• Location: Industrial area in Germany.
• Treaty of Versailles: Declared Rhineland a demilitarized zone. Think of it as a buffer area, keeping Germany and France apart.
• Locarno Pact, 1925: This pact added an extra layer of security. It sealed the borders between France, Belgium, and Italy, making sure everyone stayed in their lanes.

🌟 Fun Fact: Imagine if two people were in a fight, and someone drew a line between them saying, "You can't cross this!" The Rhineland was kind of like that line.

• Hitler's Moves: Even though everyone agreed to leave Rhineland alone, Hitler, being the sneaky strategist he was, decided 1936 was the year to stir things up.
• Why, though? 🤔
  • Border Security: He wanted to keep France at arm's length and also guard the Ruhr (Germany's key source for war goodies).
  • Testing Limits: Before this, Hitler had beefed up the German navy with Britain's nod. Plus, he saw Japan and Italy get away with defying the League of Nations. His thought: "If they can, why can't I?"
  • Politics, Politics! Attempts to put a leash on Hitler were failing. Britain and France were in a relationship hiccup, mainly due to Italy's invasion of Abyssinia.
  • Look Good at Home: Winning internationally was a way for Hitler to boost his popularity in Germany.

🌟 Real-world Example: Think of a kid testing boundaries with their parents. First, they take a cookie without asking, then two, and next thing you know, they're eating cookies for dinner! That's Hitler here.

• Franco-Soviet alliance, 1935: France and the Soviet Union's pact made Hitler feel cornered, like everyone was ganging up on Germany.
• Hitler's Spin: He claimed Germany needed more security and made peace offers to Belgium and France.
• Britain's Perception: They thought Hitler was just playing in his own yard and wasn't a threat.

🌟 Fun Fact: Imagine someone building a tall fence in their garden and saying, "I just want privacy!" but everyone else is thinking, "Is he planning a wild party?"