Editing Nazi Germany (section)

=== Military build-up ===
{{See also|International relations (1919–1939)|Remilitarization of the Rhineland|German involvement in the Spanish Civil War}}

As early as February 1933, Hitler announced that rearmament must begin, albeit clandestinely at first, as to do so was in violation of the Versailles Treaty. On 17 May 1933, Hitler gave a speech before the Reichstag outlining his desire for [[world peace]] and accepted an offer from American President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] for military disarmament, provided the other nations of Europe did the same.{{sfn|Shirer|1960|pp=209–210}} When the other European powers failed to accept this offer, Hitler pulled Germany out of the [[World Disarmament Conference]] and the [[League of Nations]] in October, claiming its disarmament clauses were unfair if they applied only to Germany.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=618}} In [[German referendum, 1933|a referendum held in November]], 95 per cent of voters supported Germany's withdrawal.{{sfn|Shirer|1960|pp=210–212}}

In 1934, Hitler told his military leaders that rearmament needed to be complete by 1942, as by then the German people would require more living space and resources, so Germany would have to start a war of conquest to obtain more territory.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=338–339}} The [[Territory of the Saar Basin|Saarland]], which had been placed under League of Nations supervision for 15 years at the end of World War I, voted in January 1935 to become part of Germany.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=623}} In March 1935, Hitler announced the creation of an air force, and that the ''[[Reichswehr]]'' would be increased to 550,000 men.{{sfn|Kitchen|2006|p=271}} Britain agreed to Germany building a naval fleet with the signing of the [[Anglo-German Naval Agreement]] on 18 June 1935.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=629}}

When the Italian [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|invasion of Ethiopia]] led to only mild protests by the British and French governments, on 7 March 1936 Hitler used the [[Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance]] as a pretext to order the army to march 3,000 troops into the demilitarised zone in the [[Rhineland]] in violation of the Versailles Treaty.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=633}} As the territory was part of Germany, the British and French governments did not feel that attempting to enforce the treaty was worth the risk of war.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=632–637}} In the one-party election held on 29 March, the Nazis received 98.9 per cent support.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=632–637}} In 1936, Hitler signed an [[Anti-Comintern Pact]] with Japan and a non-aggression agreement with Mussolini, who was soon referring to a "Rome-Berlin Axis".{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=641}}

Hitler sent military supplies and assistance to the Nationalist forces of General [[Francisco Franco]] in the [[Spanish Civil War]], which began in July 1936. The German [[Condor Legion]] included a range of aircraft and their crews, as well as a tank contingent. The aircraft of the Legion [[Bombing of Guernica|destroyed the city of Guernica]] in 1937.{{sfn|Shirer|1960|p=297}} The Nationalists were victorious in 1939 and became an informal ally of Nazi Germany.{{sfn|Steiner|2011|pp=181–251}}

==== Austria and Czechoslovakia ====
{{Main|Anschluss|German occupation of Czechoslovakia}}
{{Further|Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia}}
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 230
| image1    = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0922-500, Wien, Heldenplatz, Rede Adolf Hitler.jpg
| image2    = Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-005-28, Anschluss sudetendeutscher Gebiete.jpg
| footer    = (Top) Hitler proclaims the ''Anschluss'' on the [[Heldenplatz]], Vienna, 15 March 1938.<br />(Bottom) Ethnic Germans use the [[Nazi salute]] to greet German soldiers as they enter [[Žatec|Saaz]], 1938.
| alt       = (Top) A photo of a large and crowded public square. In the foreground, many officials face away from the camera and towards the crowd, while Adolf Hitler stands at a podium in front of them. In the background, two large statue can be seen in the center of the square, with several buildings making up the skyline behind the square. Hills can be seen on the horizon. (Bottom) A convoy of trucks, cars, and motorcycles drives through a cobblestone street. Several buildings line the roadway and are draped with swastika banners. A waving crowd on both sides of the street greets the convoy as it drives by.
}}

In February 1938, Hitler emphasised to Austrian Chancellor [[Kurt Schuschnigg]] the need for Germany to secure its frontiers. Schuschnigg scheduled a plebiscite regarding Austrian independence for 13 March, but Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg on 11 March demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazi Party or face an invasion. German troops entered Austria the next day, to be greeted with enthusiasm by the populace.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=646–652}}

The [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Republic of Czechoslovakia]] was home to a substantial minority of Germans, who lived mostly in the [[Sudetenland]]. Under pressure from separatist groups within the [[Sudeten German Party]], the Czechoslovak government offered economic concessions to the region.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=667}} Hitler decided not just to incorporate the Sudetenland into the Reich, but to destroy the country of Czechoslovakia entirely.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=417}} The Nazis undertook a propaganda campaign to try to generate support for an invasion.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=419}} Top German military leaders opposed the plan, as Germany was not yet ready for war.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=668–669}}

The crisis led to war preparations by Britain, Czechoslovakia, and France (Czechoslovakia's ally). Attempting to avoid war, British Prime Minister [[Neville Chamberlain]] arranged a series of meetings, the result of which was the [[Munich Agreement]], signed on 29 September 1938. The Czechoslovak government was forced to accept the Sudetenland's annexation into Germany. Chamberlain was greeted with cheers when he landed in London, saying the agreement brought "peace for our time".{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=671–674}}

Austrian and Czech foreign exchange reserves were seized by the Nazis, as were stockpiles of raw materials such as metals and completed goods such as weaponry and aircraft, which were shipped to Germany. The ''[[Reichswerke Hermann Göring]]'' industrial conglomerate took control of steel and coal production facilities in both countries.{{sfn|Mazower|2008|pp=264–265}}

==== Poland ====
In January 1934, Germany signed a [[German–Polish declaration of non-aggression|non-aggression pact with Poland]].{{sfn|Weinberg|2010|p=60}} In March 1939, Hitler demanded the return of the [[Free City of Danzig]] and the [[Polish Corridor]], a strip of land that separated [[East Prussia]] from the rest of Germany. The British announced they would come to the aid of Poland if it was attacked. Hitler, believing the British would not take action, ordered an invasion plan should be readied for September 1939.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=689–690}} On 23 May, Hitler described to his generals his overall plan of not only seizing the Polish Corridor but greatly expanding German territory eastward at the expense of Poland. He expected this time they would be met by force.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=486}}

The Germans reaffirmed their alliance with Italy and signed non-aggression pacts with Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia whilst trade links were formalised with Romania, Norway, and Sweden.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=691}} Foreign Minister [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]] arranged in negotiations with the Soviet Union a non-aggression pact, the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]], signed in August 1939.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=496}} The treaty also contained secret protocols dividing Poland and the Baltic states into German and Soviet spheres of influence.{{sfn|Snyder|2010|p=116}}