Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe
G2 Full History - syllabus K227, 2027
Why did attempts to keep peace fail? From disarmament to Poland in 1939: how Hitler's expansion and appeasement made war more likely.
- Why disarmament talks failed
Germany wanted equal treatment on weapons, France wanted to feel safe first, and they never agreed on rules that satisfied both.
- How Abyssinia damaged the League
The League punished Italy with trade sanctions, but left oil out and kept the Suez Canal open, so Italy conquered Abyssinia anyway.
- Hitler's aims and the Saar vote
Hitler wanted to tear up Versailles and win land in the east; the Saar came back by an agreed vote, not by force.
- The Rhineland gamble
In 1936, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, breaking the treaty; no one stopped him, which made later expansion easier.
- How Austria lost its independence
Germany took over Austria in March 1938 by threats and troops; the Nazi-run vote came afterwards and was not free.
- From Munich to Prague
The Munich Agreement of 1938 gave Hitler the Sudetenland and avoided war for a time, but in March 1939 he seized the rest of the Czech lands.
- Why leaders chose appeasement
Britain and France gave way to Hitler because they feared another war, but each gain made Germany stronger and bolder.
- How the crisis became war in 1939
The Nazi-Soviet Pact made invading Poland less risky for Hitler; he invaded on 1 September, and Britain and France declared war on 3 September.
- Put it together: Why did the peace break down?
Munich avoided a general war in September 1938. Less than a year later, Germany invaded Poland and Britain and France declared war. How did Hitler's continuing ambitions, Germany's growing advantages and the risks he faced connect these events?
Sources and context
Background reading for this chapter.
- A public commitment to consultation
Anglo-German declaration signed by Hitler and Chamberlain, 30 September 1938, as read in Chamberlain's House of Commons statement on 3 October. Paraphrase of the declaration, not the whole speech.
- Chamberlain defends Munich
Neville Chamberlain, British prime minister, addressing the House of Commons, 3 October 1938, after returning from Munich. Paraphrase of passages on the agreement, Czechoslovakia, future peace and rearmament.
- Churchill challenges the settlement
Winston Churchill, Conservative MP and critic of the government's appeasement policy, speaking in the House of Commons, 5 October 1938. Paraphrase of passages on deterrence and Czechoslovakia.
- A record of Hitler's private discussion
Colonel Friedrich Hossbach's memorandum, dated 10 November 1937, recording Hitler's meeting with senior military and foreign-policy officials on 5 November. Paraphrase of the recorded discussion; the memorandum is not a word-for-word transcript.
- Munich Pact, 29 September 1938, clauses 1-4
Munich Pact, dated 29 September 1938 and signed by Germany, Britain, France and Italy in the early hours of 30 September. Paraphrase of clauses 1-4; Czechoslovakia was later represented on the implementation commission.