ieCauses of WWII At Home Review Information VALE

What were Hitlers ideas of expansion (Greater Germany and Lebensraum)?

-The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation needed
more Lebensraum (living space). He was determined to get Lebensraum by conquering land
in eastern Europe. . The conviction that this living space could be gained only in the east, and
specifically from Russia, formed the core of this idea, and shaped his policy after his take-over
of power in Germany in 1933.

-Unite all German speaking people in one country (make a greater Germany ) only germans
at germany

What was the Saar or Saarland and how did Hitler reacquire it?
-The Treaty of Versailles had put the Saar under the control of the League of Nations for 15
years. In 1935 the inhabitants of the Saar voted to return to Germany. The Saar plebiscite is
cited by many historians as the first step to war.

What was the Rhineland? How did Hitler reoccupy it? Why did Britain and France
not stop him?
-Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a
bluff the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any
resistance. But once again, Britain and France did nothing.

What actions did Hitler take to participate in the Spanish Civil War? Why were they
beneficial to him (at least 2 reasons)?

-The majority of European governments adopted a neutral or non-interventionist position on

the war. Nazi Germany, however, rushed to back the Nationalist forces and their leader,
General Franco. Hitlers public justification for providing military support to the Nationalists was
his desire to prevent communism taking hold in western Europe. Germany could cultivate the
Spanish as trading partners, suppliers of raw materials and iron ore, possibly even as military
allies.

What was the Anschluss? Why did Hitler want it (at least 2 reasons)? How did he
get it? What did Britain and France do?
The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler had forced the resignation of the
Austrian Chancellor by demanding that he admit Nazis into his cabinet. The new Chancellor, a
pro-Nazi, invited German troops to enter the country on the pretext of restoring law and order.

What was the Sudetenland? Why did Hitler want it? Why was there a crisis over it
in 1938?
The Sudetenland was a hotly contested region of Czechoslovakia during the conflicts that led
to World War II. The region was annexed by Germany through the Munich Agreement.
Before 1938, Britain had already given way to Hitler on a number of occasions, but it was the
events of the Sudeten crisis which showed appeasement in action trying to buy off Hitler by
giving way to his demands.
On 11 March 1938, Hitler invaded Austria. It was clear he wanted to do the same in the
Sudetenland.
On 7 September 1938, the German Sudeten Party demanded union with Germany.
There were riots.
German newsreels showed evidence of Czech atrocities against the Sudeten Germans.
Hitler threatened to support the Sudeten Germans with military force.
Then Chamberlain intervened.
What was the Munich Conference and what was decided there?
The Munich Agreement was the agreement signed on 29 Sept 1938 between Chamberlain,
Daladier ( France ), Hitler and Mussolini ( Italy ).
that permitted German annexation of the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia. After his
success in absorbing Austria into Germany proper in March 1938, Adolf Hitler looked
covetously at Czechoslovakia, where about three million people in the Sudeten area were of
German origin.
What was the British policy of appeasement?
In the 1930s, following World War I, the appeasement policy was a conciliatory method of
dealing with a dictatorial government in an effort to prevent conflict. Following the Treaty of
Versailles in 1919, Germany was severely punished for its part in World War I. It was stripped of
lands, population, mineral and coal deposits, and it lost a large portion of its military power.

Identify at least 2 reasons why appeasement was a good idea (page 60 in your book
will help).

Identify at least 2 reasons why appeasement was a bad idea (page 60 in your book
will help).

What happened to Czechoslovakia in March 1939?

In 15 March 1939, German troops marched into Czechoslovakia. They took over Bohemia, and
established a protectorate over Slovakia.
Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia was the end of appeasement:
It proved that Hitler had been lying at Munich.
It showed that Hitler was not just interested in a 'Greater Germany' (the Czechs were not
Germans).
On 17th March, Chamberlain gave a speech saying that he could not trust Hitler not to invade
other countries.
On 31st March, Chamberlain guaranteed to defend Poland if Germany invaded.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939?
Hitler made the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Stalin - a promise not to go to war with each other and
(secretly) a promise to invade Poland and split it between them.
Identify at least 2 reasons why Hitler wanted the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
1. Freed up Hitler to invade Poland - he knew that Britain couldn't do anything to defend
Poland (he invaded 9 days later).
2. Ended Britain's hopes of an alliance with Russia to stop Hitler - people in Britain
realised that nothing would stop Hitler now but war.
3. Improved morale of British people for war - showed Hitler as an opportunist and a
trickster, who could never be trusted.

Identify at least 2 reasons why Stalin accepted the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

If he made an alliance with Germany, he would get half of Poland, and time to prepare for the
coming war with Germany.
Stalin knew Hitler was lying, but he did not trust the British either the Munich Agreement had
convinced him that Britain and France would never dare to go to war with Hitler.

Think about how the following reasons contributed to and helped cause the war. Rank them in
importance and think about why you would rank them that way. Also think about ways they
were connected.
______The Treaty of Versailles

______The failure of the League of Nations

_____The Great Depression

_____Hitlers Foreign Policy and Aggressive Actions

_____The Policy of Appeasement

_____The Nazi-Soviet Pact

You should also consider this question: Was World War II Hitlers fault or was it the fault of no
one stopping him earlier?