Hitler's foreign policy 1933–1938

When Hitler came to power he had clear long-term goals — overturn Versailles, unite all German speakers, gain Lebensraum (living space) in eastern Europe, and destroy "Jewish-Bolshevism" in the USSR. But he was also a tactical opportunist, exploiting British and French weakness step by step. Examiners ask you to trace his moves and explain why he was allowed to succeed until war became inevitable.

Hitler's aims (the Four Goals)

1. Tear up the Treaty of Versailles — rearm Germany, restore lost territories.
2. Unite all Germans in a Greater Reich (Heim ins Reich).
3. Gain Lebensraum — living space — in Poland, Ukraine, USSR for German settlement.
4. Destroy communism in the USSR.

These required war, sooner or later. Hitler's genius was timing — building strength while Britain and France were disarmed and the public exhausted by memories of WWI.

1933 — Withdrawal from the League and Disarmament Conference

• October 1933 — Hitler walks out of the Geneva Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations.
• Justification: other countries refused to disarm to German levels.
• Public reaction in Germany: 95% support in November plebiscite (under one-party conditions).

1934 — Failed Austrian Putsch

• July 1934 — Austrian Nazis assassinated Chancellor Dollfuss in Vienna and tried to seize power.
• Mussolini sent Italian troops to the Brenner Pass to deter Hitler.
• Putsch collapsed; Hitler distanced himself.
• This setback showed Hitler the need to court Italy first.

1935 — Saar plebiscite and rearmament

• January 1935 — Saar plebiscite. Under Versailles, the Saar coalfield region had been under French control for 15 years. A plebiscite returned it to Germany with 90% support — a major propaganda victory.
• March 1935 — Hitler announces conscription and the existence of the Luftwaffe — both in clear breach of Versailles. Britain and France protested but did nothing.
• April 1935 — Stresa Front between Britain, France and Italy condemned German rearmament.
• June 1935 — Anglo-German Naval Agreement. Britain agreed Germany could have a navy 35% the size of the Royal Navy — accepting German breach of Versailles. France was furious; Stresa Front collapsed.

1936 — Remilitarising the Rhineland

• March 1936 — Hitler ordered 22,000 troops into the demilitarised Rhineland.
• The German army was still tiny; Hitler's generals advised retreat if France resisted.
• France did not move (election year, pacifist public, military-only-in-defence doctrine).
• Britain — "He's only walking into his own back garden" (Lord Lothian) — accepted it.
• Hitler later said: "the 48 hours after the march into the Rhineland were the most nerve-wracking in my life."
• Lessons: Hitler became confident the Western powers would not act.

1936 — Rome-Berlin Axis & Spanish Civil War

• July 1936 — Spanish Civil War began. Hitler and Mussolini sent troops to support Franco; Hitler's Luftwaffe practised on Guernica (1937).
• October 1936 — Rome-Berlin Axis announced — Italy and Germany aligned.
• November 1936 — Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan.
• 1937 — Italy joined Anti-Comintern Pact, completing a fascist trio.

1938 — Anschluss with Austria

• By 1938, Mussolini was an ally; Britain and France weak; German army stronger.
• February 1938 — Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg met Hitler at Berchtesgaden; bullied into accepting Austrian Nazi Seyss-Inquart as Interior Minister.
• March 1938 — Schuschnigg called a plebiscite to test support; Hitler ordered invasion before vote.
• 12 March 1938 — German troops marched into Austria.
• Vast crowds welcomed Hitler in Vienna (10 March).
• April plebiscite: 99% approval (under Nazi conditions).
• Britain and France protested; took no action.

Sudetenland and Munich (Sept 1938) — see H2.4

The pattern of 1933–38 — Hitler tests, Britain and France protest, Hitler succeeds — built confidence and laid groundwork for the larger crises of 1938–39.

Why did Britain and France allow it?

• Memory of WWI casualties — public absolutely opposed to another war.
• Economic Depression — defence spending unpopular.
• Belief Versailles had been too harsh — many British politicians thought Hitler had legitimate grievances.
• Fear of communism — a strong Germany could check the USSR.
• Disarmed armed forces — Britain's air defences inadequate until late 1938.
• Empire over Europe — Britain's priority was the Empire, not Central European borders.

This collective stance is called appeasement — concessions to avoid war.

Hitler's assessment

By autumn 1938 Hitler concluded that Britain and France would never fight. He told his generals at the Hossbach Conference (Nov 1937) to be ready for war by 1943–45 at the latest; in fact he moved much faster.