Lecture Notes: German Expansion (1933-1938)

Introduction

• Focus on German expansion from 1933 to 1938 under Nazi rule
• Changing diplomatic alignments and reactions of other countries

Global Context Post-1933

• Britain:
  • Preoccupied with economic crisis from the Great Depression
  • Concerns in Far East due to Japanese aggression
  • Many view Treaty of Versailles as harsh on Germany
  • Right-wing politicians see Germany as a buffer against Soviet Union
• France:
  • Continual concern about German threat
  • Economic issues from the Great Depression
  • Formed alliances in Eastern Europe (Little Entente) with Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia
• United States:
  • Focused on internal economic issues
  • Maintained isolationist foreign policy
  • Series of neutrality acts passed by Congress

Factors Contributing to German Aggression

• Global economic problems leading to inward focus
• War-weariness from WWI
• Demilitarization trends in Europe
• Weakness of League of Nations (e.g., Japanese invasion of Manchuria)
• Retreat from Treaty of Versailles (e.g., occupation of Rhineland ended 1923)

Key Events in German Expansion

1933: Geneva Disarmament Conference

• League of Nations called for reduced armaments
• Germany requested other nations reduce to its level, which was refused
• Hitler withdrew from conference and League of Nations

1934: Non-Aggression Pact with Poland

• Bilateral agreement with Poland
• Secured Germany's eastern border temporarily
• Weakened French security in Eastern Europe

1934: Austrian Events

• Austria's chancellor assassinated (Austrian Nazis supported by Hitler)
• Mussolini's opposition forced Germany to back down

1935: Saar Plebiscite

• Saar voted to join Germany (90% in favor)
• Propaganda victory for Hitler

1935: Military Rebuilding

• Violations of Treaty of Versailles
• German army expanded significantly
• Introduction of Luftwaffe

1936: Re-militarization of the Rhineland

• German troops sent into Rhineland
• No resistance from Western powers

1936: Spanish Civil War

• Germany supported fascists in Spain
• Luftwaffe's Condor Legion bombed Spanish cities (e.g., Guernica)

Late 1930s: Diplomatic Alignments

• Rome-Berlin Axis (1936): Alliance with Italy establishing mutual interests
• Anti-Comintern Pact: Alliance with Japan and Italy against communism

1937: Hossbach Memorandum

• Meeting indicating Hitler's plans for empire expansion
• Led to removal of dissenting generals and Hitler assuming supreme command

Conclusion

• Lecture outlines steps leading to German aggression and expansion under Hitler
• Next lecture will cover Hitler's actions post-1938