Reversal of Versailles - Short term Goals

Aim How was it achieved? ResultRegaining the Rhineland(Hitler “Bluffed his way into occupying the Rhineland”)

To exploit a violation in the Locarno Pact to justify Germany’s breaking of its conditions. The plan was code named “Schulung” and was “to be executed by a surprise blow with lightning speed”.

The French would only act on Germany with Britain’s aid. Britain was reluctant to get involved due to their weak economy and military status which meant Germany faced little resistance.

France placed its faith in the Maginot Line of fortifications.

Hitler used the Franco-Soviet Pact to occupy the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland.

Hitler’s steely nerve in maintaining German occupation was a risky gamble that paid off and gained him an increase in support within Germany.

The Western power’s lack of intervention encouraged Hitler further and allowed him to focus on the East.

The Western powers lost faith in Frances ability to act.

Austrian chancellor signed the Austro-German agreement which allowed Austria to internationally represented as a German State.

Reuniting with Austria(Hitler’s first act of aggression towards an independent sovereign nation that was the start of events ultimately leading to WW2)

For all German speaking nations in Europe to be a part of Germany

To re-unit Germany with his (Hitler’s) native homeland

To gain control of the largely German speaking area within Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) which shared a border with Austria

Destabilised Austria and undermined its independence

The Austro-German agreement of 1936 allowed control of foreign policies

Undermine Schuschnigg’s position in 1936 when Hitler and Mussolini formalised the Rome-Berlin Axis, leaving Austria with a weakened defence and no Italian support

German troops created as much disorder as possible in Austria and put pressure on Schuschnigg so Hitler could claim that Austrian law and order had broken down and he could march German troops into Austria claiming to

Germany added 7 million people and an army of 100,000 to its Reich

Gained useful resources of steel, iron ore and Austria’s foreign exchange reserves

Increased power in the Balkans Czechoslovakia surrounded on three

fronts by Germany Breaking of Article 80 of the T of V

“Germany acknowledges and will respect the independence of Austria…. She agrees that this independence shall be inalienable…”

Breaking of the Treaty of St. Germain signed by Austria at the end of WW1 “to abstain from any act which might directly or indirectly or by any means whatever compromise her independence…”

Gained an alliance with Mussolini

restore peace. Held a rigged referendum to

gain total control over Austria France’s government had

resigned 2 days before and put up no resistance

Chamberlain was determined to appease Hitler and the Brit public was opposed to another European war

and Italy through the Rome – Berlin Axis

Regaining lost territories (Lebensraum)

Recovery of the ethnically Polish territory of Pomerania, Poznan, and Silesia as well as the largely German free city of Danzig

Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 capitalized on Germany’s desire to regain lost territories

Destroying an independent Poland Hitler was as anti-Polish as he was anti-

Semitic Return of territory in the Polish corridor Cessation of Polish rights in Danzig To deliver a knock-out blow to Poland within

the first 2 weeks. The primary objective would be to cut off Polish forces in Northern and Western Poland and seize the capital.

The Germans signed a non-aggression pact with Poland in 1934 in an effort to woo Poland into an anti-Soviet alliance however Poland began to lean towards France

Germany signed a non-aggression Pact with the Soviet Union which contained secret protocols to partition Poland and divide up most of eastern Europe between the two dictators

German control over Slovakia meant it could attack Poland from virtually any direction

By exploiting Poland’s lack of a modernized military (The budget of the Luftwaffe along in 1939 was 10x greater than the entire Polish defence budget)

Nazi propaganda elaborated on Hitler’s visits to the West Wall on the German-French border to portray an invisible defence line to deter French attacks when Germany

The effectiveness of German mechanized forces proved to be their ability to bypass Polish strong points, cutting them off and isolating them

Black September: Red Army forces crossed Poland’s eastern border as Stalin moved to assist his Nazi ally and seize his share of Polish territory

Although outnumbered 100 to 1, Polish forces refused to surrender. Upon defeat their ammunition was gone, and their active duty soldiers were outnumbered by the prisoners they had taken

A concerted push into Western Germany from superior French forces behind the Maginot Line would have been disastrous for Hitler. Yet the French stood aside and did nothing. Similarly, the British did nothing but drop propaganda leaflets over a few German cities. Had the allies acted, one of the bloodiest wars in human history could have been averted

invaded Poland. Polish defence was weaker in

terms of anti-tank guns, artillery support and transport

Realising that escaping civilians crowded up important transportation routes, disrupting Polish military movement, Germans began broadcasting fake Polish news programs that exploited the fear of the Polish civilians and rendered the Polish transportation system nearly useless

Remilitarisation Hitler secretly ordered the army to triple its strength to 300,000 (100,000 limit)

The navy started development of two 26,000 tonne battle cruisers (10,000 tonne limit)

Forbidden submarines were secretly built in Holland, Finland and Spain

Krupp commenced manufacturing armaments

Increased production of synthetic rubber and gasoline made from coal

1935 Germany announced its army was to increase to 500,000 men

The restoration of German honour through the removal of the “shackles” of the Treaty of Versailles

Tasks to be conducted in secrecy with the general staff not to be used

Secured documentation Deniable oral communication

preferred The Saar had voted through a

referendum to return to the Reich

Hitler agreed to the East Locarno agreement knowing that it would clash with his Lebensraum policy

The allies did not react with force, but with words and protests at the most

The conscript German army was now restored and renamed the Wehrmacht

The restoration of German honour through the removal of the “shackles” of the Treaty of Versailles