Nazi aggression and appeasement | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
27 May 201306:59
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TLDRThroughout the late 1930s, Nazi Germany systematically violated the Treaty of Versailles and other international agreements to expand its territory and military power. Starting with the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 and followed by the Anschluss with Austria in 1938, Germany escalated its aggressive policies. The Munich Agreement of 1938, where European powers permitted the annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland without consulting its government, exemplified the policy of appeasement. This series of unchecked expansions by Germany, culminating in the invasion of Poland in 1939, set the stage for World War II.

Takeaways
  • 📜 In 1935, Nazi Germany boldly announced its plans to rearm, openly defying the Treaty of Versailles which limited its army to 100,000 soldiers.
  • 🚫 By 1936, Hitler disregarded the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaties of Locarno by militarizing the Rhineland, a previously demilitarized zone as per these agreements.
  • 🇦🇹 In 1938, Germany executed a coup in Austria, leading to the Anschluss—unification with Austria—which was also in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • 🗺️ The Munich Agreement of September 1938 saw France, Great Britain, and Italy permit Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia without consulting the Czech government.
  • 🏭 The annexation of the Sudetenland granted Germany a significant portion of Czechoslovakia’s population and industrial resources.
  • 🇨🇿 By early 1939, Germany had turned the Czech regions of Bohemia and Moravia into a protectorate, further expanding their territory.
  • 🔁 From 1935 to 1939, Nazi Germany consistently ignored international treaties to rearm, expand territorially, and unify with Austria.
  • 📉 The European powers, particularly Great Britain, followed a policy of appeasement with Germany, allowing Hitler’s demands to avoid another major war.
  • 🤔 This policy of appeasement was informed by the traumatic memories of World War I, and the desire to avoid a similar large-scale conflict.
  • 🌍 The unchecked aggression of Nazi Germany ultimately led to its invasion of Poland in September 1939, marking the start of World War II.
Q & A

  • What was the significance of Nazi Germany's public announcement to rearm in 1935?

    -The public announcement in 1935 signified Nazi Germany's growing confidence in disregarding the Treaty of Versailles, which limited their military to 100,000 soldiers. This bold declaration indicated that Germany was no longer concerned with maintaining even the appearance of compliance with the treaty's restrictions.

  • Why did the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 escalate tensions in Europe?

    -The remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 was significant because it directly violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties, which expressly prohibited German military presence in that region. This action by Hitler was a clear defiance of international agreements and signaled a more aggressive stance from Germany, increasing tensions in Europe.

  • How did the international community respond to Germany's occupation of the Rhineland?

    -The international response to Germany's occupation of the Rhineland was notably subdued. While France and the UK were unhappy with this development, they chose not to escalate the situation into a conflict, reflecting a broader policy of appeasement towards Germany at the time.

  • What was the Anschluss and why was it significant?

    -The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938. It was significant because it was both a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and a demonstration of Nazi Germany's ambition to consolidate power and expand territorially by unifying all German-speaking peoples under one regime.

  • What were the consequences of the Munich Agreement in 1938?

    -The Munich Agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population. This agreement was reached without the Czechoslovak government's consent, leading to further territorial losses for Czechoslovakia and significantly bolstering Germany's strategic position and industrial capacity in Europe.

  • Why is the policy of appeasement often criticized in historical discussions of the lead-up to World War II?

    -The policy of appeasement is criticized because it involved major powers like Britain and France conceding to Hitler's demands to avoid conflict, thus encouraging further aggression. Critics argue that this policy emboldened Hitler, facilitating his territorial expansions and ultimately contributing to the outbreak of World War II.

  • How did the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia affect Czechoslovakia?

    -The annexation of Bohemia and Moravia in early 1939 effectively placed these regions under German control, transforming them into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. This severely compromised Czechoslovakia's sovereignty and economic independence, as these regions were integral to its industrial capabilities.

  • What was the impact of Germany's takeover of the Sudetenland on Czechoslovakia?

    -Germany's takeover of the Sudetenland had a profound impact on Czechoslovakia, stripping it of a region rich in industry and military defenses. This significantly weakened Czechoslovakia, making it more vulnerable to future aggression and political manipulation by Germany.

  • How did Neville Chamberlain's policies reflect the British approach to Nazi Germany in the late 1930s?

    -Neville Chamberlain's policies were characterized by a strong inclination towards appeasement. He believed that accommodating Hitler's demands would maintain peace and stability in Europe, a belief that was reflected in his key role in the Munich Agreement and his overall reluctance to confront Nazi aggression forcefully.

  • What led to the eventual outbreak of World War II in September 1939?

    -The outbreak of World War II was precipitated by Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939, following a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union that allowed for the partitioning of Poland. This invasion was seen as the final act of aggression that could not be appeased, leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

Outlines
00:00
🔍 German Aggression and the Erosion of the Treaty of Versailles

The escalation of Nazi Germany's aggressive policies in the mid to late 1930s is highlighted by their disregard for the Treaty of Versailles and other international agreements. Initially covertly rearming since 1933, Germany's military intentions were publicly announced in 1935, challenging the Versailles Treaty's limitations. By 1936, Germany occupied the Rhineland, violating both the Treaty of Versailles and the 1925 Locarno Treaties. The narrative continues with the Anschluss in 1938, where Germany orchestrated a coup in Austria, leading to a unification supported by many Austrians. Later that year, the Munich Agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia without Czech consent, further appeasing German expansionism. This pattern of aggression culminated in the creation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in 1939, effectively placing what is now the Czech Republic under German control.

05:01
🕊️ The Policy of Appeasement and the Prelude to World War II

The second paragraph delves into the policy of appeasement adopted by major European powers, particularly Britain, which allowed Germany to escalate its aggressive expansion unchecked. The term 'appeasement' reflects the European powers' reluctance to provoke Germany, despite its increasing belligerence, due to the vivid memories of World War I's devastation. Neville Chamberlain's administration is noted for its role in allowing German confidence to grow, which was a factor leading to the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. This invasion marked the final provocation that shattered the appeasement policy and ignited World War II, as Germany and the Soviet Union had agreed to partition Poland into their respective spheres of influence.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany refers to Germany under the rule of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party from 1933 to 1945. This period is marked by aggressive expansionism, totalitarian control, and the initiation of World War II. In the script, Nazi Germany's aggressive policies, such as rearming, occupying the Rhineland, annexing Austria, and taking over Czechoslovakian territories, are highlighted as pivotal preludes to World War II.
💡Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that concluded World War I, imposing severe restrictions and reparations on Germany. Key provisions included military limitations and territorial losses for Germany. The script discusses how Nazi Germany openly flouted this treaty by rearming and occupying forbidden territories like the Rhineland, thereby undermining the post-World War I international order and setting the stage for further conflicts.
💡Rhineland
The Rhineland is a region in western Germany along the Rhine River. According to the Treaty of Versailles, it was demilitarized to serve as a buffer between Germany and France. In 1936, Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland, as mentioned in the script, was a bold move that tested the resolve of the Allies (France and the UK) and demonstrated Germany's disregard for international agreements.
💡Anschluss
Anschluss refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in March 1938. This event is portrayed in the script as a 'bloodless takeover' supported by significant Austrian popular sentiment favoring unification with Germany. This act was another violation of the Treaty of Versailles and showed Germany's aggressive expansionism leading up to World War II.
💡Sudetenland
The Sudetenland was a region of Czechoslovakia with a substantial ethnic German population. In 1938, as detailed in the script, the Munich Agreement permitted Nazi Germany's annexation of this region without Czechoslovakia's consent. This appeasement by France, Britain, and Italy was a critical moment that emboldened Germany and contributed to the eventual occupation of all of Czechoslovakia.
💡Munich Agreement
The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938 by Germany, Italy, France, and Britain, allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. This agreement is a classic example of appeasement, where Britain and France chose to avoid conflict at the cost of sacrificing Czechoslovakian territory, as highlighted in the script.
💡Appeasement
Appeasement in the context of the script refers to the policy adopted by major European powers, particularly Britain and France, of making concessions to Germany under Hitler to avoid conflict. The script criticizes this policy as enabling Nazi aggression, leading directly to the annexation of territories and, ultimately, to World War II.
💡Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Following the disintegration of Czechoslovakia, Nazi Germany established the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939. This designation represented a significant loss of sovereignty and independence for the Czech lands under German domination, illustrating the escalating control of Nazi Germany in Europe, as described in the script.
💡German-speaking populations
The script references German-speaking populations in regions like Austria and the Sudetenland to explain Nazi Germany's rationale for annexation and territorial expansion. This demographic factor was used by Nazi propaganda to justify its claims and actions, influencing international responses and the shape of pre-war Europe.
💡Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain was the British Prime Minister who is most famously associated with the policy of appeasement. In the script, he is depicted as having allowed German aggression to go unchecked, particularly through his signing of the Munich Agreement, which failed to prevent further escalations leading to World War II.
Highlights

Germany publicly announces its intent to rearm in 1935, defying the Treaty of Versailles.

Hitler ignores international agreements and reoccupies the Rhineland in 1936.

Despite German actions, allies like the UK and France choose not to escalate to war.

In 1938, Germany orchestrates a coup in Austria, leading to a unification called the 'Anschluss'.

The Munich Agreement in 1938 allows Germany to annex the Sudetenland without Czechoslovakian input.

Post-Munich Agreement, Germany gains control over significant Czechoslovakian industrial areas.

By 1939, all of modern-day Czech Republic becomes a German protectorate under the name 'Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia'.

Nazi Germany's pattern of aggression includes rearming, occupying the Rhineland, and annexing Austria.

The policy of European powers, particularly Great Britain, towards Germany's actions is termed as 'appeasement'.

The term 'appeasement' reflects the European reluctance to provoke Germany, despite its aggressive policies.

The appeasement policy is critiqued in hindsight as it allowed Germany to grow increasingly confident and aggressive.

Memories of World War I heavily influence European leaders' reluctance to engage in another widespread conflict.

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policies are seen as weak, allowing Hitler to gain strength.

In September 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union agree to partition Poland, precipitating the invasion.

The invasion of Poland in September 1939 marks the beginning of World War II.

Transcripts

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Nazi Germany1930s EuropeWorld War IIAppeasement PolicyTreaty of VersaillesAnschlussSudetenlandMunich AgreementHistorical AnalysisEuropean History