Rhine and Anschluss
Hey students! š Welcome to one of the most crucial chapters in understanding how World War II became inevitable. In this lesson, we'll explore two pivotal moments that demonstrated the failure of international diplomacy in the 1930s: Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936 and the Anschluss (annexation) of Austria in 1938. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand how these events tested the resolve of European powers, revealed the weaknesses of appeasement policies, and set the stage for global conflict. These weren't just distant political maneuvers - they were the moments when the world's leaders had to decide whether to stand up to aggression or hope it would simply go away. Spoiler alert: hoping didn't work out so well! š¬
The Rhineland Crisis of 1936
The Rhineland was like a buffer zone between Germany and France - imagine it as a neutral space that was supposed to keep these two historical enemies from getting too close to each other's borders. Under the Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919, this region was permanently demilitarized, meaning no German troops, fortifications, or military installations were allowed there. This wasn't just a suggestion - it was international law backed by the victorious Allied powers.
On March 7, 1936, Hitler made a bold and calculated gamble that would change European history forever. Using the Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance as his excuse (claiming it threatened Germany), he ordered approximately 20,000 Wehrmacht troops to march into the Rhineland. This might not sound like much compared to later military actions, but it was absolutely revolutionary at the time. Hitler himself later admitted this was the most nerve-wracking 48 hours of his life - if France had responded militarily, Germany would have had to withdraw in humiliation because the German army was still relatively weak.
The international response was... well, let's just say it wasn't exactly what you'd call decisive! š France, despite having a much stronger military at the time, chose not to act without British support. Britain, under the philosophy of appeasement led by figures like Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, decided that Germany was simply "walking into their own backyard." The League of Nations condemned the action but took no concrete steps to reverse it.
This reaction sent a crystal-clear message to Hitler: the Western democracies were not willing to fight to maintain the post-war order. The remilitarization was incredibly popular in Germany, with many Germans feeling that their country was finally standing up for itself after years of what they saw as unfair treatment. For Hitler, this success proved that bold action could achieve major gains without serious consequences.
The Road to Anschluss
Austria in the 1930s was like a small country caught between a rock and a hard place. The Treaty of Versailles had specifically forbidden the union (Anschluss) of Germany and Austria, but this didn't stop many Austrians from supporting the idea. Economic troubles, political instability, and growing Nazi influence created the perfect storm for Hitler's next major move.
Hitler's strategy toward Austria was like a slow-motion takeover. He supported the Austrian Nazi Party, which had been growing in strength since 1933, and put enormous pressure on the Austrian government. Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg found himself in an impossible situation - trying to maintain his country's independence while facing increasing internal Nazi support and external German pressure.
The crisis came to a head in early 1938 when Schuschnigg, in a desperate attempt to prove Austrian independence, announced a referendum asking Austrians whether they wanted to remain independent. Hitler was furious! š” He couldn't risk a vote that might go against Anschluss, so he demanded that Schuschnigg cancel the referendum and resign. When Schuschnigg complied, Hitler saw his opportunity.
The Anschluss: March 1938
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border to what can only be described as a hero's welcome in many areas. This wasn't the violent conquest that many expected - instead, it looked more like a celebration. Around 200,000 cheering German Austrians gathered in Vienna on March 15 when Hitler made his triumphal entry into the city where he had once been a struggling artist.
The speed of events was breathtaking. Austria ceased to exist as an independent nation almost overnight, becoming the German province of Ostmark. A month later, Hitler held a plebiscite (referendum) throughout the expanded Germany, and the results were staggering - officially, 99.7% voted "Ja" in favor of the Anschluss. While these numbers were almost certainly inflated through propaganda and intimidation, there's no denying that the Anschluss had genuine popular support among many Austrians and Germans.
The international response was even weaker than it had been for the Rhineland! Britain and France issued formal protests but took no action whatsoever. The United States wasn't even in the League of Nations and maintained its isolationist stance. The Soviet Union was focused on its own internal purges under Stalin. Essentially, Hitler had just absorbed an entire country of 6.7 million people, gained access to Austria's gold reserves, and added Austrian soldiers to his growing military - all without firing a shot or facing any meaningful opposition.
The Domino Effect of Appeasement
These two events - the Rhineland remilitarization and the Anschluss - were like dominoes falling in a carefully orchestrated sequence. Each success made Hitler bolder and more confident that the Western democracies would not stand in his way. The policy of appeasement, designed to avoid another devastating war like World War I, was actually making war more likely by encouraging increasingly aggressive behavior.
Think of it this way: if someone keeps taking your lunch money and you never fight back, they're probably going to keep taking your lunch money! š The same principle applied to international relations in the 1930s. Every time Hitler successfully broke international agreements without consequences, he learned that aggression paid off.
The economic and strategic gains from these actions were enormous for Nazi Germany. The Rhineland's remilitarization allowed Germany to build the Siegfried Line, a massive defensive fortification that would later make it much harder for France to attack Germany. The Anschluss brought Austria's resources, manpower, and strategic position in Central Europe under German control, making Hitler's next target - Czechoslovakia - much more vulnerable.
Conclusion
The remilitarization of the Rhineland and the Anschluss with Austria represent two critical moments when the international community had the opportunity to stop Hitler's expansion but chose appeasement instead. These events demonstrated the fatal flaws in the post-World War I international order and showed how quickly democratic nations could lose control of international affairs when they failed to act decisively. The success of these ventures gave Hitler the confidence and resources he needed for his next moves, ultimately leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Understanding these events helps us see how World War II wasn't just caused by one madman, but by a series of international failures to respond appropriately to growing threats.
Study Notes
ā¢ March 7, 1936: Hitler ordered 20,000 Wehrmacht troops into the demilitarized Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles
ā¢ Rhineland significance: Buffer zone between Germany and France, permanently demilitarized under international law since 1919
ā¢ International response to Rhineland: France refused to act without British support; Britain pursued appeasement policy; League of Nations condemned but took no action
ā¢ March 12, 1938: German troops entered Austria beginning the Anschluss (annexation)
ā¢ Austrian reception: Approximately 200,000 Austrians welcomed Hitler in Vienna on March 15, 1938
ā¢ Anschluss plebiscite: April 1938 referendum showed 99.7% support (likely inflated through propaganda)
ā¢ Appeasement definition: Diplomatic strategy of making concessions to aggressive powers to avoid war
ā¢ Strategic consequences: Rhineland remilitarization enabled Siegfried Line construction; Anschluss added 6.7 million people and Austrian resources to Germany
ā¢ International weakness: Both events showed Western democracies unwilling to enforce international agreements through military action
ā¢ Domino effect: Each successful aggression encouraged Hitler to attempt larger and bolder moves, ultimately leading to World War II