IMPACT OF IDEOLOGY ON NAZI FOREIGN POLICY

Question 1

what were the 3 sources of nazi ideology - the fuhrer

Answer 1

1. Mein Kampf 1925: ideas central to Nazism were developed obsessively & at a great length
2. Scattered through NP publications & speeches given by Hitler & close associates in late 1920s & early 1930s
3. Zweites Buch (Second Book) 1928: even more explicit & obsessive in relation to G’s destiny. Provides further insight into Nazi ideology particuarly hinting to more intentionalist ambitions

Question 2

what is the commonality of all sources of ideology

Answer 2

emphasis on what Hitler regarded as the key determinants in human history: (i) racial struggle & (ii) ‘survival of the fittest’ / social Darwinism

Question 3

what did Kershaw argue ab the themes of racial struggle & social darwinism

Answer 3

argued these 2 themes had been central to Hitler’s thinking since 1920s. Hitler’s racial obsession combined w concerns about space convinced him that successful nations needed to secure adequate ‘Lebensraum’ in order to consolidate their strength & to expand

Question 4

hitler believed aryans had a responsibility to maintain. + strengthen their racial purity. what is his quote in mein kampf

Answer 4

Germans have a “correspondingly high duty” to “care for the purity of their own blood” (Mein Kampf)

Question 5

what was lebensraum’s impact on FP

Answer 5

Only a racially pure nation would possess the strength to expand & win the struggle for survival against other nations

Question 6

what was goebbels’ quote in 1920s ab social darwinism

Answer 6

1920s: “We must have a healthy people in order to prevail in the world” (GOEBBELS)

Question 7

what does mein kampf hint to in terms of FP

Answer 7

expansion & the acquisition of land will be Hitler’s objective in foreign policy
Race + space were inextricably linked; a racially pure G would inevitably expand & require more Lebensraum in central & Eastern Europe

Question 8

what determinded nazi FP

Answer 8

Racial & territorial domination

Question 9

what happened to FP after occupying czech 1935

Answer 9

Hitler ceased following a traditional nationalist policy & embarked on the revolutionary course outlined in Mein Kampf → a FP pursuing racial objectives

Question 10

what was nazi view of social darwinism

Answer 10

According to this view, the strongest & most biologically fit survived & dominated

Question 11

hitlers quote on social darwinism

Answer 11

“Wherever our success may end, that will be only the starting point of a new fight” (HITLER)

Question 12

Zweites Buch details Hitler’s future foreign policy in 5 stages. what are they

Answer 12

1. Reversing ToV
2. German control over Austria, Czech & Poland
3. Defeat of France
4. Invasion of Russia
5. World supremacy

Question 13

what was the nazi view on war influced by social darwinist view

Answer 13

War is an inevitable part of racial struggle → Nazi ideology ensured FP focused on securing (i) an expanded dominant position & (ii) the imposition of power over lesser peoples

Question 14

Regardless of whether intentionalist or structuralist, it remains that Nazi ideology determined that …

Answer 14

territorial expansion was essential for survival of Aryan race