Foreign Policy Summary

Question 1

Evidence of influence of German history on Nazi foreign policy? (structuralism, 4)

Answer 1

• September Memorandum (1914) –> meeting where expansion into Europe was first mentioned
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) –> Germany gains land from Russia in East
• Treaty of Rapallo (1925) –> Alliance between Russia and Germany that latter can train their troops in USSR
• Treaty of Berlin (1926) –> Neutrality agreed between Germany and Russia is either was attacked

Question 2

Evidence of Hitler’s role in shaping foreign policy: (intentionalism, 9)

Answer 2

• 25 Point Programme (1920) –> “revocation of peace treaties of Versailles”
• Mein Kampf (1925) –> “Germans are the highest species of humanity on this Earth”
• Zweitesbuch (1928) –> Set out Stufenplan (stage by stage programme to make Germany world’s dominant power)
• Hitler’s meeting with generals (1933) –> Said Germany needs to rearm and requires Lebensraum
• Withdrawal from League of Nations (1933) –> Contrasts Treaty of Locarno (1925) where they joined League of Nations
• Left Disarmament Conference (1933) –> to avoid signing any agreements limiting size of army
• Destabilisation of Austria (1934) –> Attempted to expand even after fellow fascist Mussolini had warned him not to
• Remilitarisation of Rhineland (1936) –> Shows Hitler’s aggressive intentions
• Rearmament and conscription (1936)
• Four Year Plan (1936 - 39) –> Focused on need for militarisation and development of war materials
• Hossbach Memorandum (1937) –> talked about Hitler’s vision for Anschluss and destruction of Czechoslovakia
• Blomberg-Fristch affair (1938) –> Manufactured scandals about Minister of War Blomberg & Commander-in-Chief Fritsch because they opposed Czechoslovakia invasion
• Pact of Steel (1939) –> taking alliance to next level

Question 3

Why did Germany invade Poland? (intentionalism (3), structuralism (1))

Answer 3

• Desire for Lebensram
• Non-aggression pact (1934) –> both structuralist and intentionalist
• Developments in Danzig –> gradual Nazification of free city over years
• Polish rebuttals of German offers eg returning Danzig

Question 4

Evidence of the contribution of other nations to the outbreak of war: (structuralism (3)

Answer 4

Policy of appeasement:
- League of Nations –> passive in all issues eg invasion of Abyssinia (1935)
- Anglo-German Naval agreement (1935) –> Germany is allowed to have 1/3 of naval force as Britain
- Munich Agreement (1938) –> Allowed Germany to take the Sudetenland