Hitler's Foreign Policy in the 30's

Rank of Importance:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Remilitarization of Rhineland (1936) (b)

Germans take the Sudetenland (1938) (f)
Rome-Berlin Axis (1936) (d)
Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia (1938) (g)
Anschluss with Austria (1938) (e)
Creation of the Luftwaffe (1935) (a)
Assistance to Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936) (c)
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact (1938) (h)

a) The aerial warfare branch of the German Wehrmacht was the Luftwaffe. Hitler
was not allowed an air force, as per the Treaty of Versailles. So, he kept it hidden
and hoped the allies would appease him, which they did. This was ranked low
because it was mostly unknown to the allies he had done this.
b) German military forces entered and remilitarized the Rhineland on March 7,
1936. This was significant because it violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
and it marked the first time since World War 1 that German troops had been in
this region. This is ranked as first because it was the first violation of the treaty.
c) Civil war broke out in Spain in July 1936, and Hitler immediately sent in powerful
air and armored units to assist General Franco and his Nationalist Forces.
Germany used this as a distraction from Hitler's central European strategy, and
the creation of a Fascist Spain, friendly to Germany. It also provided an
opportunity to train men and test equipment and tactics. This is ranked lowly
because it didnt end up turning into anything important for Germany.
d) Rome-Berlin Axis, Coalition formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany. An
agreement, formulated by Italys foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano, informally
linking the two fascist countries was reached on October 25, 1936. It was
formalized by the Pact of Steel in 1939. This is significant because it set the
stage for World War 2. This is ranked highly because without Italy's help,
Germany would not have been able to achieve domination in Europe.
e) The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. This
went against the Treaty of Versailles. This is significant and rated in the middle
because it went against the Treaty, as Austria and Germany werent supposed to
be 'friends' anymore.
f) The Sudetenland is used to refer to those areas in Czechoslovakia which were
inhabited primarily by German speakers. In 1938 Germany took annexed area.
This is significant because it went completely against the Treaty, and it shows

that the allies were appeasing Hitler greatly. This is ranked highly because this is
the first land they took aside from the remilitarization of the Rhineland.
g) After the Sudetenland was taken in early 1938, Hitler turned his attention to the
rest of the Czechoslovakia. On March 16, 1938 the German Wehrmacht moved
into the remainder of Czechoslovakia and occupied them. This was made easy
for Hitler because the incorporation of the Sudetenland into Nazi Germany left
the rest of Czechoslovakia weak and it became too weak to resist the
occupation. This is significant because it showed that Hitler would not stop with
what he said he wanted.
h) On August 23, 1939, representatives from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union
met and signed the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, which guaranteed that the
two countries would not attack each other. By signing this pact, Germany had
protected itself from having to fight a two-front war in the soon-to-begin World
War II; the Soviet Union was awarded land, including parts of Poland and the
Baltic States. The pact was broken when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet
Union less than two years later, on June 22, 1941. This is significant because it
showed that Hitler was not interested in keeping his promises to other nations.
This is ranked low because by the time he broke the pact the world was already
aware of Hitlers broken promises and aggression.