Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims

Question 1

What were Hitler’s main foreign policy aims

Answer 1

1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles (ToV)
2. Expand German territory (including to gain lebensraum)
3. Defeat Communism

Question 2

Where had Hitler laid out his ideas?

Answer 2

In Mein Kampf (which he wrote in 1924-5)

Question 3

What did Hitler believe about the ToV?

Answer 3

He hated it, believing that it was fundamentally unjust - and must be abolished

Question 4

What was the ToV a constant reminder of?

Answer 4

Germany’s humiliation at the hands of the Allies at the end of WWI

Question 5

What had Hitler promised during his campaigning to become leader of Germany?

Answer 5

That he would abolish the ToV

Question 6

When Hitler came to power in Germany, what actions had already taken place to do with the Treaty?

Answer 6

Germany had stopped paying reparations

Question 7

Why was Hitler so focused on territorial gains?

Answer 7

Lots of German land (approx 10-13% of its European territory) had been taken away by the ToV

Question 8

What key territorial aims did Hitler gave?

Answer 8

1. Get back land lost in the ToV
2. Unite with Austria (Anschluss)
3. Carve our an empire in eastern Europe to give more living space (‘lebensraum’) for Germans

Question 9

What were Hitler’s beliefs about Communism/Bolshevism?

Answer 9

He hated it

Question 10

Why did Hitler hate Communism/Bolshevism?

Answer 10

1. He believed the Bolsheviks had helped lead to German defeat in the First World War
2. He believed the Communists wanted to seize power in Germany