HIST2125Hitler’s Germany

Lecture 13:

Expansionist foreign politics, 1938-39

15 November 2012

Foreign policy 4-phase-model

• Revisionist and high-risk foreign politics, 1933-36

• Expansionist foreign politics, 1938-39

• Blitz Wars and ideological warfare, 1939-42

• Total War and downfall, 1943-45

Austria ☻ ☺

Anschluß (annexation), Mar-Apr 1938:

• Hitler’s home country + historical & economic factors

• No intervention of Britain & Italy

• Austrian’s enthusiastic welcome of Hitler → planned forceful subordination becomes peaceful Anschluß

• Plebiscite in both G & A: 99% supportive of Anschluß

Sudeten Crisis, summer 1938

• 3,5 million Sudeten Germans in CZ opposed to Prague

• Hitler’s ideologically-driven expansionist goals

• Wehrmacht’s military-strategic considerations

• Hitler’s demand for cession of Sudetenland

• Appeasement policy of Chamberlain

Appeasement Policy

• Historical experiences

• Belief in peaceful solutions

• Disillusionment with Versailles Treaty

• Fear of communism

Munich Agreement, 30 Sep 1938

Treaty of Britain-France-Germany-Italy:

• German occupation of Sudetenland

• British-French guarantee for remaining CZ

• German-British declaration of non-aggression and consultation

• No further German territorial demands on CZ

Protectorate Bohemia-Moravia, Mar 1939

• Hitler’s high-risk policy to ‘smash CZ by military action’

• President Hácha relinquishes CZ to Germany: No foreign intervention

• Slovakia’s ‘independence’, 14 Mar

• Occupation of rest-CZ by Germany, 15 Mar

• Creation of ‘Protectorate’ with limited sovereignty under German protection

= Slap-in-the-face for Chamberlain & appeasement policy

Consequences• Violation of Munich Agreement tolerated but not

accepted by Western powers

• Hitler no longer seen as ‘revisionist’ but aggressor

• GB guarantee of PL freedom with tacit support of USA (31 Mar 1939)

• USA as armament provider for GB + F

• Strong boost for possible future Anglo-American war alliance

Stahlpakt (Pact of Steel), May 1939

Offensive German-Italian military alliance:

• Continuation of Berlin-Rome Axis

• Close cooperation in war economy & military matters

• Common agreement on future truces & peace treaties

= Highly important for Hitler’s decision to go to war

= In reality not much cooperation with Mussolini

Interpretations:Hitler’s Role in foreign policy

Intentionalist, programmatist, Hitlerist school:

• Hitler’s ideological goals shaped consistent foreign policy

• Foreign policy’s broad outlines and objectives were ‘programmed’ long in advance

Structuralist, functionalist school:

• No program: Foreing policy with unclear & unspecific ways & aims

• Foreign policy more result of uncontrollable dynamism & radicalizing momentum of NSDAP and government offices

Integrated School

• Hitler’s major initiatives & vital decisions

• Hitler’s fresh, unorthodox line ≠ other power groups’ suspicions & objections

• Hitler attentive to ‘structural’ domestic & external limitingfactors

• No evidence of ‘weak dictator’

= Hitler with dominant role in foreign policy decisions