Hitler's Foreign Policy (Section C) Flashcards
(19 cards)
September Programme
This was a memorandum authorised by Bethmann-Hollweg in the event of a German victory and subsequent peace discussions. It outlined Germany’s war aims and what they would like to see out of a peace deal. It included the establishment of a Mitteleuropa and expansion into the east, including Poland.
You can argue that Hitler’s idea of Lebensraum was a continuation of the WW1 aims of expansion.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
A treaty signed when Vladimir Lenin withdrew Russia from WW1. The treaty ceded vast territories, including Finland, the Baltic provinces, parts of Poland, and Ukraine, to the Central Powers.
This shows how Germany wanted land in the East from as early as the First World War. There were very tangible expansionist aims. You could argue that Hitler’s Lebensraum was just a continuation of this.
The Treaty of Rapallo
Signed on the 16th of April by Walter Rathenau and Georgy Chicherin. It involved the renouncing of any financial claims to each other, and the beginning of industrial and military collaboration between the two that would help Germany evade the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
German companies like Krupp built factories in Russia and began producing products that were banned under the Treaty, and dismissed German officers would also have training there.
This has clear militaristic undertones, as despite the ToV, Germany still aimed to train and develop their military. Remilitarisation and conscription under the Four Year Plan (Goering) could be seen as a continuation of this.
However, you could argue that this treaty was done to create a mutual friendship, as both states feared isolation against anti-communist powers like Britain and France.
Treaty of Locarno
Gustav Stresemann and his policy of Erfullungspolitik (fulfilment) involved the Treaty of Locarno. Germany accepted its Western borders with France, but did crucially did not accept its Eastern borders.
Even Stresemann who wanted collaboration with the Allied powers did not accept their Eastern borders. This gives the impression that even after the war, Germany still aimed to expand into the east at some point. However, Stresemann also joined the League of Nations in 1926, showing a real intent to create friendships with the Allies.
Treaty of Berlin
Stresemann’s Erfullungspolitik meant that they had increased collaboration and friendship with the allied powers. The Treaty of Berlin helped reaffirm their friendship with the USSR despite this.
This is comparable to the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939
Hitler’s meeting with generals
Conducted in February 1933, the very start of his chancellorship. This outlined plans for military expansion:
'’Building up the armed forces is the most important prerequisite for achieving the goal of regaining political power.’’
This shows a clear desire from the very start of his leadership which could support an internationalist point of view, as this shows a clear desire for Lebensraum.
Withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference
Happened in October 1933, still within the first year of his chancellorship. This marks a clear change in direction compared to Stresemann, who entered the League of Nations in September 1926. Hitler wanted to break Versailles’ restrictions on the size of the army, and shows a clear intention of expansion
Non-aggression pact with Poland
Destabilisation of Austria
Engelbert Dolfuss was the Austrian Chancellor who was assassinated in July 1934 by a group of Austrian Nazis. This alarmed Benito Mussolini, who sent troops to the Brener Pass in an attempt to stop the ultimate aim of Anschluss. This culminated in the Stresa Front against Germany’s plans of revising the ToV.
Rearmament and conscription
Military conscription was reintroduced on March 16, 1935, in open violation of the Treaty of Versailles. At the same time, Hitler announced the expansion of the German army to more than 500,000 men. This resulted in a show of opposition by Britain, France and Italy in the form of the Stresa Front.
Anglo-German Naval Agreement
This was made in June 1935 between Britain, who wanted to maintain their naval supremacy over Germany. However, this brings into question the extent to which Britain contributed to the outbreak of war. This agreement effectively HELPED Germany break the terms of the Treaty of Versailles so that they could maintain naval dominance and a friendly relationship with Hitler. Germany were allowed 35% of the size of Britain’s Navy. Britain here had quickly broken the terms of the Stresa Front by appeasing Germany.
Remilitarising the Rhineland
Britain’s lack of resolve as shown by the Stresa Front encouraged Germany to remilitarise the Rhineland in March 1936 which went against the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno (which reaffirmed the Rhineland’s permanently demilitarised status). Both Britain nor France acted against this contravention of the Treaties, showing a weakness and lack of resolve.
Rome-Berlin Axis
A informal declaration between Italy and Germany after the two states fought together in the Spanish Civil War, despite the Stresa Front which had now fully broken down after 6 months. The axis affirmed idealogical, political and militaristic cooperation. You could argue that Germany’s annexation of Austria in March 1938 was taken in the confidence of support from Italy. This was threatening to the European order and was crucial in the run up to war as this marked the cooperation of two similar totalitarian regimes. This expanded to also include Japan. This was reaffirmed with the Pact of Steel.
The Anti-Comintern Pact
This was signed in 1937 by Germany and Japan and was a treaty aimed against Comintern and the Soviet Union to stop the spread of communism. This was later expanded to include Italy as well, forming the Axis Powers.
Hossbach Conference
1937
The Hossbach memorandum is a strong piece of evidence in favour of Hitler having started World War 2 intentionally due to his policy and aims of expansion. He stated that the question is not ‘if’ but ‘when and how’. Hitler intended to invade Austria and Czechoslovakia, which culminated in Anschluss and the Sudetenland. While this is strong evidence for an internationalist argument, Hitler also intended for war to take place in 1943-45. Therefore you could also argue that Hitler did not intend for the war to start as early as it did.
Blomberg-Fritch Affair
This is further evidence of an internationalist viewpoint, as this affair involved two senior army officials being compelled to stand down from their positions as Hitler’s intentions regarding the Reichswehr were too drastic for them to adhere to their oath of loyalty (1934).
Anschluss with Austria
This was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, but in March 1938, Germany annexed Austria. This is evidence of Hitler wanting to revise the Treaty of Versailles.
Sudetenland
The Sudetenland was a part of Czechoslovakia that contained a large proportion of ethnic Germans. This agreement was made between Germany, the UK, France and Italy and meant that Czechoslovakia had to give Germany this region. The role of the allies was huge here.
25 Point Programme
An early manifesto of points that Hitler based the Nazi party from. It contained a mix of nationalist, racist, but also some socialist points.
However, while it did make it very clear of his plans to remove Jewish people from society, it also contained socialist points such as…
