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Foreign policy p2 - Coggle Diagram
Foreign policy p2
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general situation
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Memories of horrors of First World War so strong that many people and statesmen determined to avoid another war.
Unexpected signing of 10 year non aggression pact w/ Poland in January 1934- not only did it create a favourable - created impression of reasonableness to Poland and to international circles - looked to Poland like Germany willing to come to understanding
but pact more than propaganda- also breached French system of alliances in Eastern Europe- France had signed a series of alliances in 1920's with Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia
Also secured Germany's eastern flank (army position) while diplomatic problems were being dealt with in the south/ west eg Rhineland and Austria
Why Poland non aggression pact/ impact- In long term Hitler didn't see any place for independent Poland just wanted gateway to creation of Lebensraum in east
Although Britain showed sympathy- not same as military or strategic understanding so- several high level diplomatic Anglo-German missions failed to get breakthrough- alliance w/Italy also seemed long way off- In July 1934 attempted coup by Austrian Nazis only really got support from Berlin- but frightened Mussolini to moving 40,000 troops to Austro Italian frontier- saw Austria as buffer between Germany and Italy-showed limits of Nazi power
Breaking free from Versailles detail-Germany declared in March 1935 existence of Luftwaffe - followed shortly afterwards by introduction of conscription and peacetime army of 550,000 - went directly against treaty of V- led to combined verbal condemnation by Britain, France and Italy in Stresa Declaration-shows weakness -
Yet in uncertain international atmosphere in June 1935 Britain and Germany signed naval agreement - against treaty of V- allowed Germany to have navy 35% of strength of British fleet
So Hitler successfully: detached Britain from other 2 friends of Stresa Front, managed to increase German naval military power, laid basis for improved Anglo-German understanding
Beginnings of foreign policy LON- In early years foreign policy focussed on cultivating friendship w/ Britain and Italy and weakening French power- international situation helped with this
Manchuria invasion by Japan 1931- LON gave warning but no action- showed weakness to Hitler- also showed Britain weakness- need to be 'world politician' for league but maintain political stability in Europe- also weakness of France/ US- busy focussing on own domestic issues
German withdrawal from LON- First phase- early caution (trying to forge friendships)- made regime appear reasonable - lulled many in Europe into false sense of security- helped b y Germany's withdrawal from Disarmament conference in October 1933 when France refused to accept proposal for equal numbers/ military parity of land forces for 2 countries- made France look unreasonable - got sympathy from Britain and Italy
By 1935- Hitler had secured domestic position and economy was recovering rapidly - prestige enhanced in Jan 1935 when Saarland- under control of LON for past 15 years- voted in a free and fair plebiscite to return to German - showed propaganda success
But if Hitler was to loosen constraints of Versailes need greater military power than was permitted by treaty