Section C Flashcards
(35 cards)
What was AJP Taylor’s argument about the Second World War?
- 1961
- ’Origins of the Second World War’
- Hitler wanted a German Empire but did not have a master plan or wanted to go to war in 1939
What was Fischer’s argument about the Second World War?
- 1961
- ’Germany’s Aims in the First World War’
- Germany’s goals in 1914 were not that different from their 1939 goals
- Nazi foreign policy was not unique but a continuation of long held German expansionist policies
What were the 4 main influences of Hitlers foreign policy?
- Racial history that drove Hitlers firm views on race (anti-semitism/social Darwinism)
- Nostalgia for earlier empires and a sense that power and land were Germany’s right
- Lebensraum
- World War 1/Treaty of Versailles
How did the Aryan racial theory drive foreign policy?
- To Hitler, Germans were Aryan, although he thought that some other countries in Northern Europe like Britain had Aryan roots.
- Other races included Asians, Slavs, Jews, Gypsies and Black people
What was Pan-Germanism?
- Political idea that sought to unify all the German and German speaking people under a single nation
- Pan German League had over 1 million members
- However Nazi alliances with “inferior” counties was said to be a necessary evil to gain temporary advantage
When was the First Reich?
•962-1806 (Roman Empire)
When was the Second Reich?
•1871-1918 (German Empire)
How did Hitler show he was ‘restoring’ a Great Germany?
Promised the Third Reich for Germany
Most propaganda featured the Aryan Race
How did the First World War effect Nazi foreign policy?
- As there was no public surrender or open admission to defeat many Germans believed Germany could have won the war if the Kaiser kept fighting
- Germans felt they had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by the ‘November Criminals’ (politicians who signed the ToV)
What were some of the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
- Germany lost land Danzig 6.4 million German outside the border
- No submarines, no tanks, no Air Force, no longer conscript soldiers and limited army at 100,000 men
- Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
- Reparations (Set 132 million gold marks in 1921)
- Banned from a Union with Austria
What other reasons did Germany resent the Treaty of Versailles?
- Had to sign a clause to take responsibility for starting WW1, couldn’t join the LoN so wasn’t accepted as an equal Power in Europe
- Germany had no say, it was a dictated peace treaty
- Disarming was humiliating for a country that held its military power in such high esteem
How was the ToV being undermined even before Hitler?
- Weimar politicians privately agreed not to reinforce it
- Broke demands for disarmament and limitations on the size of German army
- Made secret rearmament agreements with the USSR
- Some Army members felt the Weimar Government was not legal
What was the consequence of the ToV creating small new states?
- Became weak and had ethnic divisions
* Became more land for Britain, France or Russia to want to take over or influence
Why did Britain and France allow German rearmament?
- ToV seen by some as too harsh
* Didn’t want to have to fight/start another war
What is a reason to show Hitler had a step by step master plan for WW2?
Compare the Nazi Land gains from 1935-39 to his aims in Mein Kampf
What shows Hitler didn’t have a step by step master plan for WW2?
- Until 1936 Hitlers kept many foreign ministers from before he came to power
- Could Be argued lebensraum is too much of broad aim than a plan
How had Hitler intended War?
- Built up Army immediately after coming to power (against ToV)
- Four Year Plan 1936-1939 focuses on militarisation and need for war materials so not have to rely on others during wartime
- Told Military generals he intended German expansion
How had Hitler not intended war long term?
- Initially hopes to reverse ToV diplomatically
- Early 30’s Hitler spoke of rearming Germany got defence
- Wanted to expand but avoid War with France and Britain
- Blitzkreig warfare was popular tactic but wouldn’t work with a long war
What were background reasons for Germany invading Poland in 1939?
- ToV gave Land to Poland and 800,000 Germans
* Polish corridor gave Poland access to sea that Germany wanted
What recent events sparked Germany’s invasion of Poland?
- Nazi-Soviet Pact
- France showed with Czechoslovakia they were unwilling to fight or back up nations
- Hitler became more confident
- Poland exposed itself as willing to fight Germany
What is the Timetable of German/Polish relations?
- 1933-Nazi Party wins Danzig election
- 1934-Hitler signs non-aggression pact with Poland in hopes of defence against USSR
- Poland resisted Nazi offers of negotiation as Anti-Comintern Pact would have resulted in a Soviet invasion
What was the Pact of Steel?
Signed between Germany and Italy in May 1939 that allowed Germany to rely on Italy’s military support
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
August 1939
What were the problems with the LoN and how did this help Nazi Foreign policy?
Slow to make decisions, did have their own army but most nations were reluctant to provide troops
Germany could make deals or act against the ToV quickly so the LoN couldn’t respond
