HIS242H1 Lecture 7: HIS242H1 - Lecture 7 - Overview of European Expansion
Document Summary
Foreign policy was cautious, continuity with that of gustav stresemann. World disarmament conference 1932: hitler wanted all countries to disarm to. But already, they were reconsidering the methods of stresemann in favour of a more direct approach to revise treaty of versailles. 1934: non-aggression pact made hitler seem reasonable while undermining france. 1934: first anschluss with austria was the first sign of outward aggression. Opposition of mussolini + german army not ready for fighting = failure. Angered uk, france and italy to form the stresa front. Mistake: hitler tried to wedge apart stresa front with peace speeches. Success; drove uk and france foreign policy apart. Unconvinced by speeches, france pact with ussr. In retaliation, uk and germany sign anglo-german naval treaty. 1935 invasion of abyssinia led to strains in stresa front functionalist/intentionalist: hitler took advantage of tension. Hitler supported mussolini, mussolini supported hitler"s anschluss + rhineland (italy was in the league) Success weakened hitler"s critics in germany, including the military.
