Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims

Question 1

What were Hitler’s main foreign policy aims

Answer 1

1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles (ToV)
2. Expand German territory (including to gain lebensraum)
3. Defeat Communism

Question 2

Where had Hitler laid out his ideas?

Answer 2

In Mein Kampf (which he wrote in 1924-5)

Question 3

What did Hitler believe about the ToV?

Answer 3

He hated it, believing that it was fundamentally unjust - and must be abolished

Question 4

What was the ToV a constant reminder of?

Answer 4

Germany’s humiliation at the hands of the Allies at the end of WWI

Question 5

What had Hitler promised during his campaigning to become leader of Germany?

Answer 5

That he would abolish the ToV

Question 6

When Hitler came to power in Germany, what actions had already taken place to do with the Treaty?

Answer 6

Germany had stopped paying reparations

Question 7

Why was Hitler so focused on territorial gains?

Answer 7

Lots of German land (approx 10-13% of its European territory) had been taken away by the ToV

Question 8

What key territorial aims did Hitler gave?

Answer 8

1. Get back land lost in the ToV
2. Unite with Austria (Anschluss)
3. Carve our an empire in eastern Europe to give more living space (‘lebensraum’) for Germans

Question 9

What were Hitler’s beliefs about Communism/Bolshevism?

Answer 9

He hated it

Question 10

Why did Hitler hate Communism/Bolshevism?

Answer 10

1. He believed the Bolsheviks had helped lead to German defeat in the First World War
2. He believed the Communists wanted to seize power in Germany

Question 11

What two schools of thought are there among historians about Hitler’s actions during the 1930s?

Answer 11

Intentionalists (Orthodox/Conventional view) - Hitler always planned/intended to go to war (Hugh Trevor-Roper)

Revisionists - those who argue that Hitler was an opportunist and had no grand plan (AJP Taylor)