✓ Hitler’s ideas and his role in the shaping of Nazi foreign policy - HITLER DRIVEN (not incl notes)

Question 1

Did H take advice from the Nazi government?

Answer 1

H did ask many different party members for advice
BUT ultimately made his own decisions & N foreign p followed H’s ideology as closely as possible

e.g. H faced opposition from N party over desire for alliance w Italy (bc meant not occupying Tyrol area - signif G speaking pop.)
BUT H pushed through alliance bc more important than overturning TofV

Question 2

What was Nazi foreign policy like?

Answer 2

ruthless in its pursuit of what it saw as G’s rights
e.g. 1934 non-aggression pact w Poland was acc to cut Fr off from EE allies

Question 3

What were the 4 main features of Nazi foreign policy?

Answer 3

Overturning Versailles

Strategic Alliances

Expansion

Germanisation

Question 4

4 main features of Nazi foreign policy?
(O V)

Answer 4

by spreading N influence in those areas it wanted to reclaim (e.g. Austria & Danzig) & , where necessary, by using military force

Question 5

4 main features of Nazi foreign policy?
(S A)

Answer 5

to stop anti-G power blocs building up & to make sure that when it came to war, G didn’t have to fight a war on 2 fronts

these were made w individual countries wherever possible & this was to divide the other nations & make the treaties easier to break

Question 6

4 main features of Nazi foreign policy?
(E)

Answer 6

by spreading N influence, forming alliances & , where necessary, using military force

Question 7

4 main features of Nazi foreign policy?
(G)

Answer 7

by spreading N racial ideas, oppression & removal of ‘undesirables’ in G-controlled lands

Question 8

Evidence of H having a masterplan?
(foreign ministers)

Answer 8

until 1936 kept same foreign ministry officials = didn’t interfere with plan OR long-term planning

H wanted full control of G before war
- show of continuity seems more moderate

Question 9

Evidence of H having a masterplan?
(land gains)

Answer 9

a comparison of land gains from 1935-39 vs. aims in mein kampf/speeches/meetings
- signif match of overturning TofV & lebensraum

BUT
eastward expansion = simply broad aims rather than a plan

Question 10

Evidence of H having a masterplan?
(preparation)

Answer 10

analysis of how prepared the Nazis were for each foreign policy move
- evidence of their unpreparedness = lack of H planning

BUT
move was planned & also brought on early by other factors
e.g. takeover of Austria happened earlier than planned bc of actions of Austrian Nazis

Question 11

What was H like as a personality?

Answer 11

evidence that H was an excellent speech-maker
- evidence he worked at speech-making bc saw it as vital to controlling the pop. (discussed in mein kampf)

bad at personal relationships

outbursts of fury in speeches/meetings real or planned = unknown

more a long-term planner vs. opportunist
(expanding east vs. invasion of Austria)