Aims in Foreign Policy

Aims;

• Make Germany a Great power again
• Unite all German speaking people
• Gain Lebesraum in the East
• Overturn the Treaty of Versailles

1933-1935

100,000 men in the army / 300,000 men in the army

Conscription banned / Conscription reintroduced

No military Aircraft / 2,500 Aircrafts in the Luftwaffe

Results

Britain, France and Italy signed the STRESSA FRONT in 1935, as the army was showed off

However no action taken, left to rearm

Gave Hitler confidence in Europe

Pre-War = The Saar was Germany's main source of coal.

After-war = Under French rule (TofV), became a Mandate of the League of Nations.

Agreed that after 15 years, there would be a plebscite for the people to choose their alligence.

Hitler wanted to use the Saar as an example to Europe, to show them he was a legal and right ruler of Germany.

After masses of German Propaganda, Hitler called the plebscite.

Hitler won with 90% of the vote in favour of Germany.

Reasons For Anchluss:

• 8 Million German speaking people. (Unite all German speaking people)
• Austria wanted to be a part of Germany. (Treaty of Versailles)
• Germany needed the support and reasources for its own benefit. (Great power again)
• Border each other. (Lebensraum)
• More land in the East. (Lebensraum)

Fist Anchluss, 1934.

Forbayed by the Treaty.

Austrian Chancellor - Dolfus - banned the Nazi party.

Dolfus murdered 1934.

Hitler moves his troops into Austria.

Mussolini moves in, protecting the Austrian-Italian agreement.

Hitler backs down, he is not strong enough yet.

Second Anchluss, 1938.

Rome-Berlin axis, left Austria vunerable - Hitler & Mussolini now allies.

Schushnigg (New Chancellor) tries to appease Hitler:

• Sets up German outposts in Austria.
• Appoints Seys-Inquart (Nazi leader) as Minister of Interior.

Seys-Inquart stirs up trouble, puts pressure on Schushnigg.

Hitler asks for a plebscite on Anchluss.

SCHUSHNIGG DEFYS HITLER & CALLS PLABSCITE EARLY.

Hitler (now angry) moves his troops into Austria to 'establish peace'.

Calls the plebscite now Nazi soldiers are present.

Wins 99.75% of the vote......