Hitler's Foreign Policy

Front 1

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Hitler’s foreign policy aims:
The treaty of Versailles?

Back 1

Hitler did not acknowledge the ToV and was determined to rearm and restore German land lost in 1919.

He also aimed to defy the treaty by uniting German-speaking peoples which would include Anschluss (union with Austria) which was forbidden under the ToV.

Hitler would immediately leave the LofN.

Hint 1

None

Front 2

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Hitler’s foreign policy aims:
A greater Germany

Back 2

Hitler wanted to create a ‘Greater Germany’ by uniting all Germans into one homeland.

In 1935, the Saar would have a plebiscite (vote) to decide whether to return to Germany (it had been under LofN control for 15 years).

Austria was a German-speaking nation and Hitler aimed for union (Anschluss) even though this was forbidden under the ToV.

Then there were the Sudeten Germans who lived in northern Czechoslovakia.

There were also some German settlements further east , e.g. Poland.

Hint 2

None

Front 3

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Hitler’s foreign policy aims:
Lebensraum

Back 3

Lebensraum is German for ‘living space’.

‘Greater Germany’ would have a population of 85 million – Hitler believed that it would be impossible to feed them without obtaining extra territory to provide food and raw materials.

Hitler aimed to expand eastwards because he hated communism and regarded the Slavs as inferior race.

Hint 3

None

Front 4

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Key dates in Hitler’s foreign policy:
1933 – 3 key events

Back 4

1933

Hitler became chancellor

German delegates walked out of disarmament conference

Germany left League of Nations.

Hint 4

None

Front 5

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Key dates in Hitler’s foreign policy:
1935 – 3 key events

Back 5

1935

Hitler announced conscription – army increased to 550,000 – this led to GB, France and Italy signing defensive Stresa Front

Anglo-German naval treaty – first example of appeasement - allowed Germany to break ToV (larger navy and submarine fleet) – this angered France and ended Stresa Front

Saar plebiscite gave Hitler great boost as over 90% voted to return to Germany

Hint 5

None

Front 6

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Key dates in Hitler’s foreign policy:
1936 – 1 key event

Back 6

1936

German reoccupation of the Rhineland (March).
First clear indication that France and Britain were not prepared to risk war – policy of appeasement.
Good timing by Hitler because he acted when League was focused on the Abyssinian crisis.

Hint 6

None

Front 7

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Key dates in Hitler’s foreign policy:
1938 – 2 key events

Back 7

1938

Anschluss – union with Austria (March)

Sudetenland crisis – appeasement of Hitler at Munich conference (September) followed by German occupation of Sudetenland.

Hint 7

None

Front 8

How did Hitler challenge and exploit the ToV?

Key dates in Hitler’s foreign policy
1939 – 5 key events

Back 8

1939

Remainder of Czechoslovakia invaded (March)

End of appeasement – GB & French guarantees to Poland

Pact of Steel (May) – signed by Hitler and Mussolini

Nazi-Soviet Pact (August)

German invasion of Poland (September 1)

Hint 8

None

Front 9

Key Events in Hitler’s aggressive Foreign Policy

Leaving the League & Rearmament

Back 9

Hitler ordered Germany’s withdrawal from the disarmament conference,
Started massive spending on rearmament,
Left the League of Nations...
.. as soon as he came to power in January 1933.

Hint 9

None

Front 10

Key Events in Hitler’s aggressive Foreign Policy

The remilitarization of the Rhineland

Back 10

The remilitarization of the Rhineland was the first aggressive act that breached the territorial terms of the ToV.

Hint 10

None