© 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 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 Saar In 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 rearmament In June 1935, Britain signed an agreement allowing the re-creation of the German Navy.

© HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Chronology – sense of period The Rhineland In 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 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 Jan 1933: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany 1935 Saarland voted to reunify with Germany Hitler announced plans to rearm and introduce conscription June: Britain agreed to allow the re-creation of the German Navy 1936 Germany re-militarized the Rhineland 1938 March: the leader of Austria invited the Germans to occupy Austria 99 out of 100 Austrians voted to become part of Greater Germany Oct: Germans were given the Sudetenland, in the north of Czechoslovakia 1939 March: Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia 1 September: Germany invaded Poland 3 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?