✓ The influence of German history on Nazi foreign policy - ARYAN RACIAL THEORY (not incl notes)

Question 1

Where did the idea of the Nazi ‘Aryan’ race come from?

Answer 1

drew on ideas circulating in the late 1800s that Nordic & Germanic races were superior

Question 2

Who did Hitler view as the Aryan race?

Answer 2

true Germans & other countries in Northern Europe had aryan roots (incl. Br)

Question 3

What did it mean to be Aryan to Hitler?

Answer 3

superior to all other races - e.g. black/ asian/ slavs in Russ & Pol/ jews

Question 4

What did H want to Germany to be?

Answer 4

a great Aryan empire through Pan-Germanism

Question 5

What is Pan-Germanism?

Answer 5

the idea that all German-speaking peoples should be united and live in one country

Question 6

How did H aim to achieve Pan-Germanism?

Answer 6

by capturing other countries & clearing them of ‘inferior’ people to give ‘pure Germans’ enough land to live on

Question 7

How did these racial aims affect Nazi foreign policy?

Answer 7

led the Nazis to favour alliances w racially acceptable pure countries e.g. Br
&
led the Nazis to favour German expansion eastwards, taking land from racially inferior
BUT
didn’t stop the Nazis from making alliances with ‘inferior’ countries to gain temporary advantage (alliances seen as a necessary evil)