The development of tension

• What book did Hitler write outlining his plans for Germany?

  Mein Kampf
• What were Hitler's three main aims for Germany?

  1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles
  2. Expand German territory
  3. Defeat Communism
• Why did Hitler want to abolish the Treaty of Versailles?

  He believed it was unjust and humiliating
• What term did Hitler use to describe the German leaders who signed the Treaty of Versailles?

  The November Criminals
• What was a constant reminder of Germany's defeat according to Hitler?

  The Treaty of Versailles
• What did Hitler promise to do if he became leader of Germany regarding the Treaty of Versailles?

  Reverse it
• By the time Hitler came to power, what had changed regarding reparations payments?

  Germany had stopped making them altogether
• What did Hitler want to do with the territory taken from Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?

  Get it back
• Which country did Hitler want Germany to unite with?

  Austria
• What did Hitler want for German minorities in other countries?

  To rejoin Germany
• What term did Hitler use to describe the extra living space he wanted for Germans?

  Lebensraum
• What was one of Hitler's objectives related to the Soviet Union?

  To carve out a German empire
• How did Hitler view Bolsheviks in relation to Germany's defeat in WWI?

  He believed they contributed to the defeat
• What ideology was Hitler anti towards?

  Communism
• What did Hitler believe Bolsheviks wanted to do to Germany?

  Take over Germany
• Hitler’s actions

  British Historian A.J.P Taylor came up with a new interpretation that Hitler was a gambler rather than a planner. Hitler simply took the logical next step to see what he could get away with. He was bold. He kept his nerve. As other countries gave into him and allowed him to get away with each gamble, so he became bolder and risked more. In Taylor’s interpretation it is Britain, the Allies and the League of Nations who are to blame for letting Hitler get away with it - by not standing up to him.
• Hitler’s Actions Timeline

  . 1933 - Took Germany out of the League of Nations, began rearming Germany

  . 1934 - Tried to take over Austria but was prevented by Mussolini

  . 1935 - Held massive rearmament rally in Germany

  . 1936 - Reintroduced conscription in Germany, sent German troops into the Rhineland, made an anti-Communist alliance with Japan

  . 1937 - Tried out Germany’s new weapons in the Spanish Civil War, made an anti-Communist alliance with Italy

  . 1938 - Took over Austria, took over the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia

  . 1939 - Invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, invaded Poland
• When did Austria become a separate country?

  After the First World War
• What was the significance of Vienna in the context of Austria's history?

  It was a major capital city of Europe
• Who became the Chancellor of Austria in 1932?

  Dollfuss
• What political party did Dollfuss lead?

  The Christian Social Party
• What beliefs did the Christian Social Party hold?

  Nationalist and conservative beliefs
• What were the effects of the 1919 peace treaty on Austria?

  Austria suffered economically and politically
• What major global event affected Austria in the 1930s?

  The Great Depression
• What actions did Dollfuss take in response to outbreaks of violence in Austria?

  He established a dictatorship
• What did Dollfuss do to other political parties?

  He outlawed all other political parties
• How did the Austrian Nazi Party relate to Hitler?

  They looked to Hitler for support
• What was the state of Austria during Dollfuss's rule?

  A civil war developed among rival factions
• When did Dollfuss declare a new constitution?

  In the spring of 1934
• What did the new constitution declared by Dollfuss do?

  It removed the last traces of democracy
• Whose government did Dollfuss admire?

  Mussolini's government
• How did Dollfuss's rule end?

  He was assassinated by Austrian Nazis
• What was Hitler's initial reaction to Dollfuss's assassination?

  He considered an invasion to support Nazis
• Why did Mussolini threaten war during this period?

  To promote friendship with Austria
• How did the civil war affect the Austrian Nazis?

  They were soon weakened in the civil war
• What did Hitler realize he needed after the civil war?

  He urgently needed to rearm
• What did Hitler need to gain support for his plans?

  Mussolini's support for expansion
• The Saar, 1935

  The Saar region of Germany had been run by the League of Nations since 1919. In 1935 the League of Nations held the promised plebiscite for people to vote on whether their region should return to German rule. The vote was an overwhelming success for Hitler. Around 90 per cent of the population voted to return to German rule. This was entirely legal and within the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. It was also a real morale booster for Hitler.
• The Stresa Front, April 1935

  In response to Hitler openly flouting the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, in 1935 Italy, Britain and France agreed upon the Stresa Front. This was a mutual agreement to uphold their territorial boundaries and to stop Germany from further undermining the Treaty of Versailles. In reality, the agreement had little impact. Britain went on to allow Germany a larger navy, and in October of the same year, Italy invaded Abyssinia.
• The Anglo-German Naval Agreement, June 1935

  Later in the same year Britain helped to dismantle the Treaty of Versailles by signing a naval agreement with Hitler, allowing Germany to increase its navy to up to 35 per cent the size of the British navy. The French were angry with Britain about this, but there was little they could do. This again showed Hitler that Britain would compromise over the exact terms of the 1919 peace settlement.