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Hitler's Foreign Policy and the Treaty of Versailles

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Hitler 's Foreign Policy and the Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles, signed with Germany in 1919 had one main purpose – to protect the planet from another world war. Germany, the country guilty for the World War One had to accept a number of unfavorable conditions: 1. Enormous reparations (6,6 billion pounds) were implied 2. The army was limited to 100 000 soldiers 3. Tanks, fleet and aircraft were banned However, the main ideas concerned the foreign policy: 1. Poznan was to e come a Polish province 2. Danzig was announced a free city 3. Alsace and Lorraine were to be returned to France 4. Germany lost all of its colonies 5. The union of Austria and Germany was forbidden Today historians …show more content…

This has been done because the British realized the Germans would do so anyway, and the positive attitude of Great Britain should promote peace between the two countries. The Germans, however, saw it as a sign weakness. After 1935 the Treaty of Versailles basically had little sense, as most of its parts have been violated. Some points, that still seemed to have some strength have been intentionally destroyed a bit later. In 1936 Germany reoccupied the demilitarized Rheinland zone, under feeble protests from the side of France. Two years later, in 1938 the Germany announced an “Anschluss” with Austria and basically devoured the smaller state, creating a controlled Nazi government. Same year, following the Munich agreement, Hitler gained the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. In 1939 the final, most severe violation of the basic principles of international law and virtually all of the existent treaties, lead to the beginning of World War II. When “Vermacht” invaded Poland, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. It is clearly seen that all parts of the Hitler’s international politics in 1930-s are aimed to begin a war. Unfortunately, the Appeasement strategy of the democratic western states allowed the terrible regime to rise and gain strength, causing the most devastating catastrophe in the human history.
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Works cited:
1) “Causes of World War II” accessed July 25,

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