What measures did the Nazis take to reject the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles was signed at the end of World War I and imposed heavy penalties and strict limitations upon Germany.

The Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, took several measures to reject and systematically dismantle the Treaty of Versailles once they came to power in 1933:

1. Military Rearmament: The Treaty limited the size and capacity of the German military. However, the Nazis defied these restrictions by openly rearming and expanding the military, including the rebuilding of the air force (Luftwaffe) and the navy (Kriegsmarine), and the introduction of mandatory military service (conscription).

2. Territorial Expansion: The Treaty forced Germany to cede territory to neighboring countries and banned it from uniting with Austria. The Nazis disregarded these territorial stipulations by remilitarizing the Rhineland in 1936, annexing Austria in the Anschluss of 1938, and seizing other territories such as the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.

3. Reparations Refusal: Germany was required to pay substantial reparations for the damage caused during WWI. Hitler and the Nazi regime objected to these payments and effectively stopped them, claiming they were unjust and devastating to the German economy.

4. Propaganda Campaigns: The Nazis launched extensive propaganda campaigns to rally public opinion against the Treaty, portraying it as humiliating and oppressive. This helped justify their actions in contravention of the Treaty.

5. Diplomatic Maneuvers: The Nazis exploited the desire for peace and the fear of another war among Britain and France to secure agreements that nullified parts of the Treaty. Notable examples include the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 and the Munich Agreement of 1938.

6. Full-scale Conflict: Ultimately, the Nazis' actions led to the complete rejection of the Treaty when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, triggering World War II. This marked the definitive end of the Treaty of Versailles as the focal point of European diplomatic relations and its replacement by wartime alliances and hostility.