History:Hitlers Road to world war 2

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Hitler becomes chancellor and begins rearming Germ

In January 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor. How? He said things people wanted to hear, persuasive, very good at speeches, Germany hated the treaty, Hitler said he would get rid of it, he managed to help Germany recover from the Wall street Crash.

REARMAMENT

When Hitler finally becomes into power he is determined to increase Germanys armed forces after they were reduced due to the Treaty of Versailles.He keeps it a secret because he doesnt want to be stopped as he knows its wrong.

Disarmament conference (feb 1932) Germany had been part of the league for 6 years and people agreed that they should be treated more equally and that the treaty was too harsh on them. 

Should everyone disarm to the level of Germany?

All the powers failed to agree on disarming to the level of Germany. As a result Germany storms out of the conference. Hitler says 'we will not rearm, if in 5 years all other nations disarm to Germanys level' 

He leaves the league in 1933 and rearms anyway because he knows the league will never disarm.

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Non agression pact with Poland 1934

In January 1934, Germany signed a non agression pact with poland. 

Hitlers aims:

To weaken the existing alliance between France and Poland.

He hoped to reduce polish fears of German aggression. He didnt want polish people to feel threatened by Germany he wanted them to trust him.

This makes him look reasonable and a good person as he is trying to create peace. This makes him more popular.

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Hitlers Rearmament Rally 1935

Hitler had built up his weapons and has finished rearming and decides hes confident enough to show off his new navy and weapons. 

He openly staged a massive military rally celebrating German armed forces.

This makes German people feel more protected and strong now that they will be able to defend themselves. 

He announced an army of 550,000, 8250 air crafts, 95 warships.

He didn't care he was breaking the terms of the treaty of Versailles.

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Anglo German Naval Treaty 1935

Britain had sympathy for Germany after they were refused by the league of nations that they couldnt rearm.

Hitler saw this as an opportunity to persuade Britain to let Germany rearm as they were very sypathetic for Germany

Britain breaks one of the terms of the treaty by allowing Germany to build up their navy by 35% and have the same number of submarines a Britain

Naval agreement was signed between Germany and Britain

France is not happy with Britain, Hitler is very happy as he got his own way

This suggests Germany is powerful and confident enough to breach the terms of the treaty

breach- break the rules

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Return of the Saar 1935

Under the terms of the treaty, the industrial area of the saar was taken from Germany. The land was under control of the League of Nations. The terms of the treaty stated a plebisite (vote) was to be held after 15 years.

The population of the saar would be able to decide who they wanted to be ruled by. There were three choices France, Germany, League of Nations.

Hitler puts a lot of propaganda into the saar to try and persuade them to vote for him.

Plebisite was in January 1935.

Over 90% of the voting population chose to return to German rule.

Hitler saw the result as a huge triumph, made him feel powerful and popular.

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Stresa Front 1935

France, Italy, Britain met in a town called Stresa, Italy where they worked together to maintain peace in Europe. They were against German aggression

-They condemned German rearmament

However this did not last long as it collapsed due to the Abyssinian Crisis when Italy was supported by Germany to invade Abyssinia.

This affected relations between France, Britain, Italy

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