies in the lead-up to World War II, focusing on Hitler's foreign policy goals and early territorial expansions.

After 1936, Neville Chamberlain became the British Prime Minister and pursued a policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany. This culminated in the Munich Crisis of 1938, where Hitler was given the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of no further territorial demands.

Highlight: The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938, allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland without consulting Czechoslovakia or the Soviet Union.

Key events following the Munich Agreement:

• Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939
• Hitler signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939
• Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering the start of World War II

Vocabulary: Lebensraum - German term meaning "living space", used by Hitler to justify territorial expansion for the German people.

Hitler had three significant meetings with Chamberlain leading up to the Munich Agreement:

1. Berchtesgaden - September 15, 1938
2. Bad Godesberg - September 22-23, 1938
3. Munich - September 29, 1938

These meetings ultimately resulted in the policy of appeasement failing to prevent war.