To what extent did Hitler have a masterplan for his foreign policy? Flashcards
What events were taking place that triggered Hitler’s invasion of Austria which could back up the point he was opportunistic?
The timing of the Anschluss in March 1838 was triggered by Austrian Nazis, Italy’s preoccupation with the Spanish Civil War and domestic issues in Britain and France
What publications would suggest Hitler was planning his foreign policy in advance?
Main Kampf published in 1925 and Zwites Buch in 1928 had outlines of plans for his foreign policy and talked about uniting German speaking people and expanding eastwards
How did Hitler prepare since 1933?
He had to ready Germany for war
How was Mein Kampf undermined by Hitler’s foreign policy?
He delayed his invasion of Czechoslovakia by half a year and settled for the Munich agreement in response to Mussolini’s unwillingness to provide military support and the threat of of military response from Britain and France
How did Von Ribbentrop contribute to the idea that Hitler was opportunistic?
As foreign minister, he negotiated the Nazi Soviet Pact which undermined Hitler’s dislike of Communists and Slavs as well as Von Ribbentrop claiming he urged Hitler to take the deal
How does the Naval Agreement with Britain suggest that Hitler had prepared plans for foreign policy?
He had already planned war in 1935 and wanted the navy to be almost as strong as Britain’s(35%)
What evidence is there to suggest that Hitler had long term plans after 1936?
The Four Year Plan which was developed between 1936 and 1939 aimed at gearing Germany up for war and the Hossbach conference in 1937 outlined war however much later
How did the actions of other countries reveal the issues with the League of Nations?
In September of 1931, the Mukden Incident led to the Japanese takeover of Manchuria, China which the LoN protested but Japanese officials ignored and withdrew from the LoN. As well as this, Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia showed that the LoN was not powerful enough to protect countries and instead Italy, Britain and France signed the Hoare-Laval Pact which gave Italy two thirds of Abyssinia.
How did Italy’s actions affect Hitler’s foreign policy?
Mussolini encouraged Hitler to negotiate the Munich Agreement in 1938 as well as the signing of the Pact of Steel in 1939 which ensured that Italy would support Germany in the event of an invasion.
What evidence is there in Mein Kampf that Hitler had a plan for foreign policy?
The alliance with Italy, Rome Berlin Axis 1936, Pact of Steel 1939, in October 1939 he took over the Sudetenland reclaiming 3.5 million German speaking people, in March the invasion of Czechia and in September the invasion of Poland
How did Hitler’s actions for rearmament suggest he was opportunistic?
He took advantage of the weakness of the League of Nations, he remilitarised the Rhineland while the West was occupied by Italy’s aggression in Africa, he chose to sign the Munich agreement due to the lack of support from Italy and due to appeasement in Britain and France he was confident that there would be a lack of intervention in Europe
What evidence is there that Hitler changed very little in terms of foreign policy?
He kept many Weimar foreign ministers in place until 1938 such as Von Neurath.
What was the purpose of the Rome Berlin Axis?
Mutual support however not military but also political, economic and ideological support.
Why was the Rome Berlin Axis signed?
Germany and Italy were both supporting Spanish Fascists in the Spanish Civil War.
What countries signed the anti-comintern Pact in 1936 against the USSR?
Germany and Japan and then later Italy
What two regions of Czechoslovakia did Hitler take?
Bohemia and Moravia
What evidence is there to suggest that Germany weren’t prepared for a for a full scale war after the invasion of Poland?
The military tactic developed by the Nazi’s called Blitzkrieg was best suited to small scale warfare
Why was the Nazi Soviet Pact contradictory to Hitler’s general beliefs?
He had already committed himself to expanding eastwards and defeating Communism
How big was the German army by mid-1939?
103 infantry divisions of 15000 to 18000 men
Why did Hitler sign the Nazi Soviet pact?
To prevent from fighting a war on two fronts
Why did Stalin sign the Nazi Soviet Pact?
Stalin had suggested an alliance between Russia, France and Britain in April 1939 but it was not agreed upon due to the Western fear of Communism and the USSR was fighting with Japan and wanted to avoid a war on two fronts.
Why was the USA’s lack of involvement significant?
They were pursuing Isolationism and refused to get involved in Europe which Hitler saw as an opportunity to pursue Lebensraum
What aspects of Mein Kampf continued to be significant?
He pursued ideas of Lebensraum and racial theory that talked about the Aryan race
