Hitler and Rearmament

What did Hitler do about rearmament?

As soon as Hitler became leader of Germany, the country began to rearm.

How did Hitler stop German disarmament before rearming?

Germany walked out of the World Disarmament Conference in October 1933, following a disagreement over French disarmament.

How did Hitler rearm Germany?

As soon as he became chancellor, Hitler began to put his rearmament plans into action.

• ❖ From 1933, Germany was rearming in secret.
• ❖ In March 1935, Hitler announced the reintroduction of conscription and his intention to build up an army of 36 divisions.
• ❖ 1935 also saw the foundation of an official German military airforce, the Reich Luftwaffe.
• ❖ Hitler expanded the German navy to include submarines, and created a new naval force called the Kriegsmarine in 1935.

How did other countries react to Hitler's rearmament of Germany?

Although they didn't stop him, during 1935 the main European powers took 2 key steps in response to Hitler's rearmament of Germany.

• ❖ Britain, France and Italy responded by forming the Stresa Front in protest against Germany's actions.
• ❖ Soviet Russia responded by signing non-aggression pacts with both France and Czechoslovakia.