Hitler's Foreign Policy

What was Hitler's foreign policy?

Hitler promised to make Germany great again, to solve the problems of unemployment and 'right the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles'. His foreign policy aims were designed to help him achieve this.

What were the key aims of Hitler's foreign policy?

Hitler had 6 key foreign policy aims to make Germany great again:

• ❖ Hitler wanted to destroy the Treaty of Versailles. He thought the treaty humiliated Germany.
• ❖ Hitler wanted to take living space in the east. This was called Lebensraum.
• ❖ Hitler wanted to unite people with German blood and create a greater Germany. This was called Volksdeutsche.
• ❖ The Treaty of Versailles forbid Austria and Germany uniting. Hitler wanted Anschluss - the reuniting of Germany and Austria.
• ❖ Hitler wanted to rearm Germany and create jobs in munitions factories and the army. He thought this would make Germany great again.
• ❖ Hitler saw communism as an enemy and wanted to destroy it. He linked communism to Jews and thought they were ruining Germany.

How did Hitler's attitude to Germany affect his foreign policy?

Hitler wanted Germany to be the greatest European nation with a huge empire encompassing central and eastern Europe as well as Russia.

How did Hitler's attitude to the Versailles Settlement affect his foreign policy?

Hitler won popularity in Germany by promising to destroy the Treaty of Versailles. This had two implications.

• ❖ Germany would remilitarise the Rhineland.
• ❖ Germany would not respect decisions made about its lost territory at Versailles.

How did Hitler's attitude to a Greater Germany affect his foreign policy?

Hitler promised Germans that they would become part of a 'Greater Germany', or Gross Deutschland.

• ❖ He planned to bring all German-speaking people back under his government, even if their territory belonged to another country.
• ❖ Germany's borders would expand to cover the areas where German-speaking people lived in countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria.

How did Hitler's attitude to communism affect his foreign policy?

Hitler wanted to destroy communism. This would bring Germany into conflict with the USSR, a communist country.

How did the idea of Lebensraum affect Hitler's foreign policy?

Hitler wanted the population to grow, but if this happened Germany would need to expand its borders to create living space, or Lebensraum.

What actions resulted from Hitler's foreign policy?

Hitler's foreign policy affected the actions taken by Germany in the years 1933 - 1935. These included:

• ❖ Leaving the League of Nations in 1933.
• ❖ Defying the Treaty of Versailles from 1933.
• ❖ Rearming Germany from 1933.
• ❖ Threatening Austrian independence by supporting a coup by Austrian Nazis and attempting Anschluss in 1934.
• ❖ Signing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935.
• ❖ Leading a strong campaign in the Saar plebiscite of 1935.

What were the problems with Hitler's foreign policy?

Hitler's foreign policy created tension with other countries and ultimately led to war because of the following reasons:

• ❖ If Hitler was to achieve Lebensraum (Living Room) he would have to invade other nations and this would be seen an act of war.
• ❖ If Hitler was to destroy communism he would need to destroy the USSR - a powerful and strong nation that would not surrender to Hitler.
• ❖ If Hitler was to achieve Volksdeutsche and reunite all German-speaking peoples he would have to take over land that was not German.
• ❖ If Hitler was to rearm Germany this would break the Treaty of Versailles, and other nations like France would question his motives and wonder why he needed to rearm.