The Importance of the

Remilitarisation of Rhineland for

Hitler1. Britain and France object to Hitler’s action but do

nothing.2. Gamble paid off – showed Hitler the reluctance of the

League to act effectively against aggression3. Increased support in Germany 4. Germany has a secure Western border: the Siegfried Line5. Control of heavy industry for continued war goods

production.

BBC Rhineland clip

Hitler arriving “into [his] own back garden.”

Germans troops marching “into their own back garden.”

The Importance of Remilitarisation of the Rhineland for Britain and France

1. Highlighted British sympathy for German grievances over the harsh Treaty of Versailles. Lord Lothian: “… they are only going into their own back garden.”

2. Britain starts to rearm.3. Britain and France do not appear to be able

to rely on each other in foreign policy issues.4. Appeasement adopted as main GB foreign

policy approach to aggressive nations in the future.

German troops marching “into their own back garden.”

British attitude to Hitler’s Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

• Majority view in GB was that appeasement was the correct course of action

WHY?

German soldiers marching “into their own back garden” across the Rhine, March 1936

Why Appeasement?• Hitler’s offer of 25 years peace.• Hitler’s offer to return to the League of Nations• Hitler was justified in protecting Germany after the Franco Soviet Pact

(1935)• Majority of public, press and politicians sympathetic but concerned over

German methods.• Guilt of Versailles – Lord Lothian “…..own back garden.”• “Better Hitlerism than Communism.” – fear of the spread of

communism into Germany.• Strength of anti war feeling in GB (pacifism)• Fear Hitler was militarily more powerful than he really was.• Inadequacies of British armed forces. • Fear of acting without Empire’s support.• French criticised for wanting to keep Germany weak.• French politically unstable and unwilling to act alone.• French belief that Maginot Line would protect them from any attack.

BBC clip weak GB military

Goerring arriving “into [Germany’s] own back garden.”

GB Attitudes to Appeasement

1. What event does the goose represent? How do you know?

2. Why is it carrying lots of weapons?

3. What does it have in its beak? What does this signify?

4. What is the goose trampling on?

5. Why are Nazi flags flying?6. Does the cartoon suggest the

goose will not wander anywhere else in the future?

7. To what extent does the cartoon agree with the majority view in GB about the reoccupation of the Rhineland?

The Goose Step‘Goosey Goosey Gander, Whither dost thou wander?’‘Only through the Rhineland, Pray excuse my blunder!’Punch cartoon, March 1936

More German soldiers marching “into their own back garden.”Across the Rhine and into Aachen