The Re-Occupation of Rhineland

This source is suggesting that Hitler was only sending troops to his land which already belongs to Germany. He had right to do this as if you have a garden you are allowed to go there. We can agree with this source because the Rhineland was part of Germany but it had been demilitarised under the Treaty off Versailles. Many people felt the Treaty was unfair and harsh on Germany. Hitler’s actions were reasonable as he was not invading another country.

Some people thought though it was breaking the Treaty but doesn’t mean it is going to lead to war. Some of the British also support and hostile to fascist Hitler because they were more concerned about communist Stalin’s Russia. People also thought to believe that Hitler was a peaceful man who wants peace and not a threat to the Britain. British people also trusted Hitler because they made a naval Agreement with him in 1935. They took far more notice of Hitler’s promises.

It is reliable because the source is from a British politician so he would know the position of the government and why they have taken no action over the breaking of the Treaty of Versailles. He is trying to explain to the public why the government has taken no action against Hitler. He is trying to justify the government’s decision to do nothing. However the source is not valid because there were lots of other reasons why Britain didn’t oppose against Hitler.

Economic trouble during the early 1930s meant Britain had reduced their spending on Arms and their military. Previous to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, Britain had followed a policy of disarmament which left them vulnerable. Britain believed that even combined with France, they did not have enough power to overcome Germany, not only that but also that they had already met to discuss the possibility of future remilitarisation but had decided against taking any action should it occur.

Britain’s first priority was to protect their Empire therefore a War was not in their best interests as it would mean that the Navy would have to concentrate on other countries instead of the Empire. The policy of appeasement meant Britain wished to avoid War, and the fear that a possible European War could occur also prevented them from conflict as this would help to form an alliance between two powerful fascist leaders, Hitler and Mussolini which was a dangerous risk that Britain was not prepared to take.

Britain was also concerned about with the actions of Japan and Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia. Overall nobody wanted another war because people could still remember the casualties of First World War. Finally I don’t agree with what this source is suggesting was the main reason that British did not oppose Hitler’s remilitarisation Rhineland in 1936. As we know this source is reliable because many people in Britain at the time thought Hitler was a man of peace and he is only sending troops to Rhineland which belongs to Germany anyway.

However the reason is not completely valid. So with the benefit of hindsight we also know so many things that many public didn’t know at that time. As I mentioned above Britain was behind on rearming. They were more concerned about Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia. Britain was also going through economic depression as the America’s Wall Street crashed in 1929. Finally there was a little Britain could do to Stop Germany because nobody wanted another war at any cost.