History Assignment
Versailles Guilt - 8
Although Versailles guilt is definitely a reason for Hitler's successful remilitarisation, some people believed that the punishment was fair and Germany deserved it.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 4
Britain also thought that Hitler, the leader of the fascist German Nazi party, would be a block to Communism. Britain did not want Communism spreading to the whole of Europe, and although they didn't like Fascism they considered it better than Communism.
Versailles Guilt - 5
Britain didn't feel the need to stop Germany remilitarising, as the Rhineland was German By right.
Versailles Guilt - 7
Britain didn't want to start fighting with one of the strongest countries in Europe, especially since they had fallen out with France and America were isolationist.
Versailles Guilt - 4
Britain had signed the treaty when they were still angry at Germany and wanted revenge on the country that had killed their loved ones. However as time passed, many British people realised it had been too harsh on Germany.
Lack of Military - 2
Britain's army was not big enough to stop Hitler and Nazi Germany.
Lack of Military - 9
Despite Hitler's army increasing rapidly, Nazi propaganda encouraged Britain and France to believe that Germany's armed forces were a lot stronger than they really were, thus Germany's army was actually nowhere near as big as Britain had imagined it was.
Lack of Military - 5
During the 1930s money was very low in Britain. With 3 million people unemployed, the British government had to spend more money of social welfare rather than soldiers and weapons.
Conclusion - 3
Finally, Hitler's plan of taking back the Rhineland was justified as the Rhineland was German, making Hitler seem reasonable.
Lack of Military - 3
Germany had started rearming in 1935 which led Britain to think that it was possibly too late to stop Germany breaking the treaty of Versailles as Germany now had an army to fight with.
Intro - 3
Hitler's army marched across the Hohenzollern bridge as crowds enthusiastically cheered and welcomed them.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 2
Hitler's skilful use of propaganda successfully convinced people his actions were right. People believed that when he remilitarised the Rhineland he was only reclaiming what was rightfully Germany's, therefore making his decision justified.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 6
However many historians did not think that Hitler being viewed as reasonable was the main reason for Hitler's successful remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936.
Lack of Military - 7
If Britain wanted to stop Germany, they would need time to build an army big enough to defeat Hitler, especially since they would be doing it alone.
Lack of Military - 8
Lack of military was a big problem. However it was not as big as Britain thought.
Conclusion- 2
Letting Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland bought Britain time to build an army as they had a lack of military. Britain felt bad about the treaty of Versailles, so by letting Germany remilitarise, Britain would not feel as bad about their previous action.
Conclusion - 5
Likewise several other politicians were also very impressed by Hitler. The former Prime Minister Lloyd George, who met Hitler in 1936 retuned to Britain to describe Hitler as a man of supreme quality. Other politicians also said that Hitler would not go to war unless other people pushed him into it.
Lack of Military - 4
Many British soldiers had died in WW1 and Britain hadn't started properly preparing for a possible war. Britain was not ready to take on an enemy as powerful as Germany.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 3
Many countries in Europe, including Britain, hated Communism. A common saying at the time was "better hitlerism that Communism" (BBC Bitesize). Britain believed that Communism was a far greater threat to world peace than Hitler.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 1
Many historians also argue that Hitler's successful remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936 was due to the reason that Hitler was seen as reasonable.
Versailles Guilt - 1
Many historians also argue that Versailles guilt was the main reason for Hitler's successful remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936. Britain still felt bad about the treaty of Versailles.
Lack of Military - 1
Many historians argue that Britain's lack of military was the main reason for Hitler's successful remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 7
Many politicians, like Winston Churchill warned Britain against Hitler. Winston Churchill knew Hitler was a threat to world peace, and that he was only looking for war. Churchill and many others realised that letting Germany remilitarise was a big risk that would only make Germany stronger.
Versailles Guilt - 11
Neville Chamberlain was looking for any way possible to appease, thus making Versailles guilt a very important factor in Hitler's successful remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936.
Lack of Military - 6
Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain at the time, demanded an increase in the amount of money spent on social welfare, therefore was unwilling to increase the amount of money spent on the British military.
Intro - 1
On Saturday the 7th of March 1936, Hitler marched 22,000 fully armed troops into the Rhineland, remilitarising this area.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 5
Since Hitler hated Joseph Stalin, the communist leader of Russia, so much, by letting Hitler rearm and grow his army, Britain hoped Germany would fight Russia and defeat Communism in Europe.
Intro - 4
Some people saw this as reasonable as Hitler was only taking back part of Germany. Whilst others disagreed and saw this as Hitler looking for war.
Versailles Guilt - 3
The Rhineland was initially demilitarised to make France feel safer. Germany would not be able to launch a surprise attack on France if they had no soldiers near the border.
Quote
The government's acceptance of the need to negotiate with Hitler reflected a widespread belief in Britain that the Rhineland is German territory, and that the treaty of Versailles had been too harsh in that respect.
Versailles Guilt - 2
The treaty of Versailles was a treaty which blamed Germany solely for WW1. It reduced Germany's army to 100,000 men, made them pay 6.6 billion pounds and demilitarised the Rhineland.
Conclusion - 1
There are many reasons that Hitler's remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936 was so successful.
Was Hitler seen as reasonable - 8
Therefore although Churchill and some others saw Hitler as a threat, many more people liked Hitler and saw no harm in letting him remilitarise the Rhineland.
Lack of Military - 10
Therefore, although Britain did need time before going to war, they probably could have stopped Germany remilitarising the Rhineland as Germany's army was still quite small. By leaving Germany, Britain would only make Germany's army stronger, making them harder to defeat.
Versailles Guilt - 10
Therefore, although some people saw the treaty of Versailles as fair, many more saw it as being too harsh. Britain hoped that by letting Hitler remilitarise, Germany would forgive Britain after what had happened and they would not go to war.
Intro - 2
This broke the treaty of Versailles, an agreement which banned German troops in the Rhineland, to protect France, who saw Germany as a threat.
Conclusion- 4
This is because Britain trusted what Chamberlain was saying, Chamberlain believed that Hitler was only making extreme statements to gain publicity and that he was actually a reasonable man.
Intro - 5
This made people question, what made Hitler's remilitarisation of the Rhineland so successful?
Versailles Guilt - 6
This point is supported by Armstrong and Trueland in Appeasement and the Road to War
Intro - 6
Three factors will be considered in order to answer this. Firstly, the issue that Britain had a lack of military. Secondly, Versailles guilt will be discussed. And finally, was Hitler seen as reasonable?
Versailles Guilt - 9
Winston Churchill felt that the treaty of Versailles was the best thing that could have happened to Europe and it was a completely fair and justified response to Germany's actions in WW1.
