Escalation of Tension Flashcards
All 18 cards in this deck
When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland, and what did this break?
March 1936; it broke both the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Locarno.
True or false? Hitler's army was strong enough in 1936 to fight France over the Rhineland.
False. It was a gamble — his army was not big enough to fight if France had challenged him.
Give one way the remilitarisation of the Rhineland increased international tension.
It put German troops on the French border, making France more nervous and keener for reassurance from Britain.
What was the Rome–Berlin Axis (1936)?
An agreement between Hitler and Mussolini to work together, which strengthened and emboldened the two fascist dictatorships.
What was the Anti-Comintern Pact (1936)?
An agreement between Germany and Japan to oppose the spread of communism; Italy joined in 1937.
What was the Anschluss (March 1938)?
The union of Austria with Germany: Hitler forced the Austrian Chancellor to resign, sent in troops, and held a vote approving union.
Give one reason Britain followed the policy of appeasement.
Chamberlain wanted to use discussion to avoid another war, and Britain was not yet ready militarily for one.
What was agreed at the Munich Conference (September 1938)?
Britain, France, Germany and Italy agreed that Hitler could take the Sudetenland; Czechoslovakia and the USSR were not invited.
Give one argument made against the policy of appeasement.
It misjudged Nazi Germany and encouraged Hitler's territorial ambitions — he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939.
What was appeasement?
The British and French policy of giving in to some of Hitler's demands, through negotiation, in the hope of avoiding war.
Who was Neville Chamberlain?
British Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940, who led the policy of appeasement and signed the Munich Agreement.
What excuse did Hitler give for remilitarising the Rhineland in 1936?
That the new Franco-Soviet mutual assistance treaty threatened Germany.
Give one reason France did not act when Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland.
France was in the middle of an election campaign and no government wanted to start a war without British support.
What was the Sudetenland?
The border regions of Czechoslovakia next to Germany, where about three million German speakers lived.
What happened when Chamberlain first met Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 September 1938)?
Hitler demanded the Sudetenland; Chamberlain agreed in principle that areas with a German majority should go to Germany, then persuaded France and Czechoslovakia to accept.
Why did the Bad Godesberg meeting (22 September 1938) bring Europe close to war?
Hitler raised his demands, insisting on occupying the Sudetenland at once; Chamberlain rejected this and Britain began preparing for war.
What did Chamberlain claim the Munich Agreement had achieved?
'Peace for our time': he returned to Britain to a hero's welcome, believing war had been avoided.
How did fear of communism encourage the British policy of appeasement?
Some British leaders saw a strong Germany as a barrier against the communist USSR.