AQA History B GCSE - International Relations: Conflict and Peace in the 20th Century - Hitler's foreign policy and the origins of the Second World War

Hitler's foreign policy and the origins of the Second World War How did Hitler challenge and exploit the Treaty of Versailles from 1933 to March 1938? Timeline - Hitler's foreign policy and the outbreak of war1933: Germany withdraws from the League of NationsJan 1934: Hitler signs 10-year non-aggression pact with PolandJul 1934: Mussolini prevents AuschlussJan 1935: Saar returned to GermanyApr 1935: Stresa Front formedJun 1935: Anglo-German Naval AgreementOct 1935: Mussolini invades AbyssiniaMar 1936: Rhineland remilitarised 1936-39: Spanish Civil WarMay 1937: Chamberlain becomes British Prime Minister; his policy of appeasement beginsMarch 1938: AuschlussSep 1938: Munich ConferenceMar 1939: Collapse of CzechoslovakiaAug 1939: Nazi-Soviet PactSep 1939: Attack on Poland and outbreak of the Second World WarHitler's aim in foreign policyWhile in prison in 1924, Hitler wrote his book 'Mein Kampf' (My Struggle), in this he wrote about his aims in his foreign policy, which were; to make Germany into a Great Power again to unite all German speaking people under his rule to gain territory for Germany in the East to provide Lebensraum (living space) for the German people Achieving Hitler's aims To achieve his aims he had to destroy the Treaty of Versailles Hitler blamed many of Germany's problems on the peace settlement In order to further his aims Hitler would have to: change the territorial settlement of the Treaty of Versailles by regaining land that got taken away due to the Treaty of Versailles bring 7 million German-speaking people in Austria, and the 4 million in Czechoslovakia and Poland into his empire build up the German army so that his aims could be supported by force if necessary and to prove that Germany was a Great Power expand in the east, probably against communist USSR German rearmament Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations in 1926 In 1933 Hitler withdrew Germany from the Disarmament Conference and from the League of Nations Germany began to rearm and used conscription in 1935 The only opposition was a short-lived Stresa Front to protest against the introduction of conscription in Germany Ten-year non-aggression pact in 1934 Hitler signed a ten-year non-aggression pact with Poland this guaranteed the boundaries of Poland, this meant that Hitler would try not to take back the Polish Corridor Failed Auschluss Later in 1934 Hitler suffered a setback to his aims He encouraged the Austrian Nazi Party to rebel and this resulted in the murder of the Austrian Chancellor, Dollfuss It looked as though Anschluss was going to be achieved This was prevented by Mussolini moving his army to the frontier of Austria and guaranteeing Austrian independence Hitler realised that his army was not strong enough, so he backed down and denied any involvement with the Austrian Nazi Party Anglo-German Naval Agreement and rearmament By signing this in 1935, Britain had agreed to Germany rearming Britain felt that if there was to be no agreement on disarmament, then it was important for Britain to limit the size of the German navy It weakened Stresa Front as Britain had not consulted France and Italy It led to Germany proceeding with rearmament with opposition The return of the Saar