By 1939, international peace had collapsed due to Hitler's aggressive actions to expand German territory and defeat communism, as outlined in Mein Kampf. Hitler remilitarized Germany in violation of the Treaty of Versailles starting in 1933. He withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933 and staged a massive arms display in 1935. Hitler continued to consolidate power by annexing Austria in 1938 and demanding the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia later that year. Britain and France failed to oppose Hitler's moves militarily, emboldening Germany and leading to the invasion of Poland and the start of World War II in 1939.

1. Why had international peace
collapsed by 1939?
Hitler’s war

2. Hitler’s plans
•Mein Kampf 1924 lays out Hitler’s
plans – not secret.
•Abolish the Treaty of Versailles: –
Unjust, November criminals, constant
reminder of defeat in WW1,
humiliation, territory and German
citizens removed to foreign territory
returned to Germany, unite with
Austria, no reparation repayments.
•Expand German territory: –
after regaining lost territory, carve out
new empire in Eastern Europe –
Lebensraum (living space).
•Defeat Communism: -
German empire carved out of Soviet
Union (Russia/USSR), defeat
Communism/Bolshevism, Bolsheviks
had brought about the defeat of
Germany

3. Hitler’s actions
1933: Rearm, withdraw from League of
Nations
1935: Massive rearmament Rally
1936: Conscription, German troops
into the Rhineland, anti-Communist
alliance with Japan
1937: New German weapons and
strategy (Blitzkrieg on Guernica) tried
out during the Spanish Civil War, anti-
Communist alliance with Italy.
1938: Annexation (Anschluss) with
Austria, take-over of Sudetenland from
Czechoslovakia.
1939: Invasion of Czechoslovakia,
invasion of Poland 1st September –
WAR!
Other factors:
•Great Depression
•Weaknesses of post-WW1 treaties
•Actions of leading powers; Britain,
France, USA and USSR.

4. Rearmament
•1933 – Rearmament. Hitler Increased
German armed forces - thousands of
unemployed workers drafted into the
armed forces. Challenged the Treaty of
Versailles.
•Spending on rearming: 1933 = 7.4% of
national budget. 1940 = 38%.
•Started in secret and Hitler made a
big deal that he was doing it as other
nations would not disarm. Collapse of
1934 Disarmament Conference
•1935 Massive open display of
German armament. →
•1936 Conscription
•Hitler got away with flagrant
breaking of the Treaty of Versailles.
•Britain happy for Germany to be
strong to defend itself and as a buffer
against the USSR/Communism.
•1935: Britain/ Germany Naval
agreement. Germany allowed 35% of
the size of the Royal Navy.

5. SAAR
Plebiscite
•Saar run by the League of Nations
since 1919.
•Promised plebiscite held in 1935.
•Hitler allowed the plebiscite in spite
of many of his opponents having fled
there.
•Vote overwhelming in Hitler’s favour.
•Propaganda Minister, Joseph
Goebbels mounted a massive
campaign in Hitler’s favour.
•90% voted to return to German rule.
•Legal action in terms of the Treaty of
Versailles.
•Morale boost for Hitler.
•Hitler quote (translated): “I have no
further territorial demands to make
...”
•Hitler hoodwinked the world!

6. Remilitarization of the Rhineland
• March 1936 – Hitler moves troops into the Rhineland.
Huge gamble.
• Demilitarization was a demand of the Treaty of Versailles
to protect France from Germany.
• Locarno Treaty confirmed this with Germany in 1925.
• Hitler knew the risk, but in spite of his generals being
against it, he forged ahead.
• He had chosen the time well. France had recently signed
a treaty with the USSR to protect each other against
Germany.
• Hitler argued that Germany should be allowed to place
troops in the Rhineland to protect her borders.
• Hitler knew that many people in Britain supported this
idea and was confident they would not intervene.
• France was the problem. Hitler had organized to
withdraw if France retaliated as France had a superior
army and air force at that time.
• The League was dealing with the Abyssinian crisis, but
condemned Hitler’s actions. They were powerless to act.
• France was in an election cycle and were not prepared
to respond.
• France would not proceed without British support.
• Hitler once again succeeded.
• Next time he would risk more!

7. Spanish Civil War
• 1936 Spanish civil war broke out between the
Republican government and the Right-wing rebels under
General Franco.
• It immediately gained an international dimension.
• Stalin of the USSR supported the Republican
government and provided weapons, pilots and aircraft.
• Volunteers from 50 nations supported the Republicans.
Hitler and Mussolini supported Franco.
• Governments of France and Britain refused to intervene.
• Germany and Italy declared they would not intervene
and then blatantly did so by flying in rebel troops and
equipment.
• The German Luftwaffe bombed many targets including
the infamous annihilation of the town of Guernica.
• Franco won the war and it also strengthened the bond
between Hitler and Mussolini. Britain’s non-intervention
convinced Hitler that he could form an alliance with
Britain or to persuade Britain and France to remain
neutral in a future war.
• The Spanish civil war also encouraged Hitler to
continue to reverse the Treaty of Versailles.
• USSR became suspicious of Britain and France because
of their reluctance to oppose fascism.

8. Militarism and the Axis
• Winston Churchill described the
1930’s as “A gathering storm”.
• Hitler and Mussolini had shown their
armed forces were effective and that
they were ready to use them.
• Mussolini had triumphed in Abyssinia
and Hitler in the Rhineland and both
in Spain.
• The Japanese were muscling in on
the preserve of the USA in the Pacific
by invading Manchuria then China.
• Hitler and Mussolini had much in
common with the military
dictatorship of Japan.
• Hitler signed the Anti-Comintern
Pact against communism with Japan
in 1936. Mussolini signed in 1937.
• The new alliance was called the Axis.

9. ANSCHLUSS
•After successful Foreign Policy successes
in 1936 and 1937, Hitler turned to
Austria, his homeland.
•In Mein Kampf, he had made it clear
that a union with Austria was on the
cards.
•Austria was economically weak and
supported the idea of union.
•Mussolini was now an ally of Hitler and
would not oppose it.
•There was a strong Nazi Party in Austria.
They staged riots in favour of merging
with Germany.
•Hitler pressurized Chancellor Schusnigg
to agree to Anschluss.
•Schusnigg organized a plebiscite when
France and Britain failed to come to his
aid. Hitler could not risk this
•March 1938 Hitler’s troops entered
Austria to ensure a trouble free
plebiscite.
•Yes votes totalled 99.75. No military
action was required for Hitler to take over
Austria.
•Britain supported the union.
•Hitler had once again succeeded.