Germany’s Foreign Policy in the 1930s
1933
Background
Hitler’s action
Refuses to pay the reparations
Consequences
No more debts, more money to be invested at home.
Germany must pay high sums of reparations according to the Treaty of Versailles.
1933
Germany is bound to disarmament since the Treaty of Versailles and a member of the League of Nations since 1926
Leaves the Disarmament Conference and the League (demands equality, but the French are insistent and feel insecure)
A new point of the Treaty was broken; Hitler felt free to rearm; Germany is not bound anymore by the League
1934
Animosity and not normalized relations between Germany and Poland after the inconsistencies of East Prussia and Danzig.
Signs a 10-year non-aggression pact with Poland. Both countries pledged to resolve their problems by negotiations.
Germany recognized Poland’s borders, ‘Hitler’s back was free, he can turn to Austria and Czechoslovakia’
1934
The Anschluss is forbidden in Versailles, but there is considerable support for a union.
Supports the Nazi coup in Austria, but it fails. Mussolini ‘vetoes’ the union for the time being.
Hitler needs to wait for the Anschluss, Mussolini is against it. Nazi movement in Austria is backed down but did not give up.
1935
The Saarland is ordered under international control in the Treaty of Versailles, with a referendum in 15 years.
The referendum is held and over 90% opted for the reunification of the Saar with Germany.
Hitler has his first international ‘success’; Germany is much more an appealing place to live, two years after the Enabling Act.
1936
The USSR forms the Comintern: the ‘alliance’ of the Communist parties all around the world and offers ‘assistance’ to spread Communism.
Forms the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan.
Italy joins in 1937.
The policy aimed against the USSR. After the accession of Italy, it gained an increasingly anti-western and anti-British identity.
The policy of Appeasement
= a diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict.
Failure (from future perspective)
The League ‘abandoned’ Czechoslovakia. Munich was followed by more Nazi demands. The Czechs had 36 divisions ready to fight Soviet Russia would have been neutral in a war.
It was ‘wrong’
It sacrificed Czechoslovakia
It boosted Hitler’s self-confidence
It gave Hitler time to strengthen the army, the navy, and the air force.
Not failure (justifiable in 1938)
Britain is far from prepared for war in 1938 Britain is not prepared for Luftwaffe attacks The British colonies are not united behind a war. British public saw the war in 1938 as something against self-determination.
It was ‘realistic’
The Treaty of Versailles was too harsh Germany is not the only threat to world peace Public opinion was in favor of peace
A strong Germany could easily stop a possible Communist (Soviet) expansion, so…
1939
Czechoslovakia was a country rich in agricultural products, industry, and resources.
In 1939, on March 15th, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia.
No reaction from the Western powers
Czechoslovakia is partitioned (divided).
1935
The conscriptions (and the rearmament) are forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles.
Reintroduces the conscriptions.
First secretly or with front organizations and financed by the MEFO bills
Hitler begins to rebuild the Wehrmacht (German army); the Allies do not react
1935
In Versailles, the German Navy was seriously limited (few warships, no submarines)
Naval Agreement with Britain.
The total tonnage of the German Navy was to be 35% of the total tonnage of the Royal Navy.
In 1935, only after 2 years in power, Hitler achieved a lot:
Germany has no more debts towards other countries. Germany can begin rearmament and is not bound by the League. Germany was free to turn to Austria and Czechoslovakia. Germany gains back the Saarland.
Germany begins to rebuild the German army. Germany begins to build up the navy.
1936
Background
The Spanish Civil War begins between the Republicans and the troops of Francisco Franco.
Hitler’s action
Nazi Germany sends air and other armored units to assist General Franco.
Consequences
1936
The Rhineland is an industrially developed area with fluctuating economy and a huge market. The Treaty of Versailles ordered it to be demilitarized.
Remilitarizes the Rhineland.
The Allies did not do anything: the gains did not worth the risk; there are elections and a financial crisis.
German army presence near the French border. Hitler breaks one of the treaty points and nothing happens.
1.
Ruthless assaults were launched. The
Franco didn’t enter WWII.
Hitler was motivated by several reasons. He believed…
1. that a Fascist Spain would ally Germany in a possible future war.
2. that he could test his army, especially the Luftwaffe.
3. that he could have a new ally, Italy, who also supported Franco.
4. that a long civil war in Spain could ‘distract’ the western
powers, leaving him ‘unattended’.
2. 3.
4.
Luftwaffe could ‘practice’.
He did support Hitler later: a Berlin-Roma axis was ‘established’.
He was able to expand: Austria and Czechoslovakia were taken by Germany.
The policy of Appeasement
German Nazism and Italian Fascism ‘find’ each other during the 1930s.
1934, July: ITA doesn’t let GER attach Austria. 1935, October: Friendly relationship although the Abyssinian crisis is going on
1936, July: ITA assists GER in the Spanish Civil War 1936, November: ‘Berlin-Rome Axis’ (Mussolini) 1937, November: ITA joins the Anti-Comintern Pact 1938, March: ITA agrees to the Anschluss
1938, September: Mussolini assists Hitler in the Munich Agreement
1939, May: Pact of Steel (formal alliance)
1939, September: ITA remains neutral in WWII.