Rise of Hitler

18.01.1919 victors of war gathered in a mirrored hall in Versailles to negotiate the terms of a peace treaty. It was the anniversary of the German Reich and the place where it was proclaimed. Although it had been fought in enemy countries for years, the fact that war was lost and paying compensation, and signing such peace was humiliating. Germany had to disarm and cede some of its territories. The economy was terrible, people were unemployed. Too many banknotes were printed to pay war reparations and hyperinflation began. In the Locarno era, Germany recovered itself, and with the 1930s depression, the economy collapsed. Hitler came to power after 3 years of depression. To Hitler, the deal was an insult to the noble race, blaming politicians for ineffectiveness and saying it would save the country from crisis. He didn't believe in democracy and party meant to state. Hitler dissolved the Reichstag and increased the number of seats. With the death of Hindenburg, Hitler becomes Führer.

Hitler wanted to restore the greatness of Germany, but the pure German race had to be purged of inferior races. Germans have to conquer their living places. The first step was to destroy France. He should head east and subdue Germans in Austria and Czechoslovakia. Poland had to be conquered. Slavs would be destroyed and victory would be won over communist Russia. Then, Germany would be the greatest power. Germany would establish a great colonial empire in Africa and become one of the leading naval powers. Hitler was aggressive and pragmatic.

Hitler's foreign policy consisted of three steps and divide and conquer was his strategy. To rescue Germany from the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty, to realize the principle of "ein volk ein reich", and to increase the welfare of Germany with the policy of "Lebensraum". Hitler did not face problems in carrying out the first two steps because they are limited. When Hitler started to implement the last step, other states would try to take countermeasures.

When Germany rejected the decision banning compulsory military service and started military service, Europeans decided to form a common front against Germany. Europeans tried to win the friendship of the USSR, which had been excluded. The USA recognized the USSR and was admitted to the League of Nations. Treaty with France was signed. The measures of great powers against Hitler's policy were scattered. Hitler understood that as long as he didn't directly touch the interests of great powers, he could carry out the first two steps. Concerned about the resurgence of the maritime arms race, Britain signed an agreement with Germany to limit its naval power. Thus, Germany was freed from another limitation in Versailles. Germany took advantage of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and abolished the last condition of Versailles. Hitler sent soldiers to the Rhine. Mussolini, who had to protect the overseas empire, needed support. Germany gave coal to Italy during the occupation, despite LN's pressures. Additionally, Italy's interest in Austria decreased, thus fascists became closer. In the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini and Hitler supported Franco. Spain's side with Axis would have hurt the interests of England and France. However, they didn't want to be involved in the war, as it could turn into a big war. The USSR helped republicans late and little. Thus, another fascist regime was established.

Hitler had taken a second step with Anschluß. Hitler wanted to include all German speakers in Reich. Italy would remain silent on the annexation of Austria. Hitler made Bismarck's dreams real. Although this was a violation of Versailles, there was no reaction. There were government crises in French. The USA was neutral. Thus, the independent state was wiped map by Hitler.

Hitler wanted Czechoslovakia for the third step because Germans lived in the Sudeten region. Britain avoided alliance relations after the war, as it thought the cause of the war was a system of alliances. Munich Agreement ceded the Sudetenland region to Germany. Germany occupied first Sudetenland then all of Czechoslovakia. Thus, another state in Europe was wiped map by Hitler. Chamberlain abandoned peace-seeking efforts. Meanwhile, Mussolini had invaded Albania. Britain took the situation seriously and promised assurances to Poland, Romania, and Greece. The USSR did not trust Britain and France because they could not cooperate. Indeed, they wanted communism to be overthrown by Nazism. Western powers remained silent on Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia, as they thought it was Hitler's desire to expand eastward. In Munich, states followed a submissive policy against Hitler because they did not want war. Hitler gave Carpathian-Ukrainian to Hungary. A common front was formed between France, USSR, and England. While joint front negotiations were going on, Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler. The secret article of agreement determined their places in Poland. Hitler attacked Poland, then Britain and France declared war. Hitler again caused states to be wiped map. Finally, World War II began.