The sources below are from 1937. By this time Hitler had begun to reverse the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding his army and moving troops into the Rhineland. He had also tried to unite Germany and Austria. Through out this time he made passionate speeches about expanding German territory. These words and deeds worried some foreign observers.

Source 3: Cartoon drawn by British artist during the Second World War

Source 1: Report by Mr.Law, a British Businessmen, who worked in Germany (1937)

Source 2: Report on a conversation with Count Bernstorff

Source 4: A short description of Hitler prepared by the British Embassy in Berlin (January 1937)

To help you while you look at the different sources draw up a table like the one below to record your findings, draw up a table like this one to help you record your findings

1a. What impression of Hitler do you get from this source?

1b. Why, in Mr. Law’s opinion, is Hitler dangerous?

1c. Read paragraph 3 carefully. Is Mr. Law in favour of granting further concessions to Hitler?

Source 1: Report by Mr. Law, a British Businessmen, who worked in Germany (1937)

2a. Which words suggest that Bernstorff disliked the Nazi regime?

2b. From what is said in this source, what type of leader is Hitler?

2c. Does this account of Hitler back up the view of Hitler in Source 1?

2d. Can you trust Bernstoff’s account?

Source 2: Report on a conversation with Count Bernstorff

3a. What impression of Hitler does the cartoon give you?

3b. How has the artist created this impression?

3c. The government paid the artist to produce this cartoon. What instructions do you think the artist was given by the government?

3d. Can the cartoon be considered as reliable evidence of what Hitler was like?

Source 3: Cartoon drawn by British artist during the Second World War

4a. What alternative phrase would you use to describe Hitler based upon this report?

4b. Does this account of Hitler confirm that he is a passionate lunatic?

Explain how reliable the evidence you have based your report on is

Say whether Hitler is sane or not and provide evidence from the sources to support your answer

Was Hitler a Passionate Lunatic?

By the late 1930s, Europe was again on the brink of war. Shortly after Hitler came to power in January 1933 he began to attack the Treaty of Versailles. First Hitler disregarded the ban on rearmament. Then he moved troops into the Rhineland (1936); united with Austria (1938) and then set his sights on expanding German territory.

Some people regarded Hitler as a strong leader merely getting back German territory. They thought he would stop once he had achieved a reversal of the Treaty of Versailles. Others feared that this was only the beginning of a much larger German policy of expansion and aggression. They were to be proved right by Hitler’s takeover of the whole of Czechoslovakia in 1939, which contained no German speakers - nor had it been ever been part of Germany. The next to go would be Poland, bringing about the beginning of the Second World War.

How the British government dealt with Hitler in the run up to the outbreak of the Second World War has come under close scrutiny. The most common question asked is whether or not the British government should have done more to stop him earlier. But to have stopped Hitler might have meant declaring war - a massive decision when most countries wanted to avoid war at all cost. Britain kept a close watch on developments in Germany. In particular the government was very interested in Hitler’s personality. They wanted to find out what he was like, what he wanted to achieve for Germany, what kind of leader he was and, strangely enough, if he were sane.

For more Snapshots on The Twentieth Century World try:

How Did the Home Front Prepare for War?

Here are some more web sites that explore this era of History.

German Historical Museum

Modern History (includes quiz!)