Nazi aggression and appeasement | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy

In 1935, Nazi Germany publicly announced its intention to rearm its military, a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. While rearmament had been occurring since 1933, the public announcement signified Germany's disregard for the treaty. In 1936, Germany further violated the treaty by occupying the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone. Despite unhappiness from France and the UK, these powers chose not to intervene, setting a precedent for appeasement.

German aggression escalated in 1938 with the 'Anschluss,' or unification, of Germany and Austria. A coup orchestrated by Nazis in Austria led to a bloodless takeover and the integration of the two German-speaking nations, another forbidden act under the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain. This further demonstrated Germany's growing defiance of international agreements.

In late 1938, Hitler sought to bring German-speaking populations in Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland under German control. In September 1938, France and Great Britain, pursuing a policy of appeasement, signed the Munich Agreement which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland without consulting the Czechoslovakian government. This significant territorial gain, including industrial capacity, further weakened Czechoslovakia.

By early 1939, Germany completed its takeover of Czechoslovakia, establishing the 'Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia' from what is now the Czech Republic. This continuous pattern of German aggression, met with little resistance from other European powers, fostered a sense of confidence in Nazi Germany.

The repeated allowances for German aggression by other European powers, particularly Great Britain, became known as the 'policy of appeasement.' While hindsight reveals this policy emboldened Hitler and led to World War II, at the time, nations were wary of another large-scale conflict like World War I. This appeasement culminated in the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939, following a non-aggression pact with the Soviets, marking the beginning of World War II.