German Foreign Policy 1923-1945

Gustav Stresemann, was the Foreign Minister of the Weimar Republic (having previously acted as chancellor) in Post-WWI Germany. He was accredited with stabilizing the fallen German nation.

The stock market crash in 1929 would affect Germany greatly aswell. As they had taken loans from many American banks in order to rebuild after the First World War. Putting Germany in crippling debt.

Japan invade Manchuria. This would be the first brick that was laid in the wall that was the Second World War. Japan being an everpresent ally of Germany, had their support in this invasion.

Japan's invasion was "justified" on the basis of the Mukden Incident. Were a Japanese soldier staged an attack by the Chinese so that they would have reason to invade and occupy them. This was simply a display of how any powerful nation could act aggressively without consequences, Hitler took note of this.

Hitler withdraws from the League of Nations because of the army-limitation policies imposed, with the intentions of rebuilding his nation's military force.

Nazi Germany and Poland sign a peace treaty agreeing to forgo armed conflict for a period of 10 years. Seeking to better the strained relationship between the two nations. Ultimately however, it served as nothing more than a smokescreen for Hitler's campaign of rearmament.

On the 13th of January 1935 the people of the area of Saar held a referendum to decide wheter they should reunificate with Germany, remain a mandate territority of the League of Nations, or unite with France. An overwhelming 90% voted in favour of reunification with Germany.

This was huge for Nazi Germany, as it is a genuine, democratic victory for them. It validated them and their cause because they had the backing of the German people.

In a show of blatant disregard for the Treaty of Versailles, Germany unveiled their new aerial branch of their military. Having trained their soldiers in secret for a number of years, they were now armed with one of the most technologically advanced, and battle experienced air forces in the world. France want Germany punished, England are tad more lenient.

The 4 year plan was an economic plan formulated by Hitler to bring economic prosperity to Nazi Germany. He put Hermann Göring in charge of it. The main objective of the plan was to prepare Germany for rearmament, and for self-sufficiency over a period of four years.

Having Hermann Göring in control would prove to be a vital mistake, as he knew next to little about economics.

In another blatant display of disregard for the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler orders his troops into Rhineland to occupy the former German area.

This was a major swing to the pendulum, this time to the way of the Germans. As Rhineland gave them the opportunity to exercise more agression on Eastern Europe.

Hitler had found an ally the leader of Italy's fascist regime, Mussolini.

The two nations agreed to form a coalition, in order to further their expansionist visions. On the 1st of November 1936 Mussolini declared that all European natons would rotate around the Rome-Berlin axis. Thereof the term 'axis'.