To What Extent Was Hitler's Foreign Policy (1933-39) Responsible for the Outbreak of World War II?

P1 - Introduction

Adolf Hitler's foreign policy from 1933 to 1939 was a key factor in the outbreak of World War II. His aggressive expansionist ambitions, rooted in the concept of Lebensraum (living space), aimed to overturn the post-World War I settlement and establish German dominance in Europe. Hitler's policy sought to dismantle the Treaty of Versailles, rebuild Germany's military power, and extend German control across Central and Eastern Europe. However, the extent to which Hitler's foreign policy was solely responsible for the outbreak of war is debatable. Other factors, such as the policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France, the failure of the League of Nations, and the internal weaknesses of European nations during the Great Depression, also contributed to the path towards conflict.

P2 - Hitler Destroys the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed strict limitations on Germany after World War I, including military restrictions, territorial losses, and the requirement to pay reparations. Hitler viewed the Treaty as a humiliation and made its destruction a central goal of his foreign policy. In 1935, he announced the rearmament of Germany, including the creation of the Luftwaffe (air force) and the expansion of the German army, directly violating the Treaty. This move was met with mild protests from Britain and France, but no direct action was taken. The Stresa Front, an alliance between Britain, France, and Italy to maintain the Treaty, was quickly undermined by the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935, which allowed Germany to expand its navy to 35% of the size of Britain's. This agreement weakened the unity of the Stresa Front and indicated that Britain was willing to negotiate with Hitler, sowing distrust between Britain and France. By successfully challenging the Treaty, Hitler signalled that Germany would not be constrained by international agreements, raising tensions across Europe.

P3 - Remilitarising the Rhineland

In March 1936, Hitler took another bold step by remilitarising the Rhineland, a demilitarised zone established by the Treaty of Versailles to act as a buffer between Germany and France. Hitler justified this move by claiming that Germany needed to protect itself against a perceived threat from France and the Soviet Union, citing the Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance as his pretext. The remilitarisation was a significant gamble; Germany's military was still weak, and Hitler had instructed his troops to withdraw if France resisted. However, France, without British support, did not intervene, and the Siegfried Line was constructed, fortifying Germany's western frontier. This failure to act emboldened Hitler and signalled to other nations that Britain and France were reluctant to confront Germany militarily. The remilitarisation of the Rhineland was crucial in shifting the balance of power in Europe, leading to increased international tension as Germany grew more confident in its territorial ambitions.

P4 - Lebensraum and Anschluss

Central to Hitler's foreign policy was the idea of Lebensraum, the expansion of German territory into Eastern Europe to provide living space for the Aryan race. To achieve this, Hitler sought to bring Austria and Czechoslovakia under German control. The first step was the Anschluss (union) with Austria. Hitler had long desired to unite all German-speaking peoples under one Reich, and he worked from within Austria to encourage pro-Nazi elements. By 1938, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg to allow the Nazi Party to hold significant power, ultimately forcing Austria into union with Germany. The Rome-Berlin Axis of 1936, an alliance between Hitler and Mussolini, made this easier, as Mussolini no longer opposed the Anschluss. Britain and France, following a policy of appeasement, did not intervene, believing that a union between Germany and Austria was inevitable. This lack of resistance encouraged Hitler to turn his attention to Czechoslovakia, specifically the Sudetenland, where he would further test international resolve.

P5 - Sudetenland Crisis

The Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a large German-speaking population, became the next target of Hitler's expansionist policy. Hitler encouraged Konrad Henlein, leader of the Sudeten German Party, to demand autonomy for the Sudetenland, further destabilising Czechoslovakia. The Czech government, under threat from Germany, faced numerous obstacles, including minority issues and the growing pressure from the Sudeten Germans. The situation culminated in the Munich Conference in September 1938, where Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, famously declared "peace in our time" after agreeing to allow Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion. This was a pivotal moment, as it highlighted the failure of appeasement. Though Hitler assured that his territorial ambitions were limited, just months later, in March 1939, he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, exposing his true intentions and making his foreign policy seem more aggressive and expansionist than ever.

P6 - The Failure of Appeasement

The policy of appeasement, pursued primarily by Britain and France in the 1930s, played a significant role in allowing Hitler's foreign policy to escalate unchecked. Both nations, traumatised by the horrors of World War I and facing internal economic struggles during the Great Depression, were determined to avoid another conflict. Moreover, many in Britain and France viewed communism as a greater threat than Nazism and believed that a strong Germany could act as a buffer against the Soviet Union. France, in particular, had a "Maginot Mind", relying on the defensive Maginot Line rather than taking proactive steps against Germany. The policy of appeasement reached its lowest point when Hitler violated the Munich Agreement by taking over Czechoslovakia entirely, proving that concessions had only emboldened him further. The failure of appeasement was clear by 1939, as Hitler's unchecked aggression continued to grow.

P7 - Hitler Invades Poland

The invasion of Poland in September 1939 marked the final step in Hitler's foreign policy and the beginning of World War II. The Polish Corridor, which separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany, and the city of Danzig were long-standing territorial grievances for Hitler. After Poland refused to give up Danzig, Hitler launched his invasion, confident that Britain and France would not pose a serious threat, as they had consistently backed down in previous confrontations. Hitler's signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939, a non-aggression agreement with the Soviet Union, ensured that Germany would not face a two-front war. On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France declared war two days later, marking the official outbreak of World War II. By securing the Siegfried Line in the West and the non-aggression pact in the East, Hitler believed Germany was well-prepared for the coming conflict.

P8 - The Failure of the League of Nations

The League of Nations, established after World War I to maintain peace, failed to prevent the rise of aggressive powers like Nazi Germany. Weakened by the absence of key nations, such as the United States, and its inability to enforce decisions, the League lacked the authority to stop Hitler's actions. Its failure to intervene during critical moments, such as the remilitarisation of the Rhineland or the annexation of Austria, demonstrated its ineffectiveness in curbing the ambitions of dictators. The policy of collective security, central to the League's mission, collapsed as nations like Britain and France chose to pursue appeasement instead of collective action. In the end, the League's weakness emboldened Hitler, as he understood that international resistance to his policies would be minimal.

P9 - Conclusion

Hitler's foreign policy from 1933 to 1939 was a primary cause of the outbreak of World War II, but not the sole cause. His aggressive actions, including the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles, the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, and the invasions of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, directly challenged the international order and pushed Europe towards war. However, the failures of appeasement, the weaknesses of the League of Nations, and the internal political and economic struggles of Britain and France also played crucial roles in allowing Hitler's policies to escalate. By the time Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, the international community's attempts to avoid conflict had failed, and war became inevitable. Ultimately, while Hitler's foreign policy was a major driving force, the outbreak of World War II was the result of a combination of factors that went beyond just one man's ambitions.