4. Nature of Nazi foreign policy aims and strategies to Sept 1939 Flashcards
ultimate aim of foreign policy?
aims of Nazi foreign policy to 1939 centred on destruction of TOV (reparation, military equality, recovery of territory).
territorial expansion and German racial purity
What was Hitler main aims?
aimed to restore honour of Germany in the international world and destroy legacy of Weimer Republic
political aim?
build alliances with Mussolini’s dictatorship in Italy
what did Hitler also desire?
o Gaining natural resources to allow production of rearmaments
o Creation of living space in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union (Lebensraeum)
o Reclaiming all lost territory under TOV and uniting German-speaking people as part of Third Reich
o Uniting Austria and Germany (Anschluss)
o Remilitirisation of Rhineland
what happened Oct 1933?
pulled out from both Disarmament Conference and the League of Nations
what did leaving of LON mean?
Gave more freedom of action and enabled Hitler to start rearm on basis of seeking equality
Jan 1934?
Germany and Poland signed Ten Year Non-Aggression Pact = Nazi dishonesty
march 1935?
Announced German army exceeded limit by 100 000, reintroduced conscription
response to german announcement of rearmament?
no action taken but Britain, France and Italy met at Stresa to form Stresa Front to keep check on future German behaviour as fear of future actions
1936?
demilitarised region of Rhineland
acts of war for foreign policy?
invaded Abyssinia, Spanish Civil War, Czech Crisis
what was granted At the Munich Conference in 1938?
Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia
1939?
o Germany invaded Czech
o Germany and Soviet Union signed non-aggression pact
3 Sept 1939?
Britain and France declared war on Germany
what does Ian Kershaw say?
shows that by mid-1939, Hitler convinced himself of his genius. His confidence affected his foreign policy ambitions. He felt he had been denied the war he wanted due to Munich Conference, and would not be denied his war over Poland
