On March 7, 1936, Germany sent in a small force to remilitarize the Rhineland. Historically, the French built up their forces on their side of the border, but ultimately did nothing in response. WI they had, re-entering the rhineland in force, with dozens of infantry divisions? What would Hitler and the German public's reaction be?
March 7, 1936: French forces re-enter the Rhineland
- Thread starter JimmyJimJam
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Hitler was recorded as saying that it was a risky move and that Germany was not prepared for war. If France occupied the Rhineland, they could further cripple the German economy. WWII could have been averted completely, which would create butterflies throughout the 20th Century.
If Germany by some miracle attempts Anschluss anyway, we could definitely see an Italy alligned closely with Britain and France. In the East, Japan wouldn't dare attack European colonies with Europe not distracted by war.
Italy still gets Abyssinia, but it doesn't last as long.
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Alternatively, if France does occupy the Rhineland and destroy the German economy, we may see a communist resurgence in Germany supported by the USSR.
If Germany by some miracle attempts Anschluss anyway, we could definitely see an Italy alligned closely with Britain and France. In the East, Japan wouldn't dare attack European colonies with Europe not distracted by war.
Italy still gets Abyssinia, but it doesn't last as long.
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Alternatively, if France does occupy the Rhineland and destroy the German economy, we may see a communist resurgence in Germany supported by the USSR.
Hitler's credibility stops and Germany collapses. A communist government rises and the combined forces of Germany and the USSR are so strong that no war goes on except these two countries dividing Poland. Japan would not dare do anything as the Europeans have no distractions and the USSR is much stronger than them... 
The French occupy the Rhineland. Hitler still goes ahead with the Anschluss, while watching as France's credibility internationally goes into free-fall (after all, the Nazis can claim quite rightly that the Rhineland is their territory, they should be able to do what they like with it). World War II still breaks out, but this time not over the Danzig Corridor but the French occupied-Rhineland.
Well, by the mid 1930's, many (most?) people felt Germany had been unfairly dealt with and had legitimate grievances. And that France had been a bully boy after victory in the Great War...
As to a botched invasion of the Rhineland by Hitler, it would have enormous repurcussions. The last thing the Germans wanted was war or strife and a bloody nose (in political terms) would have undermined Hitler, whose early run of victories (both on and off the battlefield) gave him enormous credit. Barring that, he'd be just another crackpot with delusions of grandeur. Certainly, the army wouldn't have followed him in his wild adventures.
The French might have suffered a domestic political backlash as war was not popular. At the same time, they might have been happy with Germany being put in its place before a war could start. It all depends on how French politicians manage to spin it.
How about you just not contribute? It would be so much more helpful.
This would nip Nazism in the bud, IMO.
The French government would likely collapse. The Eiffel Tower would explode, all government officials in France would immediately die of heart attacks, and all of the souffles in Paris would immediately fall upon themselves.
This is my contribution.
Unfortunately, he is right. At the time, the French thought they would have had to begin mobilizing the entirety of their armed forces, which they simply did not have the money to do. That, and they figured they would have a fight another war like the Great War, required a commitment on the part of the United Kingdom [who did not consider the Rhineland all that great a loss], and was faced with an upcoming election.
Not saying that they couldn't brush aside the Germans, they easily could. The problem is the doctrines in place and the situation in which the French government found itself.
The demilitirisation of the Rhineland was actually seen as one of the fairier aspects of the Treaty, so I wouldn't worry about that.
You're full of it. Your scenario isn't in any way likely. How would the French government collapse? They occupy an industrious area of Germany using battle-hardened soldiers still sour about Germany's invasion in WWI, and come across a bunch of German soldiers ill-prepared, ill-motivated and ill-supplied, who have orders to RETREAT if they encounter the French, and your proposal is that a day later, after the French forces successfully occupy the Rhineland, drive out the Wehrmacht, and take control of the most industrial part of Germany, the French government collapses?
Please. Be serious.
I have to disagree. Enforcing the Versailles Treaty was one of the only things the French could commit to post-war. Invading the Rhineland would be a gamble, to be sure, but if successfully pulled off (as the OP proposes), then the French government would be pleasantly surprised that trenches aren't dug and the Germans are going back to Berlin.
On the point of the OP, and your analysis, I have to agree with you. However, would the Nazi government collapse, or are we seeing a similar situation arise like that in 1923 (after the German military pulls out)?
On the historical basis, the OP could have been easily carried out. The only thing that prevented the French from entering the Rhineland without mobilization was the assurance on the part of the United Kingdom that they would commit troops to Europe at WWI levels in the event of war. The general apathy of the United Kingdom to the Crisis, and the failure to make this commitment, largely resulted in France simply sitting on its hands.
What would have to happen diplomatically and politically for the French government at the time to decide to "go it alone" and risk war with Germany? Let's assume for a moment that no souffles with immediately collapse.
First you are going to have to give the French government a spine, then when the French Army moves in the bully that was Adolph Hitler will back down. I don't see Hitler and his government falling, but the German military is going to take a step back from him. The butterflies have the potential to be major for Germany and Europe's future.
Say what ?
Not to defend the original claim, but..
It's been 18 years since the last serious fighting in europe, most of the troops involved in such an action wouldn't even have been born at the start of WW1 - battlehardned is not quite the term....
French governments in the 30's were notoriously unstable and shortlived.
If the operation goes well, fine they buy a few months extra, but if anything goes wrong, before, during or after, it's goodbye to another french government.
It's probably still goodbye even if nothing goes wrong.
Remember, France had been here before. The occupation of the Ruhr had been a complete success, and was also perfectly legal under the Treaty of Versailles - yet the French government which undertook it fell a few months later. There was no political mileage in such adventures, however legal or however successful.
Nor was the French Army really interested. Even a year before, at the time of the Stresa Front, Franco-Italian military conversations were copnfined to the defence of Alsace and S Tyrol, with the Rhineland DMZ silently written off. Once they came to regard the Maginot Line as their defensive position, the DMZ became irrelevant, so naturally they poured cold water on any proposal to recover it.