Hitler, when he came into power, basically spat in the face of the treaty, and changed and violated it in several ways. Firstly, he completely violated the military terms set forth by the treaty. In 1934, shortly after take power, he figuratively demolished the League of Nations Disarmament Conference. He demanded an ‘equality of arms’ with both Britain and France. Clearly, this is not what the treaty intended, that which being a disarmament of Germany. He continued to breakdown the treaty’s terms by secretly constructing an army and training his volunteers with mock weapons. Once he was satisfied with their progress, he put on a gigantic ‘rearmament rally’. Oddly, European countries who had been involved in the treaty did nothing to try and
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This was forbidden by the treaty. In 1938, Hitler set out to annex Austria, and join the two nations. In Austria, native Nazis organized riots and uprisings, and began to gain some traction towards joining Germany. Hitler mounted pressure on the Austrian Chancellor, a man called Kurt von Schuschnigg, to declare that the two countries were joined. Schuschnigg turned to both Britain and France for help resisting Hitler, but they refused. (This is odd, seeing as they both worked on the treaty’s terms.) Because of their indifference to Hitler’s actions in Austria, Schuschnigg suggested a referendum. However, Hitler took matters into his own hands as it appeared a ‘non-decision’ was going to be reached. He invaded Austria with his new army, and reaped general havoc. The month after invasion, in a vote, nearly all Austrians voted to join Germany. This violated the treaty’s provision that Austria and Germany were never to join into one. From Austria, he moved on to the Sudentenland, which was given to Czechoslovakia in the terms of the treaty. Local Nazis behaved here much the same as they had in Austria, and claimed oppression by the Czech people. Hitler once again ordered that the countries be joined and threatened war yet again if his demand was not met. Czechoslovakia readied to fight Hitler, but our friends France and Britain once again gave into Hitler’s bullying, and gave the territory back to
This was forbidden by the treaty. In 1938, Hitler set out to annex Austria, and join the two nations. In Austria, native Nazis organized riots and uprisings, and began to gain some traction towards joining Germany. Hitler mounted pressure on the Austrian Chancellor, a man called Kurt von Schuschnigg, to declare that the two countries were joined. Schuschnigg turned to both Britain and France for help resisting Hitler, but they refused. (This is odd, seeing as they both worked on the treaty’s terms.) Because of their indifference to Hitler’s actions in Austria, Schuschnigg suggested a referendum. However, Hitler took matters into his own hands as it appeared a ‘non-decision’ was going to be reached. He invaded Austria with his new army, and reaped general havoc. The month after invasion, in a vote, nearly all Austrians voted to join Germany. This violated the treaty’s provision that Austria and Germany were never to join into one. From Austria, he moved on to the Sudentenland, which was given to Czechoslovakia in the terms of the treaty. Local Nazis behaved here much the same as they had in Austria, and claimed oppression by the Czech people. Hitler once again ordered that the countries be joined and threatened war yet again if his demand was not met. Czechoslovakia readied to fight Hitler, but our friends France and Britain once again gave into Hitler’s bullying, and gave the territory back to