Hitlers Aims Reversal of the Treaty of Versailles

Hitler’s Aims ¢ Reversal of the Treaty of Versailles l Restore German pride Unite all German-speaking people ¢ Lebensraum (living space) ¢ l ¢ Needed more food & raw materials to supply united Germans = population German rearmament l Build up German armed forces

Perception of the League in the 1930 s?

Failures of League of Nations Did nothing when Japan occupied Manchuria (1931) ¢ Failed to act when Italy conquered Ethiopia (1935) ¢ Did not intervene during brutal Spanish Civil War (1936 -1939) when fascist forces led by General Franco overthrew an elected government ¢

Hitler’s Successes ¢ Made possible by: 1) Weak League of Nations 2) British sympathy & guilt over Germany’s situation 3) French military & political weakness

German Rearmament

In the years prior to the breakout of WW 2 in 1939, Hitler is able to EXPAND German territory

The Saar Area rich in coal ¢ League of Nations had control for 15 years under the Treaty of Versailles ¢ 1935: People of the Saar voted on 3 choices ¢ 1) Join with Germany 2) Join with France 3) Remain under control of the League of Nations ¢ 90% voted to go back to Germany

The Rhineland Had been declared a de-militarized zone under the Treaty of Versailles ¢ March 1936: Hitler ordered the occupation of the Rhineland NAZI generals were completely against this…WHY? ¢

Key Turning Point German troops were under orders to withdraw if they met any opposition… it never happened! ¢ What message do you think that sent Hitler? ¢

The Anschluss was the union of Germany and Austria ¢ Was part of the notion of Lebensraum ¢ 96% of Austrians spoke German ¢ Strong NAZI party in Austria ¢ Opposition from Mussolini who had signed an agreement with Austria guaranteeing her independence…Hitler’s solution? ¢

The Anschluss ¢ Hitler offers German support for Italy’s operations in Ethiopia, if Italy ignores Germany’s occupation of Austria

The Anschluss March 11, 1938: German troops invaded Austria made into a province of Germany by March 13 ¢ Britain, France & League of Nations protested but did nothing ¢ Germany takes over the Rhineland Austria with barely any opposition ¢

Why was no action taken? Memories of WWI were fresh in people’s minds. Most leaders wanted to avoid bloodshed at all cost ¢ The Great Depression severely crippled the Western world. War preparations were not as important as dealing with unemployment and social problems ¢ Political opinion in Britain & France was divided, but most viewed the fascists as less of a threat than the communists ¢

Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) Czechoslovakia was important to: 1) Avoid a 2 -front-war with a hostile Czechoslovakia 2) Prevent a possible Russian invasion of Germany through Czechoslovakia ¢ The Sudetenland was a mainly German speaking area badly affected by the Great Depression support for NAZIs ¢ The Sudetenland contained most of Czechoslovakia’s defenses ¢

Crisis April-September ¢ ¢ Hitler instructed German Sudeten leader to demand separation from Czechoslovakia Czechs did not want to give up Sudetenland Believed French would support them Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, wanted to avoid war, so he went to Germany twice

Chamberlain’s Visits 1)Sept 15: Hitler insisted he would risk war to re-unite the Sudeten Germans with Germany l Chamberlain accepted to allow those areas with a majority of Germans to be reabsorbed into Germany l He persuaded the Czechs and French to agree to Hitler’s demands l

Chamberlain’s Visits 2)Sept 22: Hitler changed his demands to include the occupation of the entire Sudetenland by the 28 th l Hitler threatened to invade by the 1 st if his demands were not met l Chamberlain refused Britain & France prepared for war l

Munich Conference “We must always demand so much that we can never be satisfied. ” - Adolf Hitler on his strategy during negotiations at Munich

Munich Conference “ In spite of the hardness I thought I saw in his (Hitler’s) face, I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word. ” - Neville Chamberlain prior to the Munich Conference

Munich Conference – Sept 1938 Hitler was persuaded to postpone his plans for war and to agree to a conference to discuss the Sudetenland ¢ Mussolini (Italy), Chamberlain (GB), Hitler (Germany) and Daladier (France) were invited to the conference WHO WAS LEFT OUT? ¢ Agreement was reached that the Sudetenland would be transferred to Germany and that the 4 powers would protect these new borders ¢

Munich Conference Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Ciano

Munich Conference The day after, Chamberlain met with Hitler alone and agreed to the Anglo-German Declaration. ¢ Promised never to go to war with each other ¢ All disputes would be settled by talks ¢ Failure of Our Times ¢

Munich Conference

Munich Conference: Results Europe had been saved from war ¢ Britain and France got time to build up their armies ¢ Czechs lost vital resources & defenses ¢ Hitler was encouraged by France & Britain’s reluctance to go to war ¢ Stalin was very upset about being left out of the conference worried that Britain would do nothing to stop a German invasion of USSR ¢

At the time, do you think Chamberlain and the Allies did the right thing in trying to negotiate with Hitler?

Appeasement Definition: granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace

Arguments For: ¢ ¢ ¢ Britain was not militarily strong enough to oppose British people absolutely did not want a WWI repeat Chamberlain believed that Hitler could be satisfied without having to go to war

Arguments Against: ¢ ¢ ¢ Not right: Hitler was breaking terms of legal treaties and agreements Allowed Hitler to grow stronger and stronger Hitler’s aims & determination were underestimated “By repeatedly surrendering to force, Chamberlain has encouraged aggression. Chamberlain’s policy has always been based on a fatal misunderstanding of the minds of dictators. ” The Yorkshire Post, Dec 1939

Imminent War March 1939: Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia ¢ Hitler’s argument that he was unifying the German people no longer held water ¢ Britain & France sped up their armament ¢ Britain & France promised to defend the independence of Poland ¢ Poland was the next target because Hitler wanted back the Danzig passage lost in T. of V. & to reunify Germany ¢

“England has been offered a choice between war and shame. She has chosen shame and will get war. ” - Winston Churchill, in opposition to Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement, September 1938

Discussion Question Do you think appeasement is something that still goes on today? Explain.