Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Why did Germany grow when Hitler came to power?
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Objectives
In this activity you will:
Understand how and why Germany expanded during the
1930s.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
German expansion
- Kleindeutschland (Little Germany), a country that would
be made up of the German states
- Grossdeutschland (Big Germany), a country that would
include the nearby German-speaking peoples of Austria
and Alsace.
When Germany was created in 1870 there were two
visions for the future of the country:
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
German expansion
The Nazis wanted to overturn the restrictions on
Germany made at the Treaty of Versailles and create
Lebensraum (living space).
This meant a country in which all German speakers
would be unified and where all their needs could be met.
Oil, rubber, food and slave labour would allow the Reich
to grow strong. This meant more land.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
German expansion
Hitler became Chancellor (leader) of Germany on
30 January 1933.
Almost immediately, he set about rearming the
country and ripping up the much-hated Treaty of
Versailles. He did this by taking the following steps:
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
The SaarIn 1935, the Saarland voted to reunify with Germany.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Rearmament and conscription
Also in 1935, Hitler announced plans to rearm and introduce
conscription (both forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles).
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Naval rearmamentIn June 1935, Britain signed an agreement allowing the re-creation
of the German Navy.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
The RhinelandIn 1936, Germany re-militarized the Rhineland. This was a gamble
as the German army was outnumbered by the French army. Britain
and France, however, did not react.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Austria
In March 1938, the leader of Austria, a Nazi, invited the Germans to
occupy Austria to stop a communist plot. Opposition was crushed
and 99 out of 100 Austrians voted to become part of Greater
Germany.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Northern Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland)
There were 3 000 000 Germans living in the Sudetenland in the
north of Czechoslovakia, a country created by the Treaty of
Versailles. The land was rich in minerals and heavily industrialized.
Germany wanted it but Britain was worried. The British Prime
Minister, Neville Chamberlain, met with Hitler to try to negotiate a
compromise. The Germans were eventually given the Sudetenland.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia despite having
claimed he had no further demands in Europe.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Poland
On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On 3 September
1939, Britain declared war on Germany. World War II had begun.
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Timeline of events
193330 Jan 1933: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany
1935Saarland voted to reunify with GermanyHitler announced plans to rearm and introduce conscription June: Britain agreed to allow the re-creation of the German Navy
1936 Germany re-militarized the Rhineland1938
March: the leader of Austria invited the Germans to occupy Austria99 out of 100 Austrians voted to become part of Greater GermanyOct: Germans were given the Sudetenland, in the north of Czechoslovakia
1939March: Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia 1 September: Germany invaded Poland3 September: Britain declared war on Germany
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Chronology – sense of period
Now its your turn…
Why did Britain and France seem so unwilling to stop Hitler?
In your view, when should Britain and France have stood up to Hitler? Was this a real possibility?
Was there one key turning point - the point at which war was inevitable?
![Adolf Hitler · Adolf Hitler 1 Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler Hitler in 1937 Führer of Germany In office ... Hitler states in Mein Kampf that he first became an antisemite in Vienna.[42]](https://img.pdfslide.net/doc/110x75/5c7593aa09d3f28c0f8b8abc/adolf-hitler-adolf-hitler-1-adolf-hitler-adolf-hitler-hitler-in-1937-fuehrer.jpg)
