Eight Steps to War [SCRAMCUP]
Most of the aggressions, leading step by step to open war in September 1939, were the outcome of the deliberate policy of Hitler.
S Reed Brett, European History 1900-1960 (1967).
Links
Prof Rempel on Nazi diplomacy
Cartoonists and the idea of a Stufenplan - Did Hitler have a plan for war?
Reed Brett on Germany's foreign affairs
Frank E Smitha - online book HARD
Describe
the ways in which Germany broke
the Treaty of
Versailles, 1935–1938.
Describe
the ways that Hitler threatened
the peace of Europe
in the years 1933–38.
1. SAAR PLEBISCITE
In 1935, the historian HAL Fisher wrote that ‘a country which is determined to have a war can always have 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.
The Saar Plebiscite - more info
2. CONSCRIPTION and RE-ARMAMENT
Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (calling up men to the army). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France let him get away with it.
History Learning - very clear
Rearmament in Germany - more detailed
Axis Militarism - sets Nazi re-armament in its wider setting.
3. RHINELAND
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.
History Learning - very clear
Wiesenthal Centre - good
Worldlingo - good on the reactions of different countries
Britain's reaction to the Rhineland - Learning Curve exercise
4. AUSTRIA
In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria (11 March 1938). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France did nothing.
History Learning - very clear
YouTube
Anschluss - documentary
◄ Source A
This cartoon was drawn by the British cartoonist Bernard Partridge for the satirical magazine Punch in February 1938. It shows Hitler as a poacher, stealing Austria.
Mussolini is shown as a bad game-keeper, failing to stop him; ‘I never heard a shot, Adolf’’, he is saying.
Click here for the interpretation
Activity:
Does the fact that the cartoonist of Source A is misrepresenting Austria mean that it is an unreliable source?
5. MUNICH
In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First, Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade Czechoslovakia.
Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland.
YouTube
Hitler and Czechoslovakia - old educational video (very biased)
◄ Source B
This British cartoon from October 1938 (by Low, who hated Nazi Germany) shows Hitler as Santa, popping into his sack, one-by-one, little countries – who had got into bed with the ‘French-British family’. His sack says: Deutschland Uber Alles (‘Germany over all’).
The caption reads: 'Europe can look forward to a Christmas of peace' (Hitler).
Click here for the interpretation
Activity:
What is the cartoonist of Source B saying about Hitler?
6. CZECHOSLOVAKIA
On 15 March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time when they realised that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war.
History Learning - very clear
Page on Britain's decision to go to war
7. USSR/NAZI PACT
In summer 1939, Hitler began to unfold his plan to take over Poland. First, the Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. Then, Hitler threatened war.
Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland.
In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France helping Poland.
8. POLAND
In April 1939, Chamberlain announced the 'Polish Guarantee' - a promise to defend Poland if Hitler invaded (this was the event which ended appeasement).
On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland.
On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on Germany.
Eight reasons Hitler invaded Poland
YouTube
Invasion of Poland - old educational video
Extra
1. Study Source D - it suggests a further motivation of Hitler's foreign policy (pan-Germanism). What does it suggest on the surface that Hitler was trying to do?
2. Understanding the meaning of the cartoon, did Low really believe that pan-Germanism was one of Hitler's motives?