How Far Was Hitler’s Foreign Policy To Blame For The Outbreak Of War In Europe In 1939?
Overview
On 1 September 1939 German tanks rolled into Poland, and two days later Britain and France declared war. Within six years tens of millions would be dead. But who was to blame? Was the Second World War the inevitable result of Hitler's relentless drive to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and expand Germany, or did the failures of others, appeasement, the weakness of the League, the unfairness of Versailles itself, share the responsibility?
This lesson follows Hitler's foreign policy step by step, from rearmament and the Rhineland to Anschluss, the Munich Agreement and the Nazi-Soviet Pact. You will weigh his ambitions against the policy of appeasement and the part played by Versailles and the League, then build a balanced judgement about how far Hitler was to blame. It is one of the most important debates in modern history, and a favourite of Cambridge examiners.
Objectives
- What were the long-term consequences of the Treaty of Versailles?
- What were the consequences of the failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s?
- Was the policy of appeasement justified?
- How important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?
- Hitler’s foreign policy aims
- Rearmament
- The Saar
- Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
- The Rome-Berlin Axis and the Anti-Comintern Pact
- German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War
- Anschluss with Austria
- The crisis over Czechoslovakia and the Munich Agreement
- The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on How Far Was Hitler’s Foreign Policy To Blame For The Outbreak Of War In Europe In 1939?. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- In which month and year did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland? A. March 1935 B. March 1936 C. March 1938 D. March 1939 Answer: B
- The union of Germany and Austria in 1938 was known as the: A. Lebensraum B. Anschluss C. Anti-Comintern Pact D. Sudetenland Answer: B
- At the Munich Conference of 1938, Germany was given the: A. Rhineland B. Saar C. Sudetenland D. Polish Corridor Answer: C
- What was the main importance of the Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939? A. It brought the USA into the war B. It freed Hitler to invade Poland without facing war on two fronts C. It restored the Treaty of Versailles D. It ended German rearmament Answer: B
- On what date did Germany invade Poland? A. 3 September 1939 B. 1 September 1939 C. 15 March 1939 D. 23 August 1939 Answer: B
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