|





 
Saar
‡ The treaty of
Versailles permitted
France to occupy the
Saarland to
guarantee
repayments
‡ The agreement was
after 15 years a
plebiscite would be
held
 Saar
‡ January 1935
‡ The people of the Saar
region were asked what
they wanted to happen
to their state
‡ 90% voted to be
returned to Germany
‡ This was expected
‡ However Hitler claimed
this as an achievement
‡ He was now ready to
make his next move
Äontext
‡ Hitler·s foreign policy
depended on making
territorial gains to
ensure lebensraum
‡ Hitler had to continue
to revise the Treaty of
Versailles
‡ However Germany was
not strong enough to
fight a war
 Äontext
‡ 1935, France looked to
Russia to form
friendship
‡ Germany realised that
France would be
breaking Locarno terms
to leave Eastern Europe
alone
‡ France also realised
Germany would view
this a as ¶encirclement·
‡ By 1936, Hitler was
ready to take advantage
of the situation
 |

‡ The Treaty of Versailles ordered the
Rhineland to be demilitarised.
‡ Meant that no German soldiers or military
bases allowed on the Rhineland.
‡ This was to make France feel safer.
‡ From Germany·s point of view the German
border with France was unprotected and the
French could attack if they wanted to.
Remilitarisation
‡ Hitler wanted to
expand but before he
could do this he had to
make sure Germany
was safe from attack
from France.
‡ On 7th March 1936
German troops
marched into the
Rhineland, against the
rules of the Treaty of
Versailles.
 Remilitarisation
‡ German generals were
reluctant
‡ Hitler had assured them
that they would
withdraw if there was
any opposition
‡ Hitler choose a
Saturday
‡ Why?
 s
 
  

 
 
  



 


 
 









 
 
 

! 


" 


 


 



 #
$ 


 


 

 



 
%&
'(

 )
 
 
*
 ' 


 
 

(

 
‡France·s ability to help its allies in Eastern Europe
undermined.
‡France lost credibility as she did not fight to have
German forces removed from Rhineland.
‡¶buffer zone· removed. Maignot Line more important
‡Britain had fallen for Hitler·s lies.
‡Remilitarisation would make it easier for Germany to
invade France through Belgium as they had in 1914.
¢

‡ Hitler·s status inside
Germany was
enhanced.
‡ Hitler·s control over his
army generals now
more secure.
‡ Germany could now
begin to think of
expanding eastwards as
France would find it
difficult to intervene.