jan 1, 1936 - Four-Year Plan Begins
Description:
- Rhineland was previously demilitarized by the Treaty of Versailles; was occupied by Allied armies (until 1930)
- Was supposed to be permanently demilitarized; was meant to be the buffer b/w France and Germany
- Hitler knew France would determine this to be an Act of Aggression
- Knows that France did not have the troops to protect that demilitarized zone
- However, also knew that if France decided to push back, he would be vastly outnumbered
- The French appealed to Britain for backup support; no support was given.
- With no British support, France decided not to attack Germany
- Hitler's advisors telling him this is a bad idea; Hitler goes ahead anyway, starts to think he's some kind of military genius (starts getting away with things to a certain point when he starts making bad choice)
- Hitler hits peak of his popularity - he's "sticking it" to the international community
Added to timeline:
World War II
History of Nazi Germany
Date:
