Nazi Dictatorship In Action

Introduction

In the previous chapter a reference was made to pretensions of peace and friendship on part of Hitler in the early years of the Third Reich. We have seen that realignment of powers had taken place during 1934-35. Meanwhile, Germany had pulled itself out of the Disarmament Conference and withdrawn from the League of Nations in October 1933 on the ground that other powers had failed to reduce their armaments although they had promised to do so, when they had signed the Covenant of the League of Nations in 1919. Hitler was vigorously but secretly carrying on rearmament of Germany, but did not want to disclose it before Saar was returned to Germany. As provided for in the Versailles Treaty, a plebiscite was held in Saar in January 1935 and about 90 per cent of the people voted for reunion with Germany.

Hitler personally went to Saar to see the reunification of Saar with the Reich on 1 March 1935. As analysis of Hitler’s approach to foreign policy shows that he was always pragmatic. According to Paul Johnson, ‘Like Lenin, he was a superb opportunist, always ready to seize openings and modify his theory accordingly.’ While some historians conclude that he had no master programme, others like Johnson feel that he was always adjusting his tactics to suit the moment. He was never tempted to relax by a surfeit of autocratic power.

Actually he was ‘always raising the stakes on the table and seeking to hasten the force of history.’ Hitler was now free to unfold his true foreign policy based on Mein Kampf, i.e. anti-Communism, anti-Semitism, and promotion of German imperialism. During 1935-37 Hitler evolved and acted upon the strategy of befriending not only fellow dictator Mussolini, but also a militant Japan and even Britain who wanted ‘peace almost at any price.’ During this period, Hitler unilaterally repudiated not only the dictated Treaty of Versailles but also freely negotiated Treaty of Locarno. This period also witnessed another repudiation of international commitment-Italian aggression on Abyssinia and eventual annexation of that country into Italian Empire. These developments led to the formations of Rome-Berlin-Tokyo-Axis.

Repudiation Of Treaties

In February 1935 (after the Saar plebiscite, but before its reunion with Germany) England and France made certain proposals to Germany. These included signing of Central Pact and Eastern Pact. The former, to ensure non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and to be signed by Austria and her neighbours and the latter to be signed by France, Germany and the Soviet Union, each assuring the other against aggression by the third country. It was also proposed that the seven Locarno powers, including Germany, should promise that in case of air attack upon any of them, the others would provide assistance to the victim of attack. These proposals came to be known as ‘Air Locarno’. Germany showed willingness only for Air Locarno as that would permit her to establish an Air Force. The other two pacts were to be discussed by Hitler with British representatives, but before British ministers could go to Germany, the British government announced a programme of strengthening its armed might, a move that annoyed Hitler.

Hitler suggested that he was willing to sign a fresh treaty with France and Belgium, whereby there could be demilitarization of equal distance on both sides of the border. This was, as expected, rejected by France. Now, therefore, Rhineland was once again remilitarized and German troops firmly based themselves in the region. Hitler ha achieved one more success.

REFERENCES : International relations by V.N. KHANNA