HI136 The History of HI136 The History of GermanyGermany

Lecture 14Lecture 14

The Second World The Second World WarWar

German Foreign Policy, German Foreign Policy, 1933-19371933-1937

Oct. 1933Oct. 1933 Germany leaves League of Nations and Disarmament ConferenceGermany leaves League of Nations and Disarmament Conference

Jan. 1934Jan. 1934 Non-Aggression Pact with PolandNon-Aggression Pact with Poland

Jan. 1935Jan. 1935 The Saar votes to return to GermanyThe Saar votes to return to Germany

March. 1935March. 1935 Hitler announces reintroduction of conscriptionHitler announces reintroduction of conscription

April 1935April 1935 Stresa conference, Britain, France, and Italy protest against Stresa conference, Britain, France, and Italy protest against German infringement of VersaillesGerman infringement of Versailles

June 1935June 1935 Anglo-German Naval Agreement on an enlarged German NavyAnglo-German Naval Agreement on an enlarged German Navy

Oct. 1935Oct. 1935 Italy invades AbyssiniaItaly invades Abyssinia

January 1936January 1936 Mussolini ends Italian guarantee of Austrian independenceMussolini ends Italian guarantee of Austrian independence

March 1936March 1936 German troops reoccupy the demilitarised RhinelandGerman troops reoccupy the demilitarised Rhineland

July 1936July 1936 Germany sends military to help the nationalist rebels in SpainGermany sends military to help the nationalist rebels in Spain

Nov. 1936Nov. 1936 Rome – Berlin Axis announced; Anti-Comintern Pact with JapanRome – Berlin Axis announced; Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan

Nov. 1937Nov. 1937 Italy joins Anti-Comintern PactItaly joins Anti-Comintern Pact

German Foreign Policy German Foreign Policy 1938-19391938-1939

March March 19381938

Invasion of Austria Invasion of Austria ((AnschlussAnschluss))

Sept. Sept. 19381938

Munich conference of Munich conference of Germany, Italy, France, Germany, Italy, France, BritainBritain

Oct. 1938Oct. 1938 Germany takes Germany takes SudetenlandSudetenland, Teschen to , Teschen to PolandPoland

March March 19391939

Germany occupies Germany occupies CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

March March 19391939

Germany occupies Germany occupies MemelMemel

March March 19391939

Britain and France Britain and France guarantee Polandguarantee Poland

One woman’s reaction to the German entry into the Sudetenland, Sept.

1938.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, 23 The Nazi-Soviet Pact, 23 August 1939August 1939

Article I. Both High Contracting Parties obligate themselves to desist from any act of violence, any aggressive action, and any attack on each other, either individually or jointly with other Powers.

Article II. Should one of the High Contracting Parties become the object of belligerent action by a third Power, the other High Contracting Party shall in no manner lend its support to this third Power. Secret Additional Protocol:

Article I. In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall represent the boundary of the spheres of influence of Germany and U.S.S.R. In this connection the interest of Lithuania in the Vilna area is recognized by each party.

Article II. In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement of the areas belonging to the Polish state, the spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narev, Vistula and San. The question of whether the interests of both parties make desirable the maintenance of an independent Polish States and how such a state should be bounded can only be definitely determined in the course of further political developments. In any event both Governments will resolve this question by means of a friendly agreement.

Article III. With regard to Southeastern Europe attention is called by the Soviet side to its interest in Bessarabia. The German side declares its complete political disinterestedness in these areas.

Article IV. This protocol shall be treated by both parties as strictly secret.

“Rendezvous”, by David Low, The Evening

Standard, 20 September 1939

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg

Germany had only begun to rearm in Germany had only begun to rearm in 1935 – they needed tactics to offset 1935 – they needed tactics to offset their numerical inferiority.their numerical inferiority.

Emphasis on speed and movement – Emphasis on speed and movement – use of modern technology (tanks, air use of modern technology (tanks, air power, paratroops etc.) to avoid the power, paratroops etc.) to avoid the long drawn-out war of attrition.long drawn-out war of attrition.

Break through enemy lines, seize key Break through enemy lines, seize key objectives, present the enemy with a objectives, present the enemy with a fait accomplifait accompli before they can react. before they can react.

SchwerpunktSchwerpunkt (focal point) – (focal point) – concentrate forces to break through concentrate forces to break through enemy lines at a single point.enemy lines at a single point.

Speed of movement would then allow Speed of movement would then allow the Germans to paralyse the enemy’s the Germans to paralyse the enemy’s decision-making and limit their decision-making and limit their freedom of action.freedom of action.

The Polish Campaign, 1-28 Sept. 1939Source: R. Overy, The Penguin Historical Atlas

of the Third Reich

Right: Campaigns in western Europe and the Mediterranean,

April 1940-April 1941Source: The Encyclopaedia of the German Army

in the 20th Century

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain Air superiority Air superiority

necessary if Germany necessary if Germany to mount an invasion of to mount an invasion of the British Isles.the British Isles.

Reasons for failure to Reasons for failure to do so:do so: German aircraft have German aircraft have

limited range & were limited range & were designed to support land designed to support land forces.forces.

British fighters superior.British fighters superior. Britain building more Britain building more

fighters more quickly fighters more quickly than the Germans.than the Germans.

Radar.Radar. Change of tactics.Change of tactics.

Source: R. Overy, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Third Reich

The ‘Blitz’The ‘Blitz’

Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa The largest land invasion ever The largest land invasion ever

seen.seen. Three Army Groups made up of Three Army Groups made up of

German, Italian, Hungarian and German, Italian, Hungarian and Romanian troops aim to capture Romanian troops aim to capture key strategic areas: the Baltic key strategic areas: the Baltic coast and Leningrad (North), the coast and Leningrad (North), the Ukraine & Moscow (Centre) and Ukraine & Moscow (Centre) and the oil fields of the Caucuses the oil fields of the Caucuses (South).(South).

Intended to be a repeat of the Intended to be a repeat of the successful Blitzkrieg in the West.successful Blitzkrieg in the West.

Armies covered vast distances but Armies covered vast distances but didn’t achieve their objectives.didn’t achieve their objectives.

Flaws:Flaws: Operation started too late = Operation started too late =

armies at the mercy of the armies at the mercy of the Russian winter.Russian winter.

Deep penetration into Russia left Deep penetration into Russia left supply lines exposed.supply lines exposed.

Source: R. Overy, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Third Reich (1996)

The Home FrontThe Home Front Hitler convinced that the collapse of the home front had led to defeat Hitler convinced that the collapse of the home front had led to defeat

in 1918 – determination to avoid a similar situation in WWII.in 1918 – determination to avoid a similar situation in WWII. Continued provision of leisure & entertainment.Continued provision of leisure & entertainment. ““A reluctance to ask the public to bare sacrifices” (Craig), initially led A reluctance to ask the public to bare sacrifices” (Craig), initially led

to limited state interference in the economy & a failure of mobilize to limited state interference in the economy & a failure of mobilize the full resources of the state.the full resources of the state.

Women not brought into the war effort on ideological grounds.Women not brought into the war effort on ideological grounds. Surveillance of the population – the security forces on the look-out Surveillance of the population – the security forces on the look-out

for signs of defeatism.for signs of defeatism. Intensification of propaganda & cult of the FIntensification of propaganda & cult of the Führer.ührer. Exploitation of occupied territories and forced labour.Exploitation of occupied territories and forced labour.

Albert Speer (1905-1981),Minister of Armaments, 1942-45

Fritz Todt (1891-1942),Minister of Armaments, 1940-42

Source: R. Overy, Russia’s War (1997)

Source: R. Overy, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Third Reich

The ‘New Order’ in The ‘New Order’ in EuropeEurope

By 1942 Germany dominated By 1942 Germany dominated Europe – even those states that Europe – even those states that remained neutral had to keep on remained neutral had to keep on good terms with the Germans.good terms with the Germans.

Germany ruthlessly exploited Germany ruthlessly exploited occupied territories, expropriating occupied territories, expropriating assets, raw materials, art treasure assets, raw materials, art treasure etc.etc.

Use of foreign workers to solve the Use of foreign workers to solve the labour shortage – 7 million foreign labour shortage – 7 million foreign workers in Germany, and a further workers in Germany, and a further 7 million in the occupied territories 7 million in the occupied territories by 1944.by 1944.

Ambitious plans to colonize the Ambitious plans to colonize the east – ghetoization & ‘liquidation’ east – ghetoization & ‘liquidation’ of Jews, slavs etc. to make way of Jews, slavs etc. to make way for colonists.for colonists.

Poster inviting Dutchmen to join the SS

‘‘The Turning of the Tide’, The Turning of the Tide’, 1942-431942-43

7 Dec. 1941: Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbour.7 Dec. 1941: Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbour. 11 Dec. 1941: Hitler declared war on the USA, globalizing the 11 Dec. 1941: Hitler declared war on the USA, globalizing the

conflict.conflict. 5 Sept. 1942: German forces reached the Russian city of Stalingrad.5 Sept. 1942: German forces reached the Russian city of Stalingrad. 23 Oct. – 5 Nov. 1942: Battle of El Alamein – the British 823 Oct. – 5 Nov. 1942: Battle of El Alamein – the British 8 thth Army Army

defeated the Germans in North Africa and pushed them into retreat.defeated the Germans in North Africa and pushed them into retreat. 8 Nov. 1942: Anglo-American forces invaded Morocco & Algeria, 8 Nov. 1942: Anglo-American forces invaded Morocco & Algeria,

cutting off the German retreat and trapping them in Tunisia.cutting off the German retreat and trapping them in Tunisia. July-August 1943: The British & Americans invade Sicily.July-August 1943: The British & Americans invade Sicily. Sept. 1943: Anglo-American forces move onto the Italian peninsula. Sept. 1943: Anglo-American forces move onto the Italian peninsula.

Germany occupies Italy.Germany occupies Italy.

StalingradStalingrad Confrontation between the two Confrontation between the two

dictators over the ‘City of dictators over the ‘City of Stalin’ – neither would give in.Stalin’ – neither would give in.

Russian counter-attack in Russian counter-attack in November 1942 encircled the November 1942 encircled the German 6German 6thth Army. Army.

The Germans lost 750,000 The Germans lost 750,000 men (killed or missing) and men (killed or missing) and 91,000 were captured.91,000 were captured.

A turning point in the war – A turning point in the war – after Stalingrad the Germans after Stalingrad the Germans did nothing but retreat on the did nothing but retreat on the eastern front.eastern front.

Source: R. Overy, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Third Reich

Aerial view of Dresden after allied bombing Allied troops enter Berlin, 1945

Russian soldiers wave the ‘Hammer & Sickle’ flag from the roof of the Reichstag building, Berlin, May 1945

Reasons for DefeatReasons for Defeat The role of Hitler.The role of Hitler. Fighting on multiple fronts.Fighting on multiple fronts. The failure to fully mobilize the population and the The failure to fully mobilize the population and the

economy.economy. Flexibility.Flexibility. Morale.Morale. Key texts:Key texts:

Richard J. Evans, Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich at WarThe Third Reich at War (2008) (2008) Richard Overy, Richard Overy, Why the Allies WonWhy the Allies Won (2006) (2006)