German Foreign Policy Under Hitler - Intentionalist and Functionalist Argument

Question 1

What is the intentionalist view?

Answer 1

Intentionalists believe Hitler and the Nazis drove if war broke out.

Question 2

What is the Functionalist/Structuralist view?

Answer 2

Functionalist/Structuralists believe outside influences were as significant, if not more, than German Foreign Policy for the outbreak of WW2.

Question 3

What do both views have in common?

Answer 3

Both believe Hitler INTENDED to go to war.

Both believe Hitler knew what he wanted, but took advantage of events.

Question 4

Features of the intentionalist argument

Answer 4

Hitler had a masterplan from the beginning - outlined in Mein Kampf

It was to:
Either take over Eastern Europe
Or take over Europe first, then Middle East and the British Colonies, then the rest of the world.

Question 5

Features of the Functionalist/Structuralist argument

Answer 5

Hitler followed the historical policy of expansionism - the gap between WW1 and WW2 was lull in the same 30 Years’ War

Events in the rest of the world and intentions and actions of other world leaders had a significant effect on if the world went to war or not

Question 6

What were the other factors Functionalists/Structuralists argue?

Answer 6

Pressures inside the party.
Pressures from other social groups - example being Industrialists.
External factors - example being World Economy