German Rearmament

• In 1933, Hitler who was now Chancellor of Germany, left the Geneva Disarmament Conference in anger after it became clear that other members were not prepared to disarm

• This conference wanted Germany to rearm• Britain believed that Germany should re-

arm at a controlled rate and that this would be safer for world peace

• France was not happy about the prospect of German rearmament

Outcome of the Conference

• 1933 deal to reach equality in 5 years• France changed this to 8 years• Voted to ban aerial bombing and a

limit on heavy artillery• Ban on all chemical welfare• Germany and Russia voted against this

plan.• Germany refused until other countries

disarmed, when this was not agreed• Hitler withdrew from the conference

promising to rebuild German armed forces, a new arms race had began

• Hitler on his return from the conference declared his actions as a great victory.

• In order to get the public support he held a plebiscite (vote)

• 95% of German people voted in favour of his plans for Germany

• He quickly set about a rebuilding programme safe in the knowledge that the L.O.N was too weak to stop him

Rearmament

Germany Britain

Army 1939 1,720,000 men 630,000 men

Air force 1939

3,200 planes 2,150 planes

Battleships 1939

19 ships 82 ships

Smaller Ships 1939

50 ships 173 ships

Submarines 1939

80 58

• Plan to build up his armed forces• He had 21 divisions by 1937• 300,000 men• Air force, Luftwaffe, by 1934 had

2000 planes• Hitler made this an open secret to

other countries • He then announced this formally

during the Abyssinian crisis (ITALY)

How did Britain react ?• Britain being an island wanted to ensure

Hitler was controlled in his rebuilding programme.

• To ensure safety of the seas they agreed the Anglo-German Naval deal in 1935.

• This would ensure – Germany would have ‘parity in the air’

• Her naval forces could to be 35% of Britain's • Equal submarines• By agreeing this deal Britain would be

secure in the knowledge that they would win any battle at sea.

• This agreement was made without Britain consulting her ally France.

British Public Reaction

• The British public viewed this agreement as a way of controlling Hitler as well as -

• Building up closer relationships• And also allowing Germany to rebuild

in order to defend herself.• Overall public opinion was in favour

of this agreement.