WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Under Articles 42, 43 and 44 of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which was imposed on Germany by the Allies after World War I, Germany was “forbidden to maintain or construct any fortification either on the Left bank of the Rhine or on the Right bank to the west of a line drawn fifty kilometers to the East of the Rhine".

Detailed explanation-2: -In May 1935, France and the USSR signed a treaty of friendship and mutual support. Hitler resented this and argued that it was a hostile move against Germany, and the area of the Rhineland could in turn be used by France to invade Germany. Hitler used this as an excuse to send German military forces into the Rhineland.

Detailed explanation-3: -Following the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, firm restrictions were placed on the German military, most notably, the entire army was restricted to just 100, 000 men, while the navy was reduced to just 15, 000 men.

Detailed explanation-4: -Article 42: Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn 50 kilometers to the East of the Rhine.

Detailed explanation-5: -On 7 March 1936 German troops re-occupied the Rhineland, a de-militarised zone according to the Treaty of Versailles. This action was directly against the terms which Germany had accepted after the First World War.

Detailed explanation-6: -In 1936, Hitler boldly marched 22, 000 German troops into the Rhineland, in a direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler offered France and Britain a 25 year non-aggression pact and claimed ‘Germany had no territorial demands to make in Europe’.