The Remilitarisation of the Rhineland, 1936

What was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

The Rhineland had been a demilitarised zone since the Treaty of Versailles, and Germany was not allowed to keep any of its army there. In March 1936 Hitler ordered nineteen German battalions to march into the region.

When was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

The remilitarisation of the Rhineland began on the 7th March 1936.

What did the Treaty of Versailles say about the Rhineland and remilitarisation?

Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was not allowed to keep troops, weapons or fortifications in the Rhineland in the west of the country.

• ❖ The demilitarisation of the Rhineland was seen as humiliating by Germans, and also left them vulnerable to attacks by other countries.
• ❖ After the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies could keep troops in the Rhineland for 15 years, but they left after ten years.

What happened in the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

In March 1936, nineteen battalions of German soldiers marched publicly back into the Rhineland, while the Nazi government waited to see the Anglo-French response.

How did Britain and France react to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

When he remilitarised and reoccupied the Rhineland, Hitler gambled on Britain and France not reacting. This gamble paid off.

• ❖ Britain believed Germany had the right to put troops in its own territory.
• ❖ France was suffering a financial crisis and holding an election at the time.
• ❖ Britain and France were also pre-occupied at the time with the Abyssinian Crisis.
• ❖ After successfully remilitarising and reoccupying the Rhineland, Hitler suggested a 25-year non-aggression pact with the great powers. He did this to appear less aggressive.

What was the German reaction to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

There were several consequences of the German remilitarisation and reoccupation of the Rhineland:

• ❖ Hitler became much more popular in Germany.
• ❖ Hitler quickly gained confidence that there would be no reaction from France and Britain to his aggressive foreign policy.
• ❖ Hitler was soon able to build up his defences along the French border, known as the Siegfried Line.
• ❖ Many historians think Britain and France missed their last opportunity to stop Hitler without a full-scale war.