Hitler established a clear set of aims for his foreign policy.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] Germany walked out of the World Disarmament Conference.
2. [4] Germany left the League of Nations.
3. [4] Hitler attempted to create a union with Austria.
4. [4] Hitler signed a 10-year non-aggression pact with Poland.
5. [4] A plebiscite was held in the Saar.
6. [4] Conscription was reintroduced in Germany.
7. [4] The Anglo-German Naval Agreement was signed.
8. [6] There were many politicians, especially in Britain, who thought the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh towards Germany and that there should be Anschluss. Although Britain and France officially protested about the takeover, it appeared that the Anschluss had popular support and so there was little they could do about it.
9. [2-3] Britain and France were worried that taking action would provoke Hitler and they wanted to avoid war.
10. [2-3] Neither Britain nor France was armed sufficiently to take action.
11. [2-3] Many thought Germany and Austria should be allowed to unite.
12. [2-3] Britain and France could not agree on action.
13. [2-3] They needed to keep Hitler on side as a defence against Communist Russia.
14. [1] The Treaty of Versailles forbade the Anschluss.
15. [10] The Munich Agreement did not lead directly to war. However, it gave Hitler the clear message that Britain and France would not stand up to him and this encouraged further aggression on his part. In March 1939 he took the rest of Czechoslovakia. However, war only started when he invaded Poland and Britain and France stood by their guarantee to defend Polish independence. It is possible that Hitler calculated that they would not do this.
16. [4-6] The Munich agreement was important to the outbreak of war as it gave Hitler more confidence. The agreement showed Hitler that the European countries were not going to stand up to him. He could continue to demand more and powers like Britain and France would give in every time. This encouraged him to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia and then in September 1939 he invaded Poland. Britain and France had said they would declare war on Germany if Poland was invaded. Hitler did not believe them because of the way they gave in over the Munich Agreement. When they did declare war Hitler was shocked. As a result of the Munich Agreement, Hitler thought he would get away with anything.
17. [4-6] The Munich Agreement was not so important for the outbreak of war in September 1939 as that was brought about by the invasion of Poland. After Germany expanded into Bohemia-Moravia in March 1939, breaking the Munich agreement, Britain and France no longer believed Hitler's promises. They made a guarantee to defend Poland should it be attacked and even tried to make an alliance with the Soviet Union against Hitler. The attempt failed and Hitler and Stalin agreed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939 which led to the invasion of Poland in 1939.
18. [2-3] The Munich Agreement made Hitler think he could get away with anything and this made war more likely.
19. [2-3] It encouraged Hitler to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
20. [2-3] Hitler agreed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939.
21. [2-3] Britain and France guaranteed to protect Poland if it was attacked.
22. [1] Hitler had no intention of keeping to the Munich Agreement.