Hitler's role in shaping foreign policy

Question 1

What is evidence that Hitler’s individual role was a cause for World War 2?

Answer 1

. Sought Lebensraum
. Wanted to overturn the TOV

Question 2

How did Hitler aim to achieve Lebensraum and the overturn of the TOV?

Answer 2

. Expanded the German military
. Annexed Austria and the whole of Czechoslovakia

Question 3

What was Hitler’s vision for Germany’s future?

Answer 3

A ‘racially pure’ German state - central to Europe supported by satellite states whose population was enslaved

Question 4

How was Hitler personally instrumental in pushing foreign and economic policy in a more aggressive direction that made war more likely?

Answer 4

.Hitler’s decision to redirect economic policy from 1936
towards preparing for a large-scale war
. Remilitarisation of the Rhineland, breaching the TOV, against advice of his generals

Question 5

Who was behind the annexation of Austria (1938)

Answer 5

Hitler and Goering

Question 6

What is evidence of Hitler individually taking a more forward approach - resulting in war?

Answer 6

Hitler steered his generals towards preparation for a major European war from 1938 - purged any generals who opposed him during the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair

Question 7

What is evidence that Hitler had a masterplan leading to world domination?

Answer 7

. Mein Kampf - set out Hitler’s vision to create Lebensraum in Eastern Europe
. Four Year Plan - introduced in 1936 in order to get Germany ready for the war

Question 8

Argument that Hitler was an opportunist?

Answer 8

Hitler was unsure how Britain and France would respond to the remilitarisation of the Rhineland - after their acceptance, Hitler’s foreign policy became bolder

Question 9

Did Hitler have a plan for peace?

Answer 9

Throughout 1930s Hitler’s main goal was to avoid war - willingness to sign treaties with Britain and France and the USSR shows he wanted to expand without starting a war