Overview
This lecture details Adolf Hitler’s manipulation of both the German public and military leadership to achieve territorial expansion, leading to the outbreak of World War II.
Hitler’s Rise and Military Plans
- Hitler claims to seek peace while secretly planning aggressive expansion.
- In 1937, he presents his generals with a plan to unite German-speaking peoples and seize land in Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Russia).
- Many generals doubt Germany’s readiness for war and oppose Hitler’s urgency.
Eliminating Opposition in the Military
- Hitler uses scandal to force resignations of War Minister von Blomberg and Army Chief von Fritsch.
- After their removal, Hitler abolishes the War Minister position and becomes Supreme Commander of the German Army.
- The military becomes fully subordinated to Hitler’s will.
Early Expansion and International Response
- In 1938, Germany annexes Austria (Anschluss) without bloodshed; Britain and France do not intervene.
- Hitler’s popularity surges as he appears to fulfill promises peacefully.
Czechoslovakia Crisis and Propaganda
- Hitler targets the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, using Nazi propaganda to portray Germans there as oppressed.
- German provocations and propaganda justify military preparations as “protection.”
The SS as Hitler’s Power Base
- Hitler expands the Waffen SS, a fanatical Nazi military force loyal only to him.
- The SS serves as an alternative power base in case the army turns against Hitler.
Internal Resistance and Failed Plot
- Some military officers and police plot to arrest or kill Hitler, believing he is leading Germany into disaster.
- The Munich Agreement in 1938, brokered by Chamberlain, cedes the Sudetenland to Germany, causing the resistance movement to collapse.
Further Expansion and Outbreak of War
- In March 1939, Hitler violates the Munich Agreement and occupies all of Czechoslovakia.
- Britain and France finally react when Germany invades Poland in September 1939, declaring war and starting World War II.
Early WWII Campaigns and Hitler’s Image
- Rapid German victories in Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, and Holland reinforce Hitler’s image as a military genius.
- Axis powers form as Italy and Japan join Germany.
- Despite initial successes, the devastation of the war is just beginning.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Anschluss — Annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938.
- Lebensraum — “Living space”; Hitler’s policy of territorial expansion for Germans.
- Waffen SS — Elite Nazi paramilitary force loyal to Hitler.
- Sudetenland — Border region of Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population.
- Munich Agreement — 1938 pact allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland.
- Axis Powers — Military alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during WWII.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the causes and consequences of the Munich Agreement.
- Study the role of propaganda in Nazi expansion.
- Prepare for discussion on the internal resistance to Hitler within the German military.