Section 6

• What was one of Hitler's long-term aims regarding the Treaty of Versailles?

  To abolish the Treaty of Versailles
• What did Hitler insist was needed for Germany's future?

  An Anschluss with Austria
• What was one of Hitler's aims related to German-speaking peoples?

  To unite all German-speaking peoples under one Reich
• What does Lebensraum mean in the context of Hitler's aims?

  'Living space' in Eastern Europe and the USSR
• Why did Hitler believe acquiring Lebensraum was essential for Germany?

  He believed the German people, Aryans, were a superior race and deserved to conquer territory
• What did Hitler assert would happen without Lebensraum?

  The country would collapse
• What did Hitler believe about the USSR?

  It was a communist state run by Jews
• What was one of Hitler's short-term aims regarding international alignments?

  To weaken existing international alignments that could serve as barriers to his long-term aims
• What does the Hossbach Memorandum indicate about Hitler's intentions?

  It suggests he believed Germany had to go to war to survive and achieve Lebensraum
• How did Hitler present his foreign policy objectives to Western democracies?

  He made them appear reasonable
• What was the Saar plebiscite?

  A vote conducted to determine the status of the Saarland
• What was the outcome of the Saar plebiscite on January 31, 1935?

  There was an overwhelming 90% in favor of returning to Germany
• What did the plebiscite convince many foreign powers about Hitler?

  It convinced them of Hitler's moral authority
• When did Hitler announce the reintroduction of conscription?

  On March 16, 1935
• What was the purpose of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement signed in June 1935?

  To restrict the German navy to 35% of the size of Britain's
• How did Britain view the remilitarisation of the Rhineland in March 1936?

  As a solution to an outdated problem
• What prevented France from responding to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

  Factors such as a looming general election and overestimation of German strength
• What was the Maginot Line?

  The defensive line of fortifications built in France to protect from a German invasion
• What was the outcome of the Anschluss on March 14, 1938?

  Official Anschluss was declared with 99.75% voting for union with Germany
• How did Britain respond to the Anschluss crisis?

  They were reluctant to help due to sympathies with Germany and the policy of appeasement
• What triggered the Spanish Civil War?

  The rebellion of right-wing nationalists against the Republican government
• Why did Germany and Italy assist the Spanish nationalists?

  To resist communism and test new military strategies
• What was the Non-Intervention Conference established by Britain in September 1936?

  A meeting to prevent foreign powers from aiding either side of the Spanish Civil War
• What were Hitler's long-term aims as outlined in Mein Kampf?

  • Abolish the Treaty of Versailles
  • Achieve Anschluss with Austria
  • Unite all German-speaking peoples under one Reich
  • Acquire Lebensraum in Eastern Europe and the USSR
  • Destroy the USSR
• What were Hitler's short-term aims regarding international relations?

  • Weaken existing international alignments
  • Seek war as soon as possible
  • Make foreign policy objectives appear reasonable to Western democracies
• What are the two main interpretations of Hitler's foreign policy?

  • Intentionalist: Hitler planned and caused the Second World War single-handedly
  • Functionalist: Hitler was opportunistic and used foreign policy to consolidate his position
• What were the key events leading to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

  • March 7, 1936: German soldiers marched into the Rhineland
  • Orders to retreat if met with French resistance
  • A gamble due to the new France-Soviet alliance
• What were the consequences of the Anschluss in March 1938?

  • Official declaration of Anschluss on March 14
  • 99.75% voted for union with Germany
  • Reluctance of Britain and France to intervene
• What were the reasons for German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

  • Ideological resistance to communism
  • Testing ground for military strategies and equipment
  • Opportunity to form an alliance between Germany and Italy
• What was a core aim of fascism that the Nationalist side pledged to resist?

  Communism
• How was the Spanish Civil War useful for military development?

  It served as a 'testing ground' for new weapons, equipment, personnel, and strategy.
• What significant military support did Germany provide to the Nationalist cause in the Spanish Civil War?

  100 fighter aircraft and 12,000 soldiers
• What advantage did the Condor Legion and Aviazone Legionaria provide in the Spanish Civil War?

  They gave a huge advantage to the Nationalist side.
• What was the purpose of the Non-Intervention Conference (NIC) established in September 1936?

  • To prevent foreign powers from aiding either side of the Spanish Civil War
  • 24 countries joined, including Germany and Italy
  • Germany and Italy contradicted the conference by providing support
• Why did the Republicans turn to the USSR for help during the Spanish Civil War?

  They lacked support from liberal western powers.
• What were Stalin's concerns regarding committing to the Spanish Civil War?

  He was unwilling to commit as much as Hitler and Mussolini and didn't want to leave Russia's border open to German aggression.
• What treaties were signed between Italy and Albania in the 1920s?

  • Treaties of Tirana signed in 1924 and 1926
  • Italian control over Albania increased
  • King Zog I refused to renew the treaty in 1931
• What prompted Mussolini to threaten invasion of Albania?

  King Zog I's refusal to renew the Tirana Treaty and a trade agreement with Yugoslavia and Greece.
• When did Mussolini issue an ultimatum to King Zog I of Albania?

  On 6th April 1939
• What was the outcome of the invasion of Albania by Italy?

  Zog and his family fled the country, and the Albanian parliament voted to depose him.