Download How far was Hitler in control of his Foreign Policy plans

How far was Hitler in control of foreign policy?
What was Hitler’s Foreign Policy aims?
Foreign Policy was considered the ‘Fuhrer’s own realm’; it was in his greatest
interests and rarely did he seek the advice of others.
Main task- Make Germany a powerful nation in order to put into practice ‘’a
foreign policy which will serve to guarantee the existence of our people in the
future, fulfilling their needs and furnishing them with those necessities of life
which they lack’’ (taken from Mein Kampf and quoted on p.373). Germans are
the centre of everything for him, since the start he did intend to create a policy
which concerned Germany’s well being. However, to achieve this he could have
stopped at Grossdeutshland. Other historians would place “Social Darwinism” at
the centre of his foreign policy, racial supremacy proven in war.
The aims
Tear up the Treaty of Versailles (the treaty of shame or the dictated peace)
and Grossdeutshland
Hitler thought to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and reclaim lost territories in
1919. This was part of his plans to embrace into a Grossdeutshland, a Greater
Reich- reunite all Germans currently living beyond Germany’s frontiers (directly
related to the possibility of world domination).
Regain the Sudentenland region of Czechoslovakia- industry/ Austrians and
Germans living there/ space
Also German minorities living in Hungary and Baltic States- create a nation which
encompassed everyone.
Wanted to achieve Anshluss, the political union of Germany and Austria (had
been made illegal by the International Court of Justice at The Hague). Initially this
failed as Austrian Chancellor was opposed to such a union, and set up a
dictatorship of his own and dealt ruthlessly with political opponents on both left
and right. Nevertheless he was murdered by a group of Austrian Nazis. Austria
was then made independent by Britain and France.
Restore German Pride
Other acts of revisionism towards the Treaty of Versailles:
Refuse to pay further Reparations
Rearm Germany since the army was the pride of the nation. Germany had been
secretly re-arming beyond the limits set by Versailles at the time. ‘’After walking
out of the Disarmament Conferences and the League of Nations, it was clearly
only a matter of time before Hitler would openly announce his intention to begin
the rearming of Germany.
Even though he had rearmed to vast extents, Hitler was still able to claim that
Germany was the only country to have disarmed and demand that other
European powers should follow her example  Conniving.
‘’restoring the prestige of the nation were universally popular amongst the
German people’’.
Lebensraum
Lebensraum meant relocating or elimination the inferior Slav races that lived in
the space he wanted; mainly Poles and Russians. Hitler also saw the Jews as
‘’the main challenge to his plans’’ since they, in league with the Marxists, were in
his view intent on world domination’’. These ‘’races’’ in addition to many others
for example Gypsies and people with physical or mental malformation were in
Hitler’s racial policy.
They were all part of his racist programs in which he wished to enslave them,
(the Slavs) or eliminate them completely, (the Jews) in order an aryanisation to
take place.
‘If the German people are imprisoned within an impossible territorial area and for
that reason are face to face with a miserable future…but we will have to win it by
the power of the triumphant sword’’. So, it is to be achieved by war,
A structuralist view by A.J.P Taylor, however, states. ‘’Lebensraum, in short, did
not drive Germany to war. Rather war, or warlike policy, produced a demand for
Lebensraum’’.
Though intentionalists claim otherwise; that Mein Kampf ‘’was a complete
blueprint of his intended achievements and that Hitler was a more systematic
thinker whose views should have been taken more seriously.’’ Lebensraum is
considered here ‘’his overriding aim’’.
The Hossbach Memorandum, November 1937. Present: Hitler, Hitler’s Foreign
inister, Defence Minister, the Chiefs of the German Armed Forces, Hitler’s
Military Adjutant and Goring. The Hossbach Menorandum is a document based
on the conference held at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, which outlined the
aims and strategy of Hitler’s future foreign policy. This document covers three
main issues but first Hitler outlines the future aims of German foreign policy, ‘’ to
make secure and to preserve the racial community (Volksmasse) and to enlarge
it. It was therefore a question of space … (p.388) Germany’s future was therefore
wholly conditional upon the solving of the need for space’’. Lebensraum
clearly takes the centre stage. He identified Britain and France as hostile powers,
‘’two hate-inspired antagonists, Britain and France’’ and adds that Britain could
not effectively oppose German expansion because of troubles within her Empire.
He stated that his priorities were to annex Austria and destroy Czechoslovakia
and concluded that ‘Germany’s problem could only be solved by means of force
and this was never without attendant risk’. In all his three possible scenarios
force, and certain actions were included, ‘’if we did not act by 1943-5 any year
could be regarded as a ‘waning point’. Besides, by then the world would be
expecting our attack…The opportunity for action before 1943-5 would arise if two
other options came about.’’ The first, would be if France faced internal unrest and
the army was obliged to intervene and so be distracted. Or secondly, if France
became involved in a war with another power, and was again distracted.
The old conservatives which opposed to an aggressive foreign policy are
removed from office.
Still, whether the Hossbach memorandum was genuine or not, whether it was
truly a reliable evidence of Nazi war intentions is still argued today even though
the majority accept it as genuine. There is some disagreement about its
significance.
World domination?
The new Germany which Europe faced was considered to have ‘’the most
outspoken expansionism’’. But would German plans for expansion stop with
lebensraum, or was it planning a world-wide Empire encompassing?
Planning for lebensraum
Used the Spanish Civil war to test armed forces, ‘’aircraft were used to test the
effectiveness for terror bombing on civilian targets”. He and Mussolini Backed up
the future fascist dictator of Spain, Franco in the war. What Hitler hoped to gain
from this includes: a pro-German government in Spain; German access to
essential raw materials, namely Spanish iron-ore; ensure Franco’s support of
his foreign policy strategies. Also, he and Mussolini gained another fascist
leader against communism.
Hitler still wanted ‘’closer ties with Britain’’, which is why he appointed Ribbentrop
as German ambassador to London in order to secure British agreement for a
free hand in eastern Europe (Lebensraum) in return for German support of the
British empire.
Stronger Germany now.Agreement between Germany and Japan by which
they ‘’agreed to co-operate to oppose Comintern and stem the advance of
international communism. The following year, Italy also joined the Pact.’’ The
political situation in Germany had undergone considerable change- notable
diplomatic successes were achieved such as: the return of the Rhineland;
alliances with Italy and Japan; the collapse and disintegration of the Stresa Front
and the French-backed system of collective security. Also Hitler had
strengthened Germany’s position in relation to France.
By emphasizing that his peaceful intentions in Europe and taking advantage of
the Anglo-French fears of another European war and communism too led to a
policy of appeasement (making concessions in order to pacify a potential
aggressor).This sharpened Hitler’s appetite for further conquest (endless
conquest, maybe?)
The Pact of Steel: The Rome-Berlin Axis became an offensive military alliance
when Germany and Italy agreed a Pact of Steel. The two nations would support
each other if one was involved in a war with another power. In order to secure
Italy that war would not be the case Hitler blatantly stated, ‘’I am unshakeably
convinced that neither England nor France will embark upon a general war’’.
The Nazi-Soviet Pact: ‘‘The pact agreed between representatives of two such
hostile ideologies was as unexpected as it was complicated’’. The two countries
agreed not to support any third power, if that power attacked the other of them.
They also promised to consult with each other on matters of common interest
and not to join any alliance aimed at each other. A secret agreement was made
to invade and then divide Poland between them and allow the Soviet Union to
occupy the Baltic States- Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. A very cynical
arrangement which proved that neither was to be trusted. Aimed at bringing short
term advantages to both countries The Pact caused concern in Europe and
across the world, ‘’the fact that Hitler was prepared to agree a pact with a
country he planned to attack provided further evidence of his lack of
scruple’’.
How far was Hitler in control of his Foreign Policy plans?
Structuralists which believe Hitler was not in control of his foreign
policy aims

German foreign policy was determined by a whole range of different factors,
some determined by the Nazi Party and some not. Although this view is
challenged by the idea that German foreign policy was set to follow a rigidly
defined course. Structuralists, nevertheless, claim that it was unclear and without
specific aims and that Hitler was a man of improvisation and a gambler or
opportunist.

Hitler simply wanted to reassert Germany’s place in Europe. His actions were
determined by the course of events and he merely took advantage of the
opportunities offered him. An example of this is the re-militarization of the
Rhineland. This was a great gamble since France could have easily intervened. He
was only able to do so because of Italian aggression in Abyssinia. The
Sudetenland went Hitler’s way because of the ardent desire of Chamberlain to
avoid a European conflagration which the lessons of the Spanish Civil War
seemed to suggest might happen all too easily. Britain and France could not
decide what was the greater evil Fascism or Communism. The outbreak of war in
1939 was due to Hitler’s misreading of the Anglo-French guarantee made to
Poland in March.

“Lebensraum, in its crudest sense, meant a demand for empty space where
Germans could settle. Germany was not overpopulated compared with most
European countries; and there was no empty space anywhere in
Europe...Lebensraum, in short, did not drive Germany to war. Rather war, or
warlike policy, produced a demand for Lebensraum. Hitler and Mussolini were
not driven on by economic motives. Like most statesmen, they had an appetite for
success. They differed from others only in that their appetite was greater…” (AJP
Taylor)

A.J.P. Taylor’s structuralist argument was new, but it has flaws. Mason picks
Taylor’s argument for “an overwhelming concentration on the sequence of
diplomatic events.”
Intentionalist view which believes that Hitler was in control of his
foreign policy aims
Believe Hitler’s foreign policy was pre-planned. They believe the foreign policy followed
a clear defined programme of objectives to tear up the Treaty of Versailles, restore
German pride, Lebensraum, world domination, social Darwinism and destroy
communism. He aimed towards his ultimate goal on a stage-by-stage basis.
Evidence of Intentionalist arguments:


Mein Kampf had a complete blueprint of his intended achievements. Such as his
intention to expand German territory.
Zweites Buch (Hitler’s “Second Book”) – a foreign policy programme of five
stages written in 1928.
1. The first stage was the removal of the restrictions of Versailles including
the demilitarization of the Rhineland. Which was reversed between 1934 and
1936.


2. The second was the end of the French alliance system in Eastern Europe
and an establishment of German control over Austria, Czechoslovakia and
Poland. Took control of all three countries by September 1939.
3. Defeat France which he ended up invading in 1940.
4. Invade Russia, which he did with Operation Barbarossa in 1941.
5. Contest for world supremacy possibly against Britain and USA. Hitler did
eventually declare war on the US in 1942
Lebensraum can be consider a continuity of what Bismarck and Wilhelm II tried
to achieve before WWI.
Hitler guided the economy to satisfy the needs of rearmament programme and his
aggressive expansionist policies: “guns before butter”.
Linking the evidence to Hitler’s objectives
Tear up of the Treaty of Versailles – Can be seen as intentionalist due to the first and
second stage of Zweites Buch stated above and can also be seen through Hitler’s guided
economy towards rearmament.
Lebensraum – The fact that Lebensraum is considered by some historians as a policy
which gave continuity of what Bismarck and Wilhelm II policy before WWI, that his
plan to invade Russia and end the French alliance system in Easter Europe and that such
plans were mentioned in both Mein Kampf, 1926, and Zweites Buck, 1928, proves that
Lebensraum was pre-planned policy.
World Domination - Hitler intended to dominate the world because of his economic
policies such as plunder economy and Autarky. He also stated this intention in Mein
Kampf and Zweites Buck.
End Communism – Hitler’s rage against communism is stated in Mein Kampf and his
pre-planned invasion of Russia was intended – he didn’t need to invade Russia for
strategic reasons, i.e. he wasn’t threatened. Even though Hitler made the Nazi/Soviet pact
he still did so to avoid war on to fronts but he never actually intended to become a
Russian ally, the pact was only temporary.
Concluding, according to the intentionalist argument, Hitler was in control of his foreign
policy because his foreign policy formulated in the 1920s remained pretty much
consistent.