Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims Flashcards Preview

History IGCSE (CIE) International Relations, 1919-39 > Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims > Flashcards

Flashcards in Hitler's Foreign Policy Aims Deck (11)
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1
Q

What were Hitler’s main foreign policy aims

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

Where had Hitler laid out his ideas?

A

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

3
Q

What did Hitler believe about the ToV?

A

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

4
Q

What was the ToV a constant reminder of?

A

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

5
Q

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

A

That he would abolish the ToV

6
Q

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

A

Germany had stopped paying reparations

7
Q

Why was Hitler so focused on territorial gains?

A

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

8
Q

What key territorial aims did Hitler gave?

A
  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
9
Q

What were Hitler’s beliefs about Communism/Bolshevism?

A

He hated it

10
Q

Why did Hitler hate Communism/Bolshevism?

A
  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
11
Q

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

A

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)