IB History \'Move to Global War\' (Germany exam notes) PDF

Preview

Summary

Move to Global War- Source based component exam notes (Germany)...

Description

Nazi Foreign Policy -roots lie in WWI defeat Zara Stiener (on the TOV): “a bundle of compromises that fully satisfied none of the 3 peacemakers” “failed to solve the problem of both punishing and conciliating a country that remained a great power despite the four years of fighting and its military defeat” - the TOV failed in its objective of securing international peace and instead contributed to the emergence of facist single party leaders defeat in WWI ↗ 2 key aspects ↘ impacts of the TOV Why did Hitler want to expand Eastwards? - stated that German expansion was necessitated by the growing population - as the ‘highest species of humanity’, obligated to acquire ‘land and soil’ as the primary aim of German foreign policy - “colossal empire in the East is ripe for dissolution” - Germany struggling to retain its status as a world power (Hitler: “fight for the existence of our fatherland”)

Key aspects: - aggressive - expansionist

communist ↗ anti → semitic ↘ democracy

German Expansion International Circumstances: BRITAIN - preoccupied with economic crises - worried by japanese expansion (Asia) priority = security of the British empire - wary of communists in the East (link- Hitler viewed as a buffer to communism) - politicians sympathetic towards Germany (‘TOV unfair’) FRANCE - too weak to act on its own (rely on British support) - politically vulnerable due to a series of weak governments - major economic problems (Great Depression)

The Little Entente = series of treaties / alliance with nations in the East Maginot Line = defensive line of fortification USA -

focused on domestic affairs wish to prevent another war ‘national insularity more important than collective security’

OVERALL - League of Nations failed to effectively deal with Japanese expansion (Manchuria) - Britain / France failed to agree on how to deal with Germany (military weakness) - revision of TOV had already begun - evacuation of troops from Rhineland (1929 - 1930) - Stresseman - cancellation of reparation payments (1932) Hitler (first 5 years) = cautious + moderate approach - Germany still vulnerable in Europe - distrust from France, extensive network of alliances (Hitler could not make counter alliances) - at this point, Italy hostile, Mussolini not an ally (even prevents Anshluss attempt in 1934) - Hitler makes conciliatory gestures to lull suspicion Hitler’s actions (post 1933) - undermines collective security - withdraws Germany from multi - lateral commitments - undermines the French alliance by signing a non - aggression pact with Poland Challenges TOV: - withdraws from disarmament conference (1933) - ‘Hitler wished to exploit Germany’s grievance over arms, not deprive her of it’ - McDonald proposes a reduction by 300,000 troops to the French - withdraws from the League of Nations - follows this up by the creation of a bilateral agreement with Poland (thereby breaking the French system of alliances in East Europe) + secures eastern borders, averts the suspicion of Britain and the international community + this improves relations between France and the USSR (Mutual - Assistance Pact) 1935 = Germany has over double the divisions of troops permitted by the TOV - announces creation of the Luftwaffe (1934), reintroduction of conscription, military proportions of the TOV no longer followed, remilitarization of Rhineland (1936) Mutual - Assistance Pact (1935) = used as justification for German re - armament due to encirclement (marked a critical phase of German isolation)

EVENTS RAPALLO TREATY (1922) - re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and the USSR - renounce all financial claims (Brest- Litovst Terms) - pledged future cooperation secret clause = Germans to manufacturer aircrafts with the aid of the USSR SAAR PLEBISCITE - not really a personal success for Hitler as it had been pre - planned by the LON - Hitler uses ‘victory’ for propaganda (90.9% in favour of uniting with Germany - reinforces Hitler’s position within Germany) Gordon Craig: “marked the beginning of a new phase in Hitler’s policy. He had survived the period of extreme vulnerability unscathed, and, thanks to the distractions and differences of other powers, his own tactical skill, and a good deal of luck, had been able to, in the course of 2 years, free himself from the restraints of the European security system” ANGLO - GERMAN NAVAL PACT (1935) key clause = German navy 35% of Britain’s (Stephen Lee: “indicated Hitler’s preference for bilateral agreements) - violated the Stresa Pact STRESA PACT (1935) signatories = Italy, Britain, France - formal declaration against German re - armament and a commitment to stand united against Germany SPANISH CIVIL WAR (1935 - 1936) - violation of the Non - Intervention Pact nationalists VS republicans (General Franco) (International Brigades) ↓ ↓ Germany, Italy, Franco USA, Britain, Mexico, France, USSR “Dress rehearsal for World War II” reasons for German participation = encirclement of France, support of Franco (facist alliance), wealth of Spain (gold), opportunity to test new weapons (Condor legion- bombing of Guernica, transport of Italian troops from Morocco), solidify facist alliance with Mussolini (Rome - Berlin Axis + Anti - Comintern Pact) 1937 = Rome - Berlin - Tokyo Axis

ABYSSINIAN CRISIS (1936) - following an incident at the Wal-Wal Oasis, Italy initiated a full scale invasion of Abyssinia Hitler benefits as:

-

diverts attention of the democracies from the events in Rhineland + (1930 - 1935 = Japanese invasion of Manchuria) Italy antagonized by Britain and France (sanctions / embargoes - considered a hostile power)

RE - MILITARIZATION OF RHINELAND (1936) - violation of the TOV + Locarno Agreement Reasons: - unrest within Germany due to food shortages and economic problems (price rises etc.) - Hitler wishes to divert attention from domestic problems with a perceived victory against the injustices of the TOV - Britain and France distracted with Abyssinia, embarrassment of the Hoare - Laval Pact (Hitler seizes the opportunity) - Hitler views the Mutual Assistance Pact as ‘encirclement’ - German foreign office + army generals wary of the response of Britain and France

-

-

After: Hitler offers a peace settlement to France would rejoin the LON + demilitarize Rhineland if Germany received assurances that France would establish similar de militarized zones Benefits (for Hitler): ‘undo the wrongs of the TOV’ strengthen Germany build fortifications to prevent French offensives

1938 - 1940 = Hitler taking bigger risks, moving towards the creation of Lebensraum in East Europe ANSCHLUSS (1938) Background: - Mussolini moved 100,000 troops to the Austro - Italian border following a coup by Austrian Nazis (1934) - Hitler makes assurances to Mussolini who he viewed as a potential ally, ‘wont annex Austria’

-

Initial Demands: release of pro Nazi aggitators lift ban on the Nazi Party key ministries to Nazi members economy of both nations to be assimilated (agree to all demands)

-

Impacts: Hitler’s most successful gamble strategy of ruthless power politics is vindicated alliance with facist powers strengthened polarized European powers Germany's strategic position strengthened direct access to East Europe incorporates Austria (resources etc.) into the Third Reich shared border with Italy major personal triumph

SUDETENLAND CRISIS (1938) demands = autonomy for Sudeten Germans + special rights (Karlsbad Programme) Hitler: “last problem to be solved” - Hitler encouraged Konrad Heinlen to make continuous demands of the Czech government and embark on a programme of relentless agitation and subversion

-

-

Berchtesgaden (15th September 1938): areas with over 50% Germans should be transferred to German control could be supervised by an international body Chamberlain convinces the cabinet + France to agree to all demands Impact on Czechoslovakia: Lost 70% of all heavy industry, ⅓ of the population, natural + mountainous + manmade fortifications “The whole episode showed the bankruptcy of collective security, Franco - Soviet cooperation, and the British policy of Appeasement” “Conversely, it built up Hitler’s image within Germany and convinced him of his ability to accomplish the objectives outlined by the Hossbach Memorandum”

1938 = Munich Pact failure for Hitler? → had allowed himself to be talked into a diplomatic agreement as opposed to his preferred method of force / coercion March 1939 = British + French guarantee to Poland - following the annexation of Memel, Hitler responds by declaring the Anglo - German Naval Pact and the Non - Aggression Agreement with Poland as void May 1939 = Pact of Steel - Italy + Germany - aid each other in times of hostility NAZI - SOVIET PACT (August 1939)

-

‘marriage of convenience’ Clauses: remain neutral in case of attack by a third party secret protocol (divide Germany and East Europe) desist from aggression against each other (Italy and Japan outraged by this)

Stalin = had exhausted all other options (joined the LON in 1934, encouraged the creation of ‘popular fronts’ to combat facism’ Hitler = begins speaking of disarmament etc. and requests Britain to allow Germany to claim Danzig (Britain + Poland refuse) 1st September 1939 = invasion of Poland 3rd September 1939 = Britain + France declare war 3rd September 1939 - April 1940 = ‘phony war period’- Germany occupies Denmark, Norweigian ports, Holland, Belgium and France Vichy France- placed under the control of Marshal Petain Blitzkrieg = 'lightning war’, use to resources of occupied/ annexed states, increase confidence of Generals with early victories...