reasons for Nazi Germany Aggressive Foreign Policy

Question 1

Reasons

Answer 1

1. abolish TOV
2. destroy communism
3. achieve Lebensraum
4. enforce militarism

Question 2

abolish TOV

Answer 2

• abolishing TOV was set out in Mein Kampf
• Hitler saw TOV as a ‘scandal and a disgrace’ to Germany and a ‘diktat’ - a forced treaty which they had no say in its negotiations
• wanted an edn to the reparation payment and reclaim territories which were lost (eg. Polish Corridor and the City of Danzig)
• subsequently manifested in the Saar Plebiscite (1935) where Germany annexed the Saar region - violating TOV

Question 3

Explanation

Answer 3

• Hitler wanted to restore Germany’s national pride by getting back the territories it had lost
• the abolishment of TOV would also strengthen Germany by rearming Germany, and introducing conscription to recruit enough men to be able to conquer more territories

Question 4

Link

Answer 4

thus, Hitler embarked on his aggressive policy to achieve his aims of restoring Germany’s pride and strengthening it again

Question 5

destroy communism

Answer 5

• the idea of destroying communism was set out in Mein Kampf
• Hitler believed that communism overran a great Russian empire through cruelty and lies. This, coupled with the aim to gather the whole world under its bloody oppression
• this was subsequently manifested through the Anti-Communism Pact (1936), an appliance between Germany and Japan to oppose the Communist International (Comintern)

Question 6

Explanation

Answer 6

• the idea of the communist threat motivated Hitler to fight off the influence of communism
• Hitler believed that if communism was no eradicated, it would destroy Germany

Question 7

Link

Answer 7

thus, Hitler embarked on his aggressive foreign policy to ensure that the communist threat is eliminated for the sake of the survival of his people

Question 8

achieve Lebensraum

Answer 8

• the idea of achieving Lebensraum was set out in Mein Kampf
• Hitler wanted living space for the ‘superior’ Aryan Germans, who should create an empire to rule over the inferior races and space for its growing population
• this would involve regaining the Saar, the Polish Corridor, and other territories taken away from Germany
• also meant taking over German-speaking parts of Czechoslovakia and uniting Austria and Germany

Question 9

Explanation

Answer 9

• it was only through aggressive conquering of large area of land could Hitler effectively create more living space and a better life for the German people
• also, it was only through expansion could he then also achieve his aim of eliminating inferior races that will ‘contaminate’ the superior Aryan race

Question 10

Link

Answer 10

thus, Hitler embarked on his aggressive policy foreign policy to expand into more territories to provide living space for his superior Aryan race

Question 11

enforce militarism

Answer 11

• the idea of enforcing militarism was set out in Mein Kampf
• Hitler wanted to enforce militarism to protect the liberties (freedom) of the Germans against is enemies (eg. Jews)
• subsequently manifested through Germany’s withdrawal from LON in 1933 and the walking out of the World Disarmament Conference in 1934
• Germany also eventually went on its own rearmament programme from 1933 onwards

Question 12

Explanation

Answer 12

• Hitler wanted to restore Germany’s national pride through rearmament
• this would mean that he was able to use his military as a formidable force to conquer more territories to eliminate his enemies such as the Jews and Communist forces

Question 13

Link

Answer 13

thus, Hitler embarked on his aggressive foreign policy to achieve aims of restoring Germany’s pride and strengthening it again