Anschluss
- 1938 – much more aggressive foreign policy
- Since UK wouldn’t defend Rhineland, they wouldn’t wage a war
- Mussolini was Hitler’s ally
- Could make plans for Anschluss
- German region in Austria
- Could open way to East EU
- Since 1934 – tried to destabilize the government
- The Austrian Nazis supported Hitler
- “We will regard Austria as a German State”
- By 1938 → Nazi members were given roles in Government
- A plebiscite was announced (with Nazi violence)
- March 1938 – Nazis march into Austria, becoming part of Germany
- The Austrian Nazis supported Hitler
Sudeten Crisis (Czechoslovakia)
- Background
- Multi-racial state, 3m GM in Czech area of Sudeten
- Rich in natural resources
- Anschluss ⇒ risked Czechoslovakia (and France wouldn’t defend them)
- Nazis funded unrest, manipulated exploitation of Germans to support claim for Authority
- Multi-racial state, 3m GM in Czech area of Sudeten
- May Crisis
- Rumours that Germany would invade Czechoslovakia
- GB + FN warned that France would defend ally
- Put pressure for autonomy of Sudeten
- Hitler mobilizes troops in the border
- GB PM Neville Chamberlain tried to solve the problem
- Agrees to hand over Sudetenland (with reluctance of Czech)
- THEN Hitler backstabs and wants MORE Polish + Hungarian areas → and Czech didn’t want
- War unavoidable
- Rumours that Germany would invade Czechoslovakia
- Munich Conference
- Mussolini wanted to mediate Czechoslovakian crisis because he didn’t want to fight the War
- Meeting between FN, IT, GB and GM WITHOUT the Czechs → allowed GM Sudetenland earlier
- International borders committee for Polish/Hungarian areas
- Chamberlain + Hitler sign declaration of friendship (to have diplomacy to resolve conflict)
Polish crisis
- 800k Germans in Poland
- Munich conference = Germany demanded restoration of Polish corridor to connect Germany with Poland
- And offered to renew non-aggression pact with Poland
- Poland rejects this
- March 1939 – GB signs pact to protect Poland and says they would wage war if Nazis invaded
German relations with Italy and USSR, and the outbreak of war
- May 1939 – Pact of Steel (Germany and Italy)
- Support each other in case of attack
- Italy not ready to fight the war though
- Aug 1939 – Nazi-Soviet pact
- Not to join in any alliance that could threaten the other party, and to solve their disputes diplomatically.
- This allowed Hitler to invade Poland without Soviet’s intervention
- Non-aggression
- Not to support any third power that might attack the other member, and prevented USSR ❤ GB/FN
- Also gave more time for USSR to prepare for war
IB Wisdom 