4. goals of nazi foreign policy

This page considers the various foreign policy actions taken by the Nazis, and the aims of each.

1. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Goals of Nazi foreign policy

2. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler’s prime aim was to rebuild German strength. This meant ending the Versailles settlement and extending German power. Nazi foreign policy focused on three key goals: Rebuilding Germany’s military Extending German territory Links with other countries

3. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Rebuilding Germany’s military The Nazis’ long term hopes of building a stronger and larger Germany rested partly on having a rebuilt military. Hitler believed that Versailles’ restrictions – including limits on personnel numbers and a weakened navy – left Germany vulnerable and powerless.

4. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 The German economy was designed to meet the country’s military needs. The Four Year Plan started in 1936 and set Germany the challenge of being ready for war in four years, both in terms of economic and military readiness. Herman Goering argued for “guns, not butter.”

5. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Through the interwar years , Germany secretly developed an air force, including training pilots in the USSR. On 9 March 1935 , Hermann Goering announced the setting up of the Luftwaffe (Germany’s air force ). It was overseen by Erhard Milch (who later founded Lufthansa).

6. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 One week later, on 16 March 1935 , Hitler announced the reintroduction of conscription into the Germany Army. 100,000 conscripts (able bodied men who turned 19) were to be recruited and trained each year, although officially the Wehrmacht size would remain 100,000 (in line with Versailles).

7. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 These actions violated the Treaty of Versailles so Britain, France and Italy held the Stresa Conference in April 1935 . They agreed to oppose further Versailles breaches. However Britain undermined this with the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935 , which increased the German Navy’s size.

8. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Extending German territory Hitler wanted to unite all Germans in one country. He argued in Mein Kampf that Germany needed Lebensraum (‘Living Space’). This meant that Nazi Germany had to expand its borders to give space for all Germans.

9. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Between 1936-1939 , the Nazis took numerous actions to expand Germany’s size and population. Ultimately these changes would eventually led to the start of World War Two . The 1937 Hossbach Memorandum outlined the Nazis’ plans for a more aggressive foreign policy .

10. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 In March 1936 , the Nazis took full control of the Rhineland , the area demilitarised as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany marched 22,000 troops into the area. Although Britain and France opposed this, neither took any steps to stop it due to their own military weakness .

11. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Another key part of the Versailles Treaty was that Germany and Austria could not unite ( Anschluss ). In February 1938 , the Austrian government gave into pressure and included Nazis in their government. In March 1938 , a referendum on Anschluss was announced.

12. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler claimed that the referendum was rigged against Anschluss, so on 11 March 1938 , Germany invaded Austria. The Austrian government legally confirmed Anschluss on 13 March 1938 . The persecution of Jews in Austria started immediately.

13. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 A referendum was held on 10 April 1938 . 99.7% of Austrian voters supported Anschluss. There was no secret ballot and voters were observed. Austrians were given a ballot paper which asked them if they backed Anschluss and Hitler’s party. The Yes option was much bigger than the No option.

14. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler’s next target was the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. The Czechs’ had gained German land as part of the Versailles’ treaty. After Anschluss, German Sudetens had demanded to be reunited with Germany. A war over the issue seemed increasingly likely.

15. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 The German Army advised Hitler against invading Czechoslovakia. Some even plotted to overthrow him if he went against this advice. Instead Hitler met British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September 1938 . Chamberlain agreed to give Germany the Sudetenland, as did France three days later.

16. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 The Munich Conference of September 1939 officially confirmed German control of the Sudetenland. The Czechs also agreed after being told Britain would not go to war over this issue. Losing the Sudetenland and its mountains left Czechoslovakia vulnerable to invasion.

17. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler’s next target was all of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939 , the German army marched into the country and took control of all areas. The Allies did not stop this but now realised they could not trust Hitler (Czechs were not Germans, for example). They now promised to defend Poland .

18. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 On 1 September 1939 , German troops marched into Poland . Germany refused a British demand to withdraw from the country, believing that war would not happen. On 3 September 1939 , Britain and France declared war on Germany, starting World War Two. The USSR then invaded Poland too.

19. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Links with other countries Although Hitler’s goal was to create a strong Germany, he recognised that this would involve building links with other countries. Hitler also gambled that other European countries did not want war so would not oppose Germany’s actions.

20. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 In October 1933 , Hitler announced that Germany was to leave the League of Nations , as well as a Disarmament Conference which was being held at the time. Hitler argued that Germany had already disarmed, whereas other countries were refusing to do the same.

21. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 In January 1934 , Germany signed a Non-Aggression Pact with Poland , with both sides promising not to attack the other. Hitler also built links with Fascist Italy , meeting leader Benito Mussolini in June 1934 . The following year the Italians dropped their commitment to protect Austrian independence .

22. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 German and Italian links were reinforced in November 1936 with a Rome-Berlin Axis . Earlier in 1936 , Germany had given military support to Spain’s Nationalist government, in the Spanish Civil War . This let the Germans test their military strength, especially the Luftwaffe .

23. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Germany also sought to exploit British fears over Japan. Britain worried its Asian empire was under threat from Japan’s own imperial plans. In November 1936 , Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact (against the Soviet Union) with Japan . Italy joined this group in 1937 .

24. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 May 1939 saw Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel , promising each other military and economic support. Japan was due to sign this too but all sides disagreed on whether the Pact’s target was the USSR (Japan’s demand) or Britain and France (Germany and Italy’s preference).

25. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler was passionately anti-Communist and had built many alliances based on this. However in August 1939 , Germany surprised everyone by signing a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union . This meant that both sides would not attack the other and resulted in the invasion of Poland .

26. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Hitler also sought alliances with other countries, but was rejected. In particular he wanted to work with Britain . Hitler believed that British focus was on their Empire , whilst Germany could control Europe . The USSR Pact was signed partly because would not sign its own version.

27. Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39 Historians’ views Hugh Trevor-Roper: Believes that Hitler had a clear foreign policy plan to culminate in a major war . A.J.P. Taylor: Argues that Hitler had no clear aims and was simply an opportunist dealing with issues as they arose . Alan Bullock: Argues for a mixture of Taylor and Trevor-Roper’s opinions; he believes that Hitler did have a plan of action, but that a lot of the specific actions he undertook were a result of circumstances at the time.