In 1936, Hitler could have been prevented.
That is also the question here.
You see a collage with German and French troops.
This refers to the occupation
of the demilitarized zone in the Rhineland
by German troops, which Hitler dared to embark on in 1936.
Hitler himself described this as one of
the greatest risks of his political career.
The Rhineland was a sensitive area at the time
because after World War I, it had been
occupied by the victors, Britain and France,
with Germany having a great interest
in regaining this territory for itself.
And Hitler, who was under a lot of pressure in 1936,
on the one hand, domestically,
because through the development of the armaments industry
he gained problems to ensure the supply of the population.
Externally, he feared being encircled by a
Soviet-French assistance treaty.
Hitler tried to take the reins
and had 30,000 troops march
into the demilitarized zone.
France, then the strongest continental power,
with over 600,000 troops, did not respond.
People didn't want war.
The leftist government, the Popular Front government
had no interest in war.
And Britain, the other protecting power,
had no interest in war either.
Hitler used this foreign policy coup
to stabilize himself domestically as well.
Shortly thereafter, a Reichstag election was held,
which Hitler won with 99% of the votes.