hitler’s foreign policy
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Hitler’s Foreign PolicyHitler’s Foreign Policy
1933-19381933-1938
Sources of Hitler’s Foreign PolicySources of Hitler’s Foreign Policy Lebensraum Lebensraum andand Drang nach OstenDrang nach Osten GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland, or Greater Germany, or Greater Germany VoelkischVoelkisch thought thought Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism Mein KampfMein Kampf, or “my struggle”, or “my struggle” fascism and totalitarian ideologyfascism and totalitarian ideology romantic nationalismromantic nationalism irrationalism and fearirrationalism and fear World War OneWorld War One Great DepressionGreat Depression Treaty of Versailles and the Paris Treaty of Versailles and the Paris
Peace ConferencePeace Conference failures of the international system failures of the international system
and diplomacyand diplomacy
Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals:Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals: restore German honor and prestige among restore German honor and prestige among
the great powersthe great powers
reclaim the Rheinland, Saarland, and the reclaim the Rheinland, Saarland, and the SudetenlandSudetenland
reunite the free city of Danzig and East reunite the free city of Danzig and East Prussia, including the historically Prussia, including the historically significant town of significant town of KönigsbergKönigsberg, with , with Germany via the Polish Corridor Germany via the Polish Corridor (Pomerania)(Pomerania)
end the German diaspora by the creation end the German diaspora by the creation of of GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland, or Greater Germany, or Greater Germany
Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals (cont.) :Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals (cont.) : acquire acquire lebensraumlebensraum in Eastern Europe for in Eastern Europe for
the benefit of the Aryan racethe benefit of the Aryan race
subjugate peoples whom the Nazis subjugate peoples whom the Nazis deemed deemed untermenschenuntermenschen, or inferior and , or inferior and even subhuman (e.g. Slavs, Jews, etc.)even subhuman (e.g. Slavs, Jews, etc.)
defeat communism and democracydefeat communism and democracy
exploit the natural and human resources exploit the natural and human resources of conquered lands for the benefit of the of conquered lands for the benefit of the Third ReichThird Reich
Hossbach MemorandumHossbach Memorandum (1937) (1937)
details a meeting where Hitler outlined his details a meeting where Hitler outlined his foreign policy:foreign policy:
““The aim of German policy was to make The aim of German policy was to make secure and to preserve the racial secure and to preserve the racial community [community [VolksmasseVolksmasse] and to enlarge it. ] and to enlarge it. It was therefore a question of space.”It was therefore a question of space.”
Hitler’s relations with the Hitler’s relations with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ReichskonkordatReichskonkordat, or Reich , or Reich Concordat:Concordat:
between Germany and the Holy See between Germany and the Holy See guaranteed Catholic religious guaranteed Catholic religious freedoms and defined certain freedoms and defined certain relations between the Catholic relations between the Catholic Church, the clergy, and the stateChurch, the clergy, and the state
Signing of the Reichskonkordat (July 20, 1933): Franz von Papen, Vice-Chancellor, Germany (seated at left) and Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli (center)
German-Italian RelationsGerman-Italian Relations German-Italian relations were defined in terms of Hitler and German-Italian relations were defined in terms of Hitler and
Mussolini’s strategic objectives with regard to other countries, Mussolini’s strategic objectives with regard to other countries, like Austria and Spainlike Austria and Spain
Donau Pact and Assassination of Donau Pact and Assassination of DollfußDollfuß (1934) (1934)
Italian invasion of Abyssinia (1935)Italian invasion of Abyssinia (1935)
Rome-Berlin Axis (October, 1936)Rome-Berlin Axis (October, 1936)
Anschluss ÖsterreichsAnschluss Österreichs (March, 1938)(March, 1938)
Munich Agreement (September, 1938)Munich Agreement (September, 1938)
Pact of Steel (May, 1939)Pact of Steel (May, 1939)
Rome-Berlin Axis was announced October 25, 1936
German-Soviet RelationsGerman-Soviet Relations Hitler despised communism and viewed Hitler despised communism and viewed
Russia as populated by ethnic Slavs ruled Russia as populated by ethnic Slavs ruled by their Jewish Bolshevik masters; Nazi by their Jewish Bolshevik masters; Nazi ideology centered on racial conflict while ideology centered on racial conflict while Marxist ideology focused on class conflictMarxist ideology focused on class conflict
due to domestic scarcity, Germany relied due to domestic scarcity, Germany relied heavily on Russia to import raw materialsheavily on Russia to import raw materials
Hitler sought the goal of self-sufficiency Hitler sought the goal of self-sufficiency through the pursuit of an expansionist through the pursuit of an expansionist policy and through stress on making policy and through stress on making Germany less dependent on outside raw Germany less dependent on outside raw materials (Four-Year Plan)materials (Four-Year Plan)
German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.) workers in Germany were highly skilled and its workers in Germany were highly skilled and its
industry was largely private; Germany was also a industry was largely private; Germany was also a leader in world trade; Russia lagged in industrial leader in world trade; Russia lagged in industrial development prior to 1917; after the Russian development prior to 1917; after the Russian Revolution (1917), the communists took control Revolution (1917), the communists took control of Soviet banking, industry, and transportation of Soviet banking, industry, and transportation (state ownership)(state ownership)
when Stalin assumed power in 1924, he when Stalin assumed power in 1924, he embarked on a program of rapid industrial embarked on a program of rapid industrial modernization while maintaining relative modernization while maintaining relative isolation from the rest of Europe; Stalin isolation from the rest of Europe; Stalin estimated that the USSR was 50 years to a estimated that the USSR was 50 years to a century behind in economic development; Stalin century behind in economic development; Stalin achieved unprecedented growth rates of 10-12% achieved unprecedented growth rates of 10-12% per year in the 1930sper year in the 1930s
German Four-Year Plan (German Four-Year Plan (1936-1936-1940)1940)
Hitler’s program Hitler’s program to to make the German make the German army operational army operational and the German and the German economy fit for economy fit for war within four war within four yearsyears; Hitler ; Hitler appointed appointed HermannHermann Göring to Göring to oversee oversee implementation of implementation of the plan; the plan;
German-Soviet Relations German-Soviet Relations (cont.)(cont.)
Soviet Five-Year PlansSoviet Five-Year Plans
1.1. First Five-Year Plan (1928-1933)First Five-Year Plan (1928-1933) build industrial infrastructure and build industrial infrastructure and collectivize agriculturecollectivize agriculture
2.2. Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937)Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937) focused on heavy industry, focused on heavy industry, especially steelespecially steel
3.3. Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1941) Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1941) concentrates on war preparedness: concentrates on war preparedness: armaments, military equipment, armaments, military equipment, weaponry weaponry
The Great Purge (1936-The Great Purge (1936-1938)1938)
policy of Stalinist repression, policy of Stalinist repression, persecution, and execution of persecution, and execution of political opponents, peasants, and political opponents, peasants, and non-partisans in the Soviet Union non-partisans in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938; Josef Stalin’s plan from 1936 to 1938; Josef Stalin’s plan to purge the Communist Party and to purge the Communist Party and consolidate his power consolidate his power
Josef Stalin:Josef Stalin:under Stalinist rule, one under Stalinist rule, one might simply might simply disappear---both literally disappear---both literally and officially; and officially; Commissar Nikolai Commissar Nikolai Yezhov to Stalin’s right Yezhov to Stalin’s right in this photo from the in this photo from the 1930s was shot in 1940 1930s was shot in 1940 and airbrushed out of and airbrushed out of historyhistoryby Soviet censorsby Soviet censors
German-Soviet Relations German-Soviet Relations (cont.)(cont.)
during the inter-war period both the during the inter-war period both the Soviet Republic (Russian Revolution Soviet Republic (Russian Revolution and communism) and the German and communism) and the German Reich (international reparations and Reich (international reparations and economic and political turmoil) were economic and political turmoil) were viewed as international outcasts viewed as international outcasts
overall neutrality and nonaggression overall neutrality and nonaggression maintained by the Soviets and maintained by the Soviets and Germans in the 1930s (extension of Germans in the 1930s (extension of Treaty of Berlin) was uneasyTreaty of Berlin) was uneasy
German-Soviet Relations German-Soviet Relations (cont.)(cont.)
Soviet policy of reluctant rapprochement Soviet policy of reluctant rapprochement was replaced by a policy of containment was replaced by a policy of containment through collective security in the mid-1930s through collective security in the mid-1930s as Hitler escalated his pan-Slavic, anti-as Hitler escalated his pan-Slavic, anti-Semitic rhetoricSemitic rhetoric
1936 Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany and Japan (later joined by Italy) reaffirmed and Japan (later joined by Italy) reaffirmed Hitler’s opposition to communist expansionHitler’s opposition to communist expansion
despite the anti-Soviet rhetoric, Germany despite the anti-Soviet rhetoric, Germany concluded a credit agreement with the concluded a credit agreement with the Soviets in 1935; however, the following year Soviets in 1935; however, the following year Hitler issued his Four-Year PlanHitler issued his Four-Year Plan
German-Soviet Relations German-Soviet Relations (cont.)(cont.)
Munich Agreement of 1938 rendered Munich Agreement of 1938 rendered the policy of collective security sterile: the policy of collective security sterile: British and French support of Sudeten British and French support of Sudeten German self-determination over and German self-determination over and above Czech sovereignty undermined above Czech sovereignty undermined the Soviet position and shaped the the Soviet position and shaped the focus of the Third Five-Year Plan to war focus of the Third Five-Year Plan to war preparednesspreparedness
German involvement in the German involvement in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Condor Legion: unit of German volunteers who Condor Legion: unit of German volunteers who fought with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil fought with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War; field tested new military equipment and War; field tested new military equipment and methods of terror bombing which were judged to methods of terror bombing which were judged to be ineffectivebe ineffective
Spanish Civil War pitted Italy and Germany against Spanish Civil War pitted Italy and Germany against Soviet RussiaSoviet Russia
German motivations: Franco, if successful, would German motivations: Franco, if successful, would rule another fascist state, Spain, on the borders of rule another fascist state, Spain, on the borders of France; inflamed internal political divisions within France; inflamed internal political divisions within France between right and left; assisting Italy in France between right and left; assisting Italy in Spain positioned Mussolini closer to the Nazi Spain positioned Mussolini closer to the Nazi government and farther from the Western government and farther from the Western democracies (Britain and France); exploitation of democracies (Britain and France); exploitation of Spanish raw materials (e.g. iron ore)Spanish raw materials (e.g. iron ore)
Anti-war painting by Pablo Picasso, Guernica (1937)Based on German terror bombing of Guernica, Spain.
German policy towards Eastern German policy towards Eastern EuropeEurope
Hitler viewed Eastern Europeans, particularly Hitler viewed Eastern Europeans, particularly the Slavs, as subhuman, or the Slavs, as subhuman, or untermenschenuntermenschen
Hitler looked eastward for Hitler looked eastward for lebensraumlebensraum to to establish establish GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland and to exploit and to exploit natural resourcesnatural resources
annexation of Austria, or annexation of Austria, or AnschlußAnschluß Österreichs Österreichs occupation of the Sudetenland and the carving occupation of the Sudetenland and the carving
up of Czechoslovakia up of Czechoslovakia invasion of Poland and Russiainvasion of Poland and Russia Nazi puppet states: Bulgaria (1940-1944), Nazi puppet states: Bulgaria (1940-1944),
Croatia (1941-1945), Hungary (1944-1945), Croatia (1941-1945), Hungary (1944-1945), Romania (1940-1944), Slovakia (1939-1945)Romania (1940-1944), Slovakia (1939-1945)
Germany and the WestGermany and the West British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued
a policy of appeasement with Hitler from 1937 to a policy of appeasement with Hitler from 1937 to 1939 in order to avoid armed conflict with Germany1939 in order to avoid armed conflict with Germany
appeasement emerged from the failure of the appeasement emerged from the failure of the League of Nations and the international system to League of Nations and the international system to prevent the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, prevent the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rheinland, and the Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rheinland, and the Italian invasion of Abyssinia Italian invasion of Abyssinia
Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland to Hitler Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland to Hitler and put the question of the division of remaining and put the question of the division of remaining Czechoslovak territory in the hands of an Czechoslovak territory in the hands of an international commission; Czechoslovakia was international commission; Czechoslovakia was divided among Germany, Hungary, Poland, and a divided among Germany, Hungary, Poland, and a new Slovakian state was created; Czechoslovakia, new Slovakian state was created; Czechoslovakia, Britain and France’s ally, ceased to exist Britain and France’s ally, ceased to exist
Munich Agreement1938
Hitler was hailed by Hitler was hailed by many Sudeten many Sudeten Germans as a Germans as a liberatorliberator
SummarySummary
1919-1933 Weimar Republic
• fractious democratic republic with guarantees of civil rights and protection of personal liberties; viewed by some as decadent, foreign, and un-German
1933-1945Third Reich
• aggressive, expansionist, and militant totalitarian state where civil rights are eliminated and personal liberties denied; armed prison camp
Lessons from Hitler’s Foreign Policy (1933-Lessons from Hitler’s Foreign Policy (1933-1938)1938) possible extreme consequences of diplomatic possible extreme consequences of diplomatic
miscalculationsmiscalculations policy of appeasement; policy of appeasement; the so-called Lesson of Munich the so-called Lesson of Munich
states that enemies will interpret restraint as indicating states that enemies will interpret restraint as indicating a lack of capability or political will or botha lack of capability or political will or both
limits of public opinion in modern democracylimits of public opinion in modern democracy virtue of consistency in threatening and using forcevirtue of consistency in threatening and using force potentially catastrophic impact of irrationalism on potentially catastrophic impact of irrationalism on
foreign policyforeign policy fear is an effective tool for mobilizing and shaping fear is an effective tool for mobilizing and shaping
public sentimentpublic sentiment totalitarian regimes could seize power through totalitarian regimes could seize power through
legitimate political means and not just through violencelegitimate political means and not just through violence principle of humanitarian interventionism; human rights principle of humanitarian interventionism; human rights
abuses, or crimes against humanity, may justify abuses, or crimes against humanity, may justify interventionintervention
Historiography, or Historiography, or Interpretive ConcernsInterpretive Concerns
Was Hitler’s foreign policy…Was Hitler’s foreign policy…
stufenplanstufenplan, step-by-step (intentional), , step-by-step (intentional), or or ad hocad hoc, improvisational , improvisational (functionalist)?(functionalist)?
Conclusion: With regards to the Nazi regime, the general contours of dictatorship and the overall trajectory of totalitarianism was clear to the nations of the world by 1938. Yet, in 1938 Western powers engaged Hitler with a policy of appeasement or created distance from Germany through isolationism. Hitler’s main objective---world domination---was apparent before 1938.
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