Historical interpretations Flashcards
(20 cards)
Evidence of Hitlers opportunism: Anschluss
Carried out Anschluss in 1938 while Europe saw more chaotic issues like the Spanish Civil War.
What outlined Hitler’s aims?
Mein Kampf and Zwites Buch- want for uniting a German- speaking community, lebensraum and expansion East, overturning T of V.
Evidence of a programmatic expansion East.
First Austria, then Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia, then Poland.
Evidence of his attempts to fulfil Mein Kampf’s will for alliance with Britain and Italy.
1936- sent von Ribbentrop to Britiain to negotiate.
Evidence of Hitler reversing the Treaty of Versailles (and GB & FR appeasement of this)
1935 rearmament.
1935 Anglo- German Naval agreement (Germany could have a navy 35% of the size of GB’s).
1936 remilitarisation of the Rhineland.
1938 Anschluss.
Evidence of continuity of foreign policy: keeping foreign ministers
Most foreign policy officials remained until 1938 eg. Konstantin von Neurath.
Evidence of change in foreign policy: Dominance of new foreign ministers
Von Ribbentrop dominated- able to strongly impose Hitler’s will.
Evidence of change in foreign policy: purging opposition.
Gets rid of Blomburg and Fritz (members of military) for their critique of German expansion.
Fired Schacht since Hitler wanted a war economy.
What did Von Bismark want in terms of foreign policy?
Wanted expansion and lebensraum; colonies.
Difference in Hitler vs Von Bismark want for expansion?
Hitler wants expansion beyond pre-war borders.
Hitler doesn’t want colonies.
Evidence that rearmament/ overturning T of V wasn’t Hitler’s doing completely
Weimar government been rearming on Soviet soil. (Creation of the Karma tank).
What underpinned Hitler’s foreign policy?
Racial ideology.
Evidence of innovation in Hitler’s foreign policy tactics?
Tactics like Blitzkrieg.
Evidence of French unpreparedness for war.
Political instability- 11 governments in quick succession.
Hitler’s pact with Russia, what does this imply?
Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939; signifies unpreparedness for war; could also signify tactical manoeuvre to prevent a war on 2 fronts.
Hitler’s Pact with Italy, what is its significance?
Pact of Steel 1939- ensured Italy’s support for Germany- even if Germany was the aggressor. Also was implied war wouldn’t be until 1943.
What was stated in the Hossbach conference?
Germany wouldn’t be ready for war until 1943.
What did Hitler put in Danzig? How did GB and FR react?
Troops; failed to Condemn Hitler.
When was the Munich conference? What did it do?
1938; gave Hitler the Sudetenland, after which Hitler took the whole of Czechoslovakia; wasn’t condemned.
What did GB and FR give Poland?
Polish Guarantee (of independence) 1939.
