Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Foreign policy - Coggle Diagram
Foreign policy
-
Rhineland effects
Hitler’s popularity soared. Hitler dissolved the Reichstag and held a plebiscite asking the German people to approve remilitarisation of the Rhineland; 99%of electorate voted; 98.8% voted in favour of Hitler’s plans.
Abroad, other threatened regimes now distrusted Britain and especially French resolve- no demilitarised buffer between Germany and France anymore. Some now felt they would have to be conciliatory toward Germany.
Germany, now secure on its western border, felt it could now expand in the east.
Argued that resistance here would have persuaded Hitler to withdraw or led to a minor war which Germany would have lost, but would not have probably caused a major war.
-
-
-
Hossbach conference
Autumn 1936- showed weakness of Germany's economic expansion- Hitler was not in position to risk war- so four year plan to get war economy
Certain elements in conservative forces of army/ foreign ministry advised a more cautious policy- if Hitler wanted to push forth w/ foreign policy- needed their support
-Problem remained- Germany not achieved alliance with Britain and some forces in party still advocating other alliances
Hossbach conference- Ribentrop- ribbentrop was keen to develop tripartite understanding between Germany, Japan and Italy- Hitler wasn't convinced and remained committed to gaining Britain as alliance to crush USSR- sent Ribbentrop to London as Germany's new ambassador in 1936 Autumn- job of securing agreement with Britain
In November 1937 in Hossbach conference Hitler addressed Foreign Minister Neurath , War Minister Blomberg and 3 commanders- in chief- of armed forces and outlined 3 scenarios
3 Scenarios
- To take action after period 1943-45 when military preparations would nearly be complete
-
-To take action if France became involved in war with another country which would prevent her defending herself against Germany
Hossbach conference significance- has been focus of controversy- used by Prosecution at Nuremberg trials and by some post war historians - Shirer that from this point Hitler had communicated irrevocable decision to go to war- at other extreme meeting= dismissed as simply manouvre in domestic affairs to overcome conservative doubts about pace of rearmament
Rome Berlin Axis- what happened- understanding signed in November 1936 based on political, economic and ideological co-operation - didn't involve military commitments- by end of 1936 - France dominant position withered-international status of Germany transformed- no longer isolated- Mussolini detached from Brit/ France- moving toward Hitler