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[Outbreak of World War II in Europe] (1933-1939)

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[Outbreak of World War II in Europe] (1933-1939)

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In this padlet, I will be talking about the events leading up to World War II involving Hitler and how he eventually caused World War II.

Source citation:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Mein_Kampf_dust_jacket.jpeg
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/images/hitler1.jpg
http://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photos/4710947/League_of_Nations_1919.jpg?1384831447
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/36/media-36803/large.jpg
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/spanish-civil-war.png
http://www.johndclare.net/images/NightmareWaitingList.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01863/reich_1863413c.jpg
http://totallyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Anschluss-ballot.jpg
http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/munich.jpg
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/36/media-36810/large.jpg?action=e&cat=photographs
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/German_cavalry.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/8th_AF_Bombing_Marienburg.JPEG

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Hitler cleverly took advantage of events and also used the threat of violence to achieve his aims. It became obvious that his most powerful potential enemies, Britain and France, were reluctant to go to war, and were willing to compromise to avoid another disaster like World War I. As Hitler set about abolishing the Treaty of Versailles , he was emboldened to go further with each successful step he took. The German people resented the Treaty of Versailles and believed that Hitler was justified in his actions, thus, Hitler was able to gather larger support from Germans for his Expansionist Policy.

Here is a video explaining Hitler's Expansionist Policy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWxgcqGH8dY

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1. Establish a Greater Germany
-would be done by acquiring lands such as Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland would be acquired.
-all ethnic Germans living in those countries would be united with those in Germany

2. Create Lebensraum (Living Space)
-to further facilitate further German expansion, large areas in Eastern Europe, such as Soviet Union and Poland, must be conquered.

3. Establish the superior Aryan race
-would be done by rebuilding Germany's once-proud armed forces, and exterminating 'inferior races'.

Many of Hitler's other aims, such as the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles and bringing upon union of Germany and Austria, were spelt out in Mein Kampf (an autobiography by Adolf Hitler).

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Withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Geneva Disarmament Conference

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Withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Geneva Disarmament Conference

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At the Geneva Disarmament Conference, Hitler proposed that the French disarm to the level of armaments that the Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany. Otherwise, Germany should be allowed to rearm to the level of the French. The French naturally objected to this. Hitler used their objection as an excuse to withdraw from both the conference and the League of Nations. Once Hitler had withdrawn from the League, he took concrete action to increase Germany's military capabilities towards achieving his expansionist aims.

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Conscription and Rearmament [From 1933 onwards]

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Conscription and Rearmament [From 1933 onwards]

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Hitler wanted to restore Germany's pride and strength after the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles. Hence, he had all along planned a massive rearmament programme to build up Germany's defences.
From 1933-1934, the Nazis stepped up their secret rearmament and conscription programme.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany's army and navy were severely limited, and they were not allowed to have an air force. However, by March 1935, Germany possessed a 2,500-plane Luftwaffe and a 300,000 strong army. Germany also instituted compulsory conscription and planned for an army of 550,000.

At this point, the Allies still had stronger military than Germany even though they were weakened by World War I. They were thus in a position to keep Germany in check. However, due to the pacifist mood in countries such as Britain and the weakness of the League of Nations, the Allies only made verbal protests instead of imposing sanctions on Germany. Hitler was thus free to transform Germany into a formidable and dangerous military power.

From 1936 onwards, the Germans spent great amounts on military production. The build-up of Germany's military capabilities and machinery would later enable Hitler to put his expansionist plans into action.

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Remilitarisation of the Rhineland [March 1936]

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Remilitarisation of the Rhineland [March 1936]

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Hitler's confidence and his popularity amongst the German people also increased through the German remilitarisation of the Rhineland.
Hitler often complained about the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland ordered by the TOV. This demilitarisation had also been accepted by the Weimar Government under the Lorcarno Treaties in 1925.

On 7th March 1936, Hitler ordered German troops to cross the Hohenzollern Bridge and remilitarise the Rhineland. He used the Franco-Soviet Alliance as an excuse, saying that Germany was now under threat from France and the Soviet Union, and should be allowed to defend its own frontiers.

Although Hitler was fairly sure that many in Britain would sympathise with Germany, he was not sure about France's response. In fact, Hitler did not send a strong force into the Rhineland. His troops lacked essential equipment and they had no air support. They had been ordered to withdraw if attacked. The French, however, did not respond with force. With France about to hold elections at that time, no French politician wanted to be seen as wanting to start a war. Given Britain's pacifist mood, the French also knew that the British were unlikely to support them against Hitler.

The League of Nations condemned Hitler's actions, but did nothing else. Hitler's timing was perfect, as the League was distracted by the Abyssinian Crisis at that time. Had the French and British responded to Hitler's second violation of the Treaty of Versailles with a show of force, they might have had a chance of containing him. Hitler's gamble paid off, and he met with no resistance. As a result, his standing among the German people and with the German army increased tremendously. He became even bolder in his demands. Britain, France and the League of Nations did not show any resistance so Hitler got away with remilitarisation of the Rhineland.

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German involvement in the Spanish Civil War [1937]

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German involvement in the Spanish Civil War [1937]

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It was by now obvious to Hitler that Britain and France were eager to avoid conflict, and that they would probably take no action against him. During Hitler's involvement in the Spanish Civil War in 1937, Hitler sent soldiers, equipment and warplanes to support the Spanish Nationalist forces. German planes made devastating raids on several Spanish cities, resulting in heavy civilian casualties. was designed in part to divert British and French attention from his plans for expansion into Eastern Europe. It also gave him the opportunity to test his army and air force while fighting against the alleged communists.

Hitler portrayed himself to be the defender of civilisation against communism. This added to the perception that the Western powers could trust Hitler, and made British and French intervention in Spain seem even more remote. However, this lack of intervention also strengthened Hitler's view that Britain and France were weak, which in turn made him more aggressive.

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German unification with Austria [March 1938]

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German unification with Austria [March 1938]

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Hitler made it clear in the Mein Kampf that he felt Germany and his homeland, Austria, belonged together. Many people from both Austria and Germany also strongly supported such a union. It was even more so since the Treaty of Versailles did not allow Austria to join Germany at the end of World War I when Austria wanted to.

Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to make trouble and push for Anschluss (political union) with Germany. He then tried to pressurise Kurt Schuschnigg, the Austrian Chancellor, into agreeing. Schuschnigg unwillingly called a plebiscite to see if the Austrian people supported the Anschluss with Germany. 99.75% of the population voted for the Anschluss.

Austria was annexed on 13 March 1938 and Germany thus achieved Anschluss without any conflict. This was again a violation of the TOV and once again, Britain and France did nothing. Austria's resources of Gold and Iron Ore were now at Hitler's disposal, as were its army and weapons.

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Czechoslovakia [October 1938 & March 1939]

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Czechoslovakia [October 1938 & March 1939]

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1. Munich Agreement-gained control of Sudetenland on Czechoslovakia [October 1938]
-In line with his plan for a Greater Germany, Hitler targeted Czechoslovakia next. The population of the Sudetenland Area in Czechoslovakia was largely German. Under the influence of the Nazi Party leader in Sudetenland, these Germans demanded to be part of Germany, and Hitler threatened to go to war for the Sudetenland if necessary.

In keeping with the policy of appeasement, to avoid a waging war in Europe, the leaders of Britain and France, along with Hitler and Mussolini, signed the Munich Agreement on 29 September 1938, deciding that Germany would gain control of the Sudetenland. Having gained control of the Sudetenland without having to fight, Hitler began to set his sights even further on occupying the whole of Czechoslovakia.

2. Invasion and control of Czechoslovakia [March 1939]
-On 16 March 1939, Hitler invaded and took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. Neither the Czechs nor the Allies fought back. By this time, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain realised that Hitler could no longer be trusted. His fear was that Poland would be Hitler's next target. Britain and France warned Hitler accordingly that they would go to war with Germany if he invaded Poland.

Here is a video showing the invasion of Czechoslovakia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSe1Yuk0jsc

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Hitler continued to set his sights on further expansion for Germany. He wanted to take over Poland and hoped that the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact would allow him to do so without having to go to war with the Soviet Union. On 23 August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union had signed the Non-Aggression Pact that was to last for ten years. It stated that Germany and the Soviet Union would not attack each other  and would resolve any problems between them in a friendly manner.

A secret protocol in the pact also divided Eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of influence. Soviet rights over the Baltic States (like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were recognised by both Germany and the Soviet Union, and Poland was also divided between them. In response, Britain and Poland signed a mutual defence treaty.

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Hitler's invasion of Poland was the last straw that triggered World War II. Since 1937, Hitler had demanded for the 'Free City' of Danzig to be part of Germany. Danzig was a port city and most of its population was German. Hitler also wanted a railroad built across the Polish Corridor to connect Germany with East Prussia, which was considered to be part of Germany. However, Polish leaders distrusted Hitler and feared the loss of Poland's independence. Therefore Polish leaders did not agree with letting Hitler have Danzig.

Tensions increased between Poland and Germany and negotiations broke down. On 29 August 1939, Hitler demanded Danzig, but this time, he also demanded control of the Polish Corridor.

Though Britain and France realised that Hitler could not be trusted, they were still willing to resume negotiations with Germany. This convinced Hitler that they would not declare war on Germany. When negotiations did not proceed as he had hoped, he invaded Poland on the September 1st 1939. However, Britain and France kept their promise this time, and declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. This caused World War II to start.

Here is  a video showing the invasion of Poland :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdzXr144VzE