The Reoccupation of the Rhineland

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The Reoccupation of the Rhineland

• March 1936

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Aims

• Where the Rhineland region was.
• Why Hitler was determined to reoccupy the
  Rhineland.
• Reactions to the reoccupation.

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Where is the Rhineland???

• Collect a map of Europe and an atlas.
• Find a map of Germany in the atlas.
• Locate the River Rhine.
• Trace the River Rhine onto your map.
• Shade in the area west of the River Rhine red and
  label it The Rhineland, March 1936.

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The Importance of the Rhineland

• 15 million Germans
• lived in the Rhineland.
• France had originally wanted the area
  incorporated into herself.
• It had been demilitarised through the Treaty of
  Versailles.
• Demilitarisation had been reinforced through the
  1925 Treaty of Locarno.

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Why Important

• Hitler needed control of his borders before he
  could turn his attention to his other foreign
  policy aims.
• He wanted to test the reaction of Britain and
  France.
• A successful remilitarisation would enhance his
  reputation within Germany.
• This may not be seen as overtly aggressive as it
  is German territory.

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Tasks

• Complete questions 2 and 4 from page 18 of your
  work guide.

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Reaction to the Reoccupation

• Aims
• Examine the reaction of the British and French
  after Germany reoccupied the Rhineland.
• Understand how to use a cartoon to identify
  opinions.

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The German Reaction

• German troops were welcomed by the German people
  as they entered the Rhineland.
• Hitler tried to show other countries in Europe
  that there was nothing to worry about.
• Hitler made vague promises to
• 1) Negotiate a new demilitarised zone.
• 2) Return to the League
• 3) Begin disarmament talks again.

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3.
4.
6.
1.
2.
5.
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Rhineland Cartoon
Part of Cartoon Describe What You See What Does This Represent?
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Rhineland Cartoon

• The Germans were planning to conquer countries
  just like the Ancient Romans.
• The German army was rearming.
• The warm welcome the Germany army received in the
  Rhineland.
• A symbol of peace Hitler made vague offers to
  reassure countries.
• Germanys actions had broken a treaty.
• The form of marching that the German used.

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The French Reaction

• Thought the German army was much bigger than it
  actually was.
• They would not take action without support from
  Britain

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The British Reaction

• They are only going into their own
• back garden
• Lord Lothian
• Military intervention would be out
• of proportion to what Germany
• had done
• Stanley Baldwin Prime Minister

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The British Reaction

• Overall there was no desire to take action
• No great opposition from public.
• Many politicians felt that the Treaty of
  Versailles had been too harsh on Germany
• Franco-Soviet Pact made Germany feel threatened.
• The Rhineland was German territory
• Hitlers offers calmed any fears.

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How useful is this source as evidence of
Britains reaction to the Reoccupation of the
Rhineland?
Authorship
Date
Purpose
Detail
Bias
Exaggeration
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Hitlers Viewpoint

• The 48 hours after the march into the
• Rhineland were the most nerve-
• racking of my life. If the French has
• then marched into the Rhineland, we
• would have had to withdraw with our
• tails between our legs.

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British Viewpoints

• The Treaty of Versailles was far too hard on
• Germany. Germany is attacking nobody. They are
• not threatening anyone. As Lord Lothian said
• yesterday, Hitler is only moving troops into his
  own
• back garden. How can we possibly punish the
• Germans for moving soldiers into their own
  country.
• Has Germany attacked anyone? No. Has Germany
• invaded anyone? No. Hitler has simply taken
  steps
• to protect Germanys borders. By allowing Hitler
  
• to alter the treaty slightly we remove another
• cause of argument between us and the
• Germans
• British Foreign Secretary, Sir Anthony Eden,
  March
• 1936.

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British Viewpoints

• Hitler is on the warpath. Last year
• he rearmed, and broke the treaty.
• This year he has moved troops into
• the Rhineland, and broken the
• treaty. What next? How long will
• we hide from the reality that this man is
• a threat to European peace. We must do
• something to stop him now!
• The East Lothian News, March 1936

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Tasks

• Complete activities 11, 12 and 13 from pages
  20-21 of your work guide.
• If you were alive in 1936 would you agree to send
  young British soldiers to fight and possibly die
  in the Rhineland?
• Write a short paragraph outlining your view.
• Now copy the paragraph Consequences of the
  Remilitarisation of the Rhineland at the bottom
  of page 21.