Hitler’S Foreign Policy

1. Hitler’s Foreign PolicyHitler’s Foreign Policy
1933-19381933-1938

2. Sources of Hitler’s Foreign PolicySources of Hitler’s Foreign Policy
Lebensraum Lebensraum andand Drang nach OstenDrang nach Osten
GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland, or Greater Germany, or Greater Germany
VoelkischVoelkisch thought thought
Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism
Mein KampfMein Kampf, or “my struggle”, or “my struggle”
fascism and totalitarian ideologyfascism and totalitarian ideology
romantic nationalismromantic nationalism
irrationalism and fearirrationalism and fear
World War OneWorld War One
Great DepressionGreat Depression
Treaty of Versailles and the Paris Peace Treaty of Versailles and the Paris Peace
ConferenceConference
failures of the international system and failures of the international system and
diplomacydiplomacy

3. Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals:Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals:
restore German honor and prestige among the restore German honor and prestige among the
great powersgreat powers
reclaim the Rheinland, Saarland, and the reclaim the Rheinland, Saarland, and the
SudetenlandSudetenland
reunite the free city of Danzig and East reunite the free city of Danzig and East
Prussia, including the historically significant Prussia, including the historically significant
town of town of KönigsbergKönigsberg, with Germany via the , with Germany via the
Polish Corridor (Pomerania)Polish Corridor (Pomerania)
end the German diaspora by the creation of end the German diaspora by the creation of
GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland, or Greater Germany, or Greater Germany

4. Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals (cont.) :Hitler’s Foreign Policy Goals (cont.) :
acquire acquire lebensraumlebensraum in Eastern Europe for in Eastern Europe for
the benefit of the Aryan racethe benefit of the Aryan race
subjugate peoples whom the Nazis subjugate peoples whom the Nazis
deemed deemed untermenschenuntermenschen, or inferior and , or inferior and
even subhuman (e.g. Slavs, Jews, etc.)even subhuman (e.g. Slavs, Jews, etc.)
defeat communism and democracydefeat communism and democracy
exploit the natural and human resources exploit the natural and human resources
of conquered lands for the benefit of the of conquered lands for the benefit of the
Third ReichThird Reich

5. Hossbach MemorandumHossbach Memorandum (1937) (1937)
details a meeting where Hitler outlined his details a meeting where Hitler outlined his
foreign policy:foreign policy:
““The aim of German policy was to make The aim of German policy was to make
secure and to preserve the racial secure and to preserve the racial
community [community [VolksmasseVolksmasse] and to enlarge it. ] and to enlarge it.
It was therefore a question of space.”It was therefore a question of space.”

7. German Empire, 1914

8. Weimar Republic
(1919-1933)

9. Hitler’s relations with the Roman Hitler’s relations with the Roman
Catholic ChurchCatholic Church
ReichskonkordatReichskonkordat, or Reich Concordat:, or Reich Concordat:
between Germany and the Holy See between Germany and the Holy See
guaranteed Catholic religious freedoms guaranteed Catholic religious freedoms
and defined certain relations between the and defined certain relations between the
Catholic Church, the clergy, and the stateCatholic Church, the clergy, and the state

10. Signing of the Reichskonkordat (July 20, 1933): Franz von Papen,
Vice-Chancellor, Germany (seated at left) and Eugenio Cardinal
Pacelli (center)

11. German-Italian RelationsGerman-Italian Relations
German-Italian relations were defined in terms of Hitler German-Italian relations were defined in terms of Hitler
and Mussolini’s strategic objectives with regard to other and Mussolini’s strategic objectives with regard to other
countries, like Austria and Spaincountries, like Austria and Spain
Donau Pact and Assassination of Donau Pact and Assassination of DollfußDollfuß (1934) (1934)
Italian invasion of Abyssinia (1935)Italian invasion of Abyssinia (1935)
Rome-Berlin Axis (October, 1936)Rome-Berlin Axis (October, 1936)
Anschluss ÖsterreichsAnschluss Österreichs (March, 1938)(March, 1938)
Munich Agreement (September, 1938)Munich Agreement (September, 1938)
Pact of Steel (May, 1939)Pact of Steel (May, 1939)

12. Rome-Berlin Axis
was announced
October 25, 1936

13. German-Soviet RelationsGerman-Soviet Relations
Hitler despised communism and viewed Hitler despised communism and viewed
Russia as populated by ethnic Slavs ruled by Russia as populated by ethnic Slavs ruled by
their Jewish Bolshevik masters; Nazi their Jewish Bolshevik masters; Nazi
ideology centered on racial conflict while ideology centered on racial conflict while
Marxist ideology focused on class conflictMarxist ideology focused on class conflict
due to domestic scarcity, Germany relied due to domestic scarcity, Germany relied
heavily on Russia to import raw materialsheavily on Russia to import raw materials
Hitler sought the goal of self-sufficiency Hitler sought the goal of self-sufficiency
through the pursuit of an expansionist policy through the pursuit of an expansionist policy
and through stress on making Germany less and through stress on making Germany less
dependent on outside raw materials (Four-dependent on outside raw materials (Four-
Year Plan)Year Plan)

14. German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.)
workers in Germany were highly skilled and its workers in Germany were highly skilled and its
industry was largely private; Germany was also a industry was largely private; Germany was also a
leader in world trade; Russia lagged in industrial leader in world trade; Russia lagged in industrial
development prior to 1917; after the Russian development prior to 1917; after the Russian
Revolution (1917), the communists took control of Revolution (1917), the communists took control of
Soviet banking, industry, and transportation (state Soviet banking, industry, and transportation (state
ownership)ownership)
when Stalin assumed power in 1924, he embarked when Stalin assumed power in 1924, he embarked
on a program of rapid industrial modernization on a program of rapid industrial modernization
while maintaining relative isolation from the rest of while maintaining relative isolation from the rest of
Europe; Stalin estimated that the USSR was 50 Europe; Stalin estimated that the USSR was 50
years to a century behind in economic years to a century behind in economic
development; Stalin achieved unprecedented development; Stalin achieved unprecedented
growth rates of 10-12% per year in the 1930sgrowth rates of 10-12% per year in the 1930s

15. German Four-Year Plan (German Four-Year Plan (1936-1940)1936-1940)
Hitler’s program Hitler’s program to to
make the German make the German
army operational army operational
and the German and the German
economy fit for war economy fit for war
within four yearswithin four years; ;
Hitler appointed Hitler appointed
HermannHermann Göring to Göring to
oversee oversee
implementation of implementation of
the plan; the plan;

16. German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.)
Soviet Five-Year PlansSoviet Five-Year Plans
First Five-Year Plan (1928-1933)First Five-Year Plan (1928-1933) build build
industrial infrastructure and collectivize industrial infrastructure and collectivize
agricultureagriculture
Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937)Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937)
focused on heavy industry, especially focused on heavy industry, especially
steelsteel
Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1941) Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1941)
concentrates on war preparedness: concentrates on war preparedness:
armaments, military equipment, armaments, military equipment,
weaponry weaponry

17. The Great Purge (1936-1938)The Great Purge (1936-1938)
policy of Stalinist repression, persecution, policy of Stalinist repression, persecution,
and execution of political opponents, and execution of political opponents,
peasants, and non-partisans in the Soviet peasants, and non-partisans in the Soviet
Union from 1936 to 1938; Josef Stalin’s Union from 1936 to 1938; Josef Stalin’s
plan to purge the Communist Party and plan to purge the Communist Party and
consolidate his power consolidate his power

18. Josef Stalin:Josef Stalin:
under Stalinist rule, one under Stalinist rule, one
might simply disappear---might simply disappear---
both literally and officially; both literally and officially;
Commissar Nikolai Yezhov Commissar Nikolai Yezhov
to Stalin’s right in this to Stalin’s right in this
photo from the 1930s was photo from the 1930s was
shot in 1940 and shot in 1940 and
airbrushed out of historyairbrushed out of history
by Soviet censorsby Soviet censors

19. German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.)
during the inter-war period both the Soviet during the inter-war period both the Soviet
Republic (Russian Revolution and Republic (Russian Revolution and
communism) and the German Reich communism) and the German Reich
(international reparations and economic and (international reparations and economic and
political turmoil) were viewed as political turmoil) were viewed as
international outcasts international outcasts
overall neutrality and nonaggression overall neutrality and nonaggression
maintained by the Soviets and Germans in maintained by the Soviets and Germans in
the 1930s (extension of Treaty of Berlin) the 1930s (extension of Treaty of Berlin)
was uneasywas uneasy

20. German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.)
Soviet policy of reluctant rapprochement Soviet policy of reluctant rapprochement
was replaced by a policy of containment was replaced by a policy of containment
through collective security in the mid-1930s through collective security in the mid-1930s
as Hitler escalated his pan-Slavic, anti-as Hitler escalated his pan-Slavic, anti-
Semitic rhetoricSemitic rhetoric
1936 Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany
and Japan (later joined by Italy) reaffirmed and Japan (later joined by Italy) reaffirmed
Hitler’s opposition to communist expansionHitler’s opposition to communist expansion
despite the anti-Soviet rhetoric, Germany despite the anti-Soviet rhetoric, Germany
concluded a credit agreement with the concluded a credit agreement with the
Soviets in 1935; however, the following year Soviets in 1935; however, the following year
Hitler issued his Four-Year PlanHitler issued his Four-Year Plan

21. German-Soviet Relations (cont.)German-Soviet Relations (cont.)
Munich Agreement of 1938 rendered the Munich Agreement of 1938 rendered the
policy of collective security sterile: British policy of collective security sterile: British
and French support of Sudeten German self-and French support of Sudeten German self-
determination over and above Czech determination over and above Czech
sovereignty undermined the Soviet position sovereignty undermined the Soviet position
and shaped the focus of the Third Five-Year and shaped the focus of the Third Five-Year
Plan to war preparednessPlan to war preparedness

22. German involvement in the German involvement in the
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Condor Legion: unit of German volunteers who fought with Condor Legion: unit of German volunteers who fought with
the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War; field tested the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War; field tested
new military equipment and methods of terror bombing new military equipment and methods of terror bombing
which were judged to be ineffectivewhich were judged to be ineffective
Spanish Civil War pitted Italy and Germany against Soviet Spanish Civil War pitted Italy and Germany against Soviet
RussiaRussia
German motivations: Franco, if successful, would rule German motivations: Franco, if successful, would rule
another fascist state, Spain, on the borders of France; another fascist state, Spain, on the borders of France;
inflamed internal political divisions within France between inflamed internal political divisions within France between
right and left; assisting Italy in Spain positioned Mussolini right and left; assisting Italy in Spain positioned Mussolini
closer to the Nazi government and farther from the closer to the Nazi government and farther from the
Western democracies (Britain and France); exploitation of Western democracies (Britain and France); exploitation of
Spanish raw materials (e.g. iron ore)Spanish raw materials (e.g. iron ore)

23. Anti-war painting by Pablo Picasso, Guernica (1937)
Based on German terror bombing of Guernica, Spain.

24. German policy towards Eastern German policy towards Eastern
EuropeEurope
Hitler viewed Eastern Europeans, particularly the Hitler viewed Eastern Europeans, particularly the
Slavs, as subhuman, or Slavs, as subhuman, or untermenschenuntermenschen
Hitler looked eastward for Hitler looked eastward for lebensraumlebensraum to establish to establish
GroßdeutschlandGroßdeutschland and to exploit natural resources and to exploit natural resources

annexation of Austria, or annexation of Austria, or AnschlußAnschluß Österreichs Österreichs
occupation of the Sudetenland and the carving up occupation of the Sudetenland and the carving up
of Czechoslovakia of Czechoslovakia
invasion of Poland and Russiainvasion of Poland and Russia
Nazi puppet states: Bulgaria (1940-1944), Croatia Nazi puppet states: Bulgaria (1940-1944), Croatia
(1941-1945), Hungary (1944-1945), Romania (1941-1945), Hungary (1944-1945), Romania
(1940-1944), Slovakia (1939-1945)(1940-1944), Slovakia (1939-1945)

25. Germany and the WestGermany and the West
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued
a policy of appeasement with Hitler from 1937 to a policy of appeasement with Hitler from 1937 to
1939 in order to avoid armed conflict with 1939 in order to avoid armed conflict with
GermanyGermany
appeasement emerged from the failure of the appeasement emerged from the failure of the
League of Nations and the international system to League of Nations and the international system to
prevent the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, prevent the Japanese invasion of Manchuria,
Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rheinland, and the Hitler’s reoccupation of the Rheinland, and the
Italian invasion of Abyssinia Italian invasion of Abyssinia
Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland to Hitler Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland to Hitler
and put the question of the division of remaining and put the question of the division of remaining
Czechoslovak territory in the hands of an Czechoslovak territory in the hands of an
international commission; Czechoslovakia was international commission; Czechoslovakia was
divided among Germany, Hungary, Poland, and a divided among Germany, Hungary, Poland, and a
new Slovakian state was created; Czechoslovakia, new Slovakian state was created; Czechoslovakia,
Britain and France’s ally, ceased to exist Britain and France’s ally, ceased to exist

27. Munich
Agreement
1938

28. Hitler was hailed by Hitler was hailed by
many Sudeten Germans many Sudeten Germans
as a liberatoras a liberator

29. SummarySummary
•aggressive, expansionist, and
militant totalitarian state where
civil rights are eliminated and
personal liberties denied; armed
prison camp
1933-1945
Third Reich
•fractious democratic republic with
guarantees of civil rights and
protection of personal liberties;
viewed by some as decadent,
foreign, and un-German
1919-1933
Weimar Republic

30. Lessons from Hitler’s Foreign Policy (1933-1938)Lessons from Hitler’s Foreign Policy (1933-1938)
possible extreme consequences of diplomatic possible extreme consequences of diplomatic
miscalculationsmiscalculations
policy of appeasement; policy of appeasement; the so-called Lesson of the so-called Lesson of
Munich states that enemies will interpret Munich states that enemies will interpret
restraint as indicating a lack of capability or restraint as indicating a lack of capability or
political will or bothpolitical will or both
limits of public opinion in modern democracylimits of public opinion in modern democracy
virtue of consistency in threatening and using virtue of consistency in threatening and using
forceforce
potentially catastrophic impact of irrationalism on potentially catastrophic impact of irrationalism on
foreign policyforeign policy
fear is an effective tool for mobilizing and fear is an effective tool for mobilizing and
shaping public sentimentshaping public sentiment
totalitarian regimes could seize power through totalitarian regimes could seize power through
legitimate political means and not just through legitimate political means and not just through
violenceviolence
principle of humanitarian interventionism; human principle of humanitarian interventionism; human
rights abuses, or crimes against humanity, may rights abuses, or crimes against humanity, may
justify interventionjustify intervention

31. Historiography, or Interpretive Historiography, or Interpretive
ConcernsConcerns
Was Hitler’s foreign policy…Was Hitler’s foreign policy…
stufenplanstufenplan, step-by-step (intentional), or , step-by-step (intentional), or ad ad
hochoc, improvisational (functionalist)?, improvisational (functionalist)?

32. Conclusion: With regards to the Nazi regime,
the general contours of dictatorship and the overall
trajectory of totalitarianism was clear to the nations of
the world by 1938. Yet, in 1938 Western powers
engaged Hitler with a policy of appeasement or
created distance from Germany through isolationism.
Hitler’s main objective---world domination---was
apparent before 1938.

33. BBC