Hitler pursued an aggressive foreign policy in the 1930s to pursue Germany's territorial claims and achieve Lebensraum. This included remilitarizing the Rhineland, annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia, and seeking colonies. Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 triggered WWII in Europe.

1. The Causes of WWII in
Europe
Hitler’s War

2. Primary Question
To what extent
was WWII
‘Hitler’s War’?

3. Timeline 1933-39
In groups of two complete the
timeline below
1933: 3 events
1934: 1 event
1935: 4 events
1936: 4 events
1937: 3 events
1938: 2 events
1939: 5 events

4. Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims: 1919-33
Results of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1917, German
domination of Eastern Europe. Resent loosing Poland
Results of Post TOV Germany is they are still the
dominating force in continental Europe.
Additionally resistant to reparation payments.
The Nazi 25 point program 1920
Calls for union of all Germans, end of the TOV, a strong state, national army, exclusion of Jews.
What is the O,P,V,L of the 25 point program?

5. German unemployment vs Nazi seats in the
Reichstag.

6. Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims: 1919-33
1923 Hitler is arrested and writes Mein Kampf
In his memoir he asserted the need for German
racial purity and living space, Lebensraum.
Can be viewed as a stage by stage plan to
expand:
1. Termination of the TOV and alliance with
Britain.
2. A war with France and her Eastern European
allies.
3. A war with the USSR. OPVL?

7. Mein Kampf

8. Zweites Buch ‘Secret Book’
Suggests that in the 1930s a
final struggle would take
place for world hegemony
between the USA and the
combined forces of a
‘Greater Germany’ and the
British Empire.

9. Hitler’s Rise to Power
Lacarno Pact 1925
Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
World Disarmament Conference 1932
The Great Depression undermined both
the Leagues ability to resist aggressor
states and the willingness of member
states to work together.
Thus Hitler rose to power legitimately.
1933-34, consolidates power in Germany.

10. Hitler’s Foreign Policies.

11. Hitler’s Foreign Policies.

12. Discussion Questions
1. From what has been presented what evidence is there
that Hitler had a long-term plan that lead to a general
European war?
2. To what extent should a) German moderates and b)
foreign governments have been aware of the potential
danger of Hitler?
3. How far do you agree that the Nazis’ popularity was
due to the economic crisis in Germany?

13. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Revisiting the Treaty of Versailles: Reparations were
suspended prior to Hitlers being appointed, he reasserted this resistance. German
withdraw from the league 1933.
German increase in military spending: Five-
fold increase in 1934-35.
Non-aggression pact with Poland, 1934. Directly
counteracted the ‘Little Entente’, French
alliance system in E.Europe, by undermining
the Franco-Polish alliance 1925.

14. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Austria: Hitler stated goals to: unify Austria with
Germany, Mein Kampf.
Pro-Nazi group murdered Austrian Chancellor
Engelbert Dollfuss in an attempted coup.
Saar Plebiscite 1935: Positive propaganda, 9-1
vote in favor of unifying.
Immediately responds with compulsory military service.

15. Saar Plebiscite

16. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
European Response:
Stresa Front: Britain,
France, and Italy align.
With no clear plan ‘how’ to respond
to stop Hitler.
Anglo-German Naval
Agreement 1935: allowed
for an increased German
Navy. Without
consulting France.

17. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Revision Questions:
1. Which of Hitler’s aims, as set down in Mein Kampf, had
been achieved by 1935?
2. Based on Hitler’s stated long-term ambitions, what
would his next objectives be?
3. How far do you agree that Germany was the only
country causing tension in Europe in the mid 1930’s?

18. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
German Remilitarization
of the Rhineland: Waited
until it was clear Italy
was going to be
successful in Abyssinia.
This would redress the
wrongs of the TOV.

19. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Hitler’s Involvement in the Spanish
Civil War:
1. Never had more then 10,000
troops committed, Italy had 7x that
figure.
2. Motives were to have another
right wing power in Europe and test
out Germany’s new armed forces.

20. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Rome-Berlin Axis: Treaty
of Friendship, 1936.
Anti Comintern Pact:
Joined with Japan 1936 and
Italy 1937.
Japan could counter Britain
and Russia in Asia.

21. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Hossbach Memorandum: Meeting of key
military men. Hitler launched his ‘Four Year
Plan’ to prepare Germany for war by 1940.
Presented his ‘last will and testament.’
1. Key aim of this German policy would be to secure
and preserve the racial community and enlarge it.
2. Focused on ‘concrete questions of armament’

22. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Revision and research questions:
1. What were the key aims, as set out by Hitler in
the Hossbach meeting?
2. Why would Hitler not want to keep record of
this meeting?
3. In Pairs discuss the OPVL of Hitler’s ‘last will
and testament’

23. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Anschluss: With Italian
support and British
appeasement, the view
was the separation with
Austria had been wrong
to enforce during the
TOV. A referendum was
called, Hitler sent troops
to ensure support.

24. Hitler and the Short-term Causes of WWII
Takeover of
Czechoslovakia:
Sudetenland, land of 3
million Germans. Britain,
France, and Italy agreed to
Hitler’s ultimatum, known
as the Munich agreement.

25. Hitler and the Immediate Causes of WWII
(1939)
The invasion of Poland:
German Port of Danzig was
to be a free city administered
by the League of Nations.
This granted Poles access to
the Port
How did Hitler achieve this?

26. Appeasement as a Cause of WWII
To what extent has the policy of appeasement
had a negative impact on international relations
since the 1930’s?

27. Reviewing the Causes of WWII
Outline for the nations below the actions each
nation took which contributed to the outbreak of
WWII.
Britain 7 , France 5, USSR 5, Italy 2, USA 2.

28. Possible essay questions.
Outline one of the following essay questions: (thesis, 3 supporting
arguments, evidence, conclusion)
To what extent was WWII Hitler’s war?
To what extent did the unsatisfactory outcome of WWI
lead to WWII?
Why did WWII break out in 1939?
To what extent should Germany be held responsible for
both the First and Second World Wars?