Hossbach Memorandum

Question 1

What was it?

Answer 1

Secret meeting held on Nov 5 1937, outlining plans to top-military informed men

Question 2

What was said?

Answer 2

• Germany needed Lebensraum in Eastern Europe
• h had a precise calc about when to act when other powers would be weakest
• suggested major war would be necessary by 1943-45 latest
• argued window was vital before Britain + France would ramp-up rearmament
• named targets: Austria + Czechoslovakia

Question 3

Intentionalists

Answer 3

• timeline + clarity proves positive of long-term plan for war

Question 4

Structuralist/functionalist

Answer 4

• e.g. AJP Taylor
• maybe h was just thinking aloud
• perhaps trying to manage internal pressures within N regime rather than setting concrete foundation for world domination
• opportunistic view
• H reacted to events, external pressures, (in)actions of other countries
• did want to expand but how/when of war was shaped by others responses