Topic 5 of 8 · Form 4
The road to the Second World War
Overturning Versailles, uniting German speakers, Lebensraum (living space) in the east, and defeating communism.
Notes for this topic 1 file, in order
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Hitler's aims
Overturning Versailles, uniting German speakers, Lebensraum (living space) in the east, and defeating communism.
Steps to war
- Rearmament and conscription (1935).
- Remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936).
- Anschluss with Austria (1938).
- The Sudetenland and the Munich Agreement (September 1938).
- Occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia (March 1939).
- The Nazi–Soviet Pact (August 1939).
- Invasion of Poland (1 September 1939); Britain and France declared war on 3 September.
Appeasement
Reasons: memories of the First World War, the belief that Versailles was harsh, fear of communism, military unpreparedness, economic problems. Debate: was appeasement a sensible policy that bought time, or did it encourage Hitler?
Exam tip: Use dates in order – sequencing events helps explain how confidence grew with each success.
Check yourself
- What was the Anschluss?
- Why was the Nazi–Soviet Pact important?
- Give two reasons why Britain followed appeasement.
Show answers
- The union of Germany and Austria in 1938.
- It removed the risk of a two-front war, allowing Hitler to invade Poland.
- Any two: fear of another war, sympathy with German grievances, rearmament not ready, fear of communism, economic problems.
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