Third Reich Day by Day: March 1935

This year was a pivotal period for the Third Reich’s relations with the rest of the world. Adolf Hitler announced he was reintroducing universal conscription, which was a repudiation of the hated Treaty of Versailles, and was warmly welcomed at home. In addition, as German troops marched into the Saar, he was determined to reintegrate those ethnic Germans who were living outside Germany back into the Reich. On the domestic front, more laws were introduced against Jews, who were becoming second-class citizens in their own country.

1 March

Germany, The SAAR

German troops march into the Saar in March following the plebiscite. It had been under League of Nations control.
German troops march into the Saar in March following the plebiscite. It had been under League of Nations control.

The German Army, accompanied by armed SS units, marches into Saarbrücken.

16 March

Germany, Treaties

Heinkel He 42 floatplanes fly over the Fatherland, part of Hitler’s new Luftwaffe and a breach of the Treaty of Versailles.
Heinkel He 42 floatplanes fly over the Fatherland, part of Hitler’s new Luftwaffe and a breach of the Treaty of Versailles.

Adolf Hitler renounces the Treaty of Versailles’ disarmament clauses. He makes his famous proclamation in which he repudiates the Treaty of Versailles and reintroduces military conscription, announcing this to the German parliament as a political statement, in direct contravention to the Treaty of Versailles, which expressly forbids a standing army of over 100,000 men. Parts of the speech are word-for-word those written seven years earlier by Defence Minister Groner. Hitler appears to have been the first frontline politician prepared to stand up and present it. He certainly expects some repercussions from the Allies, but they are too engrossed with their own internal affairs and actually take very little no notice.

SS, Waffen-SS

Hitler officially establishes the SS-Verfügungstruppe, although at this time it already consists of 11 battalions. The intention was always that the SS-Verfügungstruppe would benefit from the highest possible standards of training available. To facilitate this, two highly regarded former army officers, Paul Hausser and Felix Steiner, have been recruited to supervise training. Both were ultimately to become among the finest field commanders of the Waffen-SS.