HITLER’s FOREIGN POLICY

1. HITLER’s FOREIGN POLICY G Moore

2. AIMS • UNITE ALL GERMAN SPEAKING PEOPLE • GET RID OF HATED TREATY of VERSAILLES • MORE LIVING SPACE • RE-ARM GERMANY

3. RE-ARMING GERMANY • VERY UNHAPPPY WITH VERSAILLES RESTRICTIONS • INTRODUCED CONSCRIPTION • OATH OF LOYALTY FROM ARMY • NEW AIRFORCE – LUFTWAFFE – GOERING • NEW FACTORIES – TANKS, PLANES, GUNS • NEW WARSHIPS AND U-BOATS BUILT

4. THE RHINELAND • A DEMILITARISED ZONE UNDER TREATY • HITLER MADE MOVE IN 1935 • RE-OCCUPIED RHINELAND – VERY CAUTIOUS • BRITAIN/FRANCE PROTESTED – NO ACTION • HITLER “HAD GAMBLED AND WON” • HUGE SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR HITLER

5. FINDING ALLIES • MUSSOLINI DISTRUSTED HITLER AT FIRST • FEARED GERMAN-AUSTIAN UNION • 1935 – ITALY INVADED ABYSSINIA – CONDEMED • ROME-BERLIN AXIS FORMED AS RESULT • BOTH SUPPORTED FRANCO IN SPANISH CIVIL WAR • PACT OF STEEL FORMED 1939 • ITALY, GERMANY AND JAPAN – FORMED ANTI-COMINTERN PACT

6. AUSTRIA • HUGE SIGNIFICANCE TO HITLER • BIRTHPLACE AND GERMAN SPEAKING • UNION FORBIDDEN IN TREATY – ANCHLUSS • AUSTRIAN NAZI PARTY – OWN PM • INVITED GERMANS INTO AUSTRIA – RESTORE LAW AND ORDER • UNION – 1938 – THE ANCHLUSS • BRITAIN AND FRANCE DID NOTHING

7. THE SUDETENLAND • PART OF NEW STATE OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA • OVER 3 MILLION GERMAN SPEAKERS • SPECIAL CONFERENCE IN MUNICH • MUSSOLINI – KEY ROLE – CZECHS NOT INVITED • HITLER’S DEMANDS MET – RELIEF IN UK AND FRANCE • PERFECT EXAMPLE OF APPEASEMENT • BUT……….. MARCH 1939 – NAZIS TAKEOVER REST CZECHOSLOVAKIA • TOTAL STATE OF PANIC IN UK AND FRANCE

8. Nazi – Soviet Pact 1939 • SPECIAL TREATY SIGNED – GERMANY AND USSR • 10 YEAR NON AGGRESSION PACT • TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH • SECRET PACT TO DIVIDE UP POLAND • TREATY HAD ADVANTAGES FOR BOTH SIDES • UK AND FRANCE SHOCKED/SURPRISED

9. World War II • HITLER USED EXCUSE TO ATTACK POLAND • INVASION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 1ST 1939 • MASSIVE MILITARY OPERATION • USE OF NEW TACTIC – BLITZKRIEG WAR • POLAND DEVASTATED EASILY • UK AND FRANCE DECLARED WAR • START OF WWII