Why was there another world war?

Cards (12)

  • The Treaty of Versailles had Germany accept blame for starting the war, pay reparations, reduce their troops, navy, and air force, and give up colonies ( hand over large parts of land) Germany must never unite with Austria ever again, and no German soldiers could go into the Rhineland.
  • The Rhineland was a German-speaking part close to France
  • In summary, Hitler aimed to do everything in his power to get Germany back on track, starting by building back up Germany's Militarism, (Navy, Army, Air Force). Join all German speakers up to create one big country called the "Greater German Reich". Finally, he wanted to conquer other smaller and weaker countries to expand his own to reach his full potential.
  • The German politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles were called "November criminals" by Hitler
  • Hitler forced his country with a process called Rearmament. This was him building his army back up stronger than before. Thousands of planes, dozens more battleships than he was allowed, and around 500k soldiers. He even openly announced that he was doing this but all other countries were scared of retaliating as to not start war.
  • in 1936, Hitler sent his troops to the Rhineland, breaking the rule of the treaty, though no one stopped him. Essentially he was only moving his troops around his own country and not invading.
  • Anschluss(1938)-Austria was taken over by force by Germany, which was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • During the invasion of Austria in 1938, German troops marched into Austria and annexed it, no one stopped him
  • After Austria was Sudetenland, Hitler wanted Sudetenland as they had many Native German speakers inhabiting the area. on 30th Sep, 1938, in a meeting in Munich, the British and french allowed Germany to take over Sudetenland, even though the Czechoslovakia leaders didn't agree. This is called the Munich Agreement.
  • Hitler still wanted more power, so he took over more of Czechoslovaskia. the countries in Europe realized Hitler wouldn't stop, so they decided to prepare for war. Britain and France had enough, and agreed to help Poland if Hitler ever attacked.
  • Throwback to WWi, where Germany had been given a part of Poland, Hitler wanted it back (like the greedy poo he is) Summer of 1939 Hitler prepared to invade Poland. Instead of concerning about attacks from the Brits and the French, He was more worried about the USSR. So he made a deal with Joseph Stalin (Soviet leader) and created a nazi-soviet pact. (this is where Germany and Russia agreed they wouldn't go to war over Poland, a secret part of the deal being the USSR having a part of Poland if they let the Germans invade it.)
  • War officially broke out on 3rd Sep 1939, where Britain and France declared war on Germany.