Damon Mcknight
The remilitarization of the Rhineland, a historically controversial area of western Europe, was a significant event that took place on March 7, 1936, when Adolf Hitler sent German military forces into the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone along the Rhine River in western Germany. This move directly violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties, which aimed to protect France and Belgium from future German attacks by establishing the Rhineland as a demilitarized zone. The remilitarization of the Rhineland was a test of Britain's and France's commitment to upholding the Treaty of Versailles, and their inaction exposed weaknesses in their relationship and growing distrust between them. Hitler's successful remilitarization emboldened him to pursue further expansionist plans, including the annexation of Austria and portions of Czechoslovakia, setting the stage for the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Remilitarization | 7 March 1936 |
| Treaty Violated | Treaty of Versailles, Locarno Treaties |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| German Reaction | Wild celebrations |
| French Reaction | Signed a treaty with USSR, no military response |
| British Reaction | No military response |
| Allied Occupation End Date | 30 June 1930 |
| German Territory West of Rhine | Demilitarized |
| German Military Forces | Reduced to 100,000 men |
| German Navy | Restricted to 36 ships |
| German Annexation | Austria, Czechoslovakia |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's violation of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed a series of strict terms on Germany, which had surrendered in World War I. The treaty required Germany to disarm, accept responsibility for starting the war, and pay for the damages caused by the conflict. The terms of the treaty were perceived as unjust by the German people, who saw them as a "dictated peace". This sentiment helped fuel the rise of radical right-wing parties, including Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party.
Hitler had long declared his intention to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles, unite all Germans in one country, and restore Germany's power in Europe and the world. In March 1936, Hitler took a significant step towards this goal by remilitarising the Rhineland, a strip of land inside Germany bordering France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This move directly violated the Treaty of Versailles, which had stipulated that the Rhineland must be demilitarised, with no German troops stationed in the area.
Hitler's decision to remilitarise the Rhineland was a calculated gamble. He exploited the signing of a treaty between France and the USSR in 1935 as a pretext, claiming that this treaty was hostile to Germany. Despite the nervousness of his generals, Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland in March 1936. This action was met with wild celebrations across Germany, and Hitler capitalised on this popularity by calling a referendum, in which the majority of German voters approved of the remilitarisation.
The Western powers failed to respond decisively to Hitler's violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Neither France nor Britain was prepared for a military response, and their passive attitude foreshadowed their eventual acquiescence to Hitler's further annexations and demands in 1938. This inaction has been seen by some historians as a missed opportunity to curb Hitler's expansionist ambitions and potentially prevent the outbreak of World War II.
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German rearmament
Rearmament under the Nazi regime became more aggressive. In 1935, Adolf Hitler announced the rearmament programs openly, revealing his intentions to rebuild the German air force, reinstate conscription, and rearm the nation. Hitler's plans for rearmament and remilitarization were met with attempts to appease him by the European states that had fought Germany in World War I.
In March 1936, German soldiers marched into the Rhineland, breaking the agreement set by the Treaty of Versailles, which had established the Rhineland as a buffer zone between Germany and France. Hitler was convinced that neither France nor Britain would intervene, and he was correct. The French public was worried about entering another war, and the German forces were perceived as larger and stronger than they actually were.
In the post-World War II era, German rearmament remained a contentious issue. In 1950, following the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States ordered France to accept the rapid rearmament of West Germany due to fears of a potential offensive by the Soviet Union, which had recently acquired nuclear capability. The member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) were largely in favour of German rearmament, except for the French and Belgian governments, as public opinion, especially in France, remained opposed to the idea of a new German army.
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Hitler's annexation of Austria
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany.
Hitler, an Austrian German by birth, had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. The first point of the Nazi Party Platform, published in 1920, demanded "the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination." After Hitler came to power in Germany, the idea of Austria joining Germany grew in popularity, aided by a Nazi propaganda campaign. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour.
In early 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of the conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and called a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence. Hitler was infuriated by the plebiscite and pressured Schuschnigg to cancel it and resign. On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg gave in to German demands and resigned, and the next day, German troops entered Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. On March 13, the annexation, known as the Anschluss, was officially proclaimed.
The Anschluss demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order. By annexing Austria, the Nazis violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The other European powers did not punish the Nazis for violating international treaties, and their acceptance of the Anschluss allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
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French security concerns
France had several security concerns regarding the Rhineland, which is a historically controversial area of western Europe that lies in western Germany along the Rhine River, bordering France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Firstly, France had experienced invasion by Germany through the Rhineland in 1914 during World War I. As a result, France insisted during the Paris Peace Conference that the Rhineland should be a demilitarized zone. This was formalized in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which forbade the German military from occupying territories west of the Rhine or within 50 km of it, and restricted the German army to 100,000 men. The aim of these measures was to increase French security by making it impossible for Germany to invade France without their knowledge and to prevent a future German attack.
Secondly, France continued to worry about their safety against Germany, especially after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 and declared his intention to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles and unite all Germans into one country, even if it led to war. Germany began to re-arm, and in 1935, Hitler unilaterally canceled the military clauses of the Treaty of Locarno, which had reaffirmed the demilitarized status of the Rhineland. In March 1936, Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. This action was met with passive attitudes from the Western powers, including France, which further endangered French security as it foreshadowed their acquiescence to Hitler's future annexations and demands.
The remilitarization of the Rhineland exposed the weaknesses in the relationship between Britain and France and the growing distrust between them. Despite the violation of treaties, neither France nor Britain took military action, with Britain preferring negotiation over enforcement of the Treaty of Versailles due to economic concerns and anti-war public opinion. France's security concerns were realized as Hitler went on to absorb Austria and portions of Czechoslovakia, leading to the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
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Propaganda campaigns
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, stipulated that the Rhineland was to be demilitarised, meaning no German troops were to be stationed in the area. This was to increase French security by making it impossible for Germany to invade France without warning.
In the early 1920s, a vicious German propaganda campaign was launched against the French occupation of the Rhineland. This campaign, which peaked in 1920-1921, used racist rhetoric to discredit the Treaty of Versailles and create a sense of unity among Germans. The campaign, referred to as "black horror propaganda", centred on quasi-pornographic images of African soldiers committing sexual crimes against Rhenish women. This metaphorically equated the French occupation with the rape of innocent German women by racially alien "barbarians". The campaign was so effective in rousing internal and international criticism that the German government reduced its support and toned down the most racist elements by 1923.
Paul Tirard, a French High Commissioner, attempted to counter this German propaganda with a campaign of "peaceful penetration" that included cultural events and special benefits for the German people. Tirard's efforts ultimately failed, and the German press used his campaign as an emotionally charged topic to further criticise the French.
In March 1936, Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland, directly violating the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Treaties. This move was met with wild celebrations in Germany and the approval of a majority of German voters in a referendum. Hitler justified his actions by claiming that he was seeking equality for Germany and wanted to overturn the unfair Treaty of Versailles.
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Frequently asked questions
The Rhineland is a historically controversial area of western Europe, lying in western Germany along both banks of the middle Rhine River. It is bordered by France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in July 1919, eight months after World War I ended. It called for stiff war reparation payments and other punishing peace terms for defeated Germany. The treaty also restricted the German army to 100,000 men and the navy to just 36 ships.
In March 1936, Hitler sent German military forces into the Rhineland, which was a demilitarized zone as per the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. This was a gamble on his part as Germany was not adequately armed at the time. This remilitarization was met with wild celebrations all over Germany.
