What this lesson teaches
I can judge how far leaders, governments and the League were responsible for the steps that led to World War II.
Syllabus K330, War in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, Learning Outcomes. Evaluate the roles played by individuals and groups in developments leading to the outbreak of World War II.
Make a guess
In March 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, breaking the treaties. How do you think Britain and France responded?
- They protested but did not resist with force.
- France sent its army in and forced the Germans out.
- The League imposed sanctions that weakened Germany for years.
Show the answer
They protested but did not resist with force.
France would not act without Britain, and British leaders would not risk war over German troops on German land.
In 1936, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, breaking the treaty; no one stopped him, which made later expansion easier.
The Rhineland is in western Germany, next to France. After the First World War, it stayed German but was demilitarised: Germany could not keep troops or build military defences there. This helped protect France from attack.
On 7 March 1936, Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland. This is called remilitarisation, bringing military forces back into an area. It was not the seizure of French land. But it broke both Versailles and the later Locarno agreements. Hitler claimed a new defence pact between France and the Soviet Union threatened Germany.
France would not act without British support. British leaders did not want to risk war over German troops entering German land. So the move succeeded with no military resistance.
This mattered beyond the Rhineland itself. Hitler became more confident that further risks would meet little resistance. Germany could also build defences in the west. If it later threatened a country to its east, such as Czechoslovakia, France would find it harder to help by threatening Germany from the west. So failing to enforce one treaty rule removed an obstacle to later expansion.
- 7 March 1936
- German troops enter the Rhineland.
- Demilitarised
- No troops or defences allowed.
- Reaction
- France and Britain do not resist.
Real examples to use
7 March 1936
About 20,000 German troops marched into the demilitarised zone, breaking both Versailles and Locarno.
No resistance
France would not act without Britain, and Britain would not fight over German troops entering German land, so not a shot was fired.
Worked example: How western defences affected the east
France lay west of Germany. Czechoslovakia lay to its east.
- France could protect Czechoslovakia by threatening Germany from the west.
- German troops and forts in the Rhineland made that much harder.
- So Czechoslovakia became less protected.
Watch out for this
Hitler took the Rhineland from France in 1936.
The Rhineland was already German land. Hitler broke the rule against putting troops there.
Check your understanding
Why did Britain not resist the Rhineland move?
- Britain had agreed at Versailles that German troops could return.
- The Rhineland was under British control, so Britain chose to let it go.
- Its leaders did not want war over German troops entering German land.
Show the answer
Its leaders did not want war over German troops entering German land.
Yes. And France would not act alone.
Check your understanding
Why was Germany's remilitarisation of the Rhineland in March 1936 significant?
- It broke Versailles unopposed, securing Germany's western border and boosting Hitler's confidence.
- It started the Second World War, as Britain and France declared war that day.
- It was approved by the League of Nations after Germany offered a peace pact.
Show the answer
It broke Versailles unopposed, securing Germany's western border and boosting Hitler's confidence.
Britain and France did not resist.