Hitler's Foreign Policy and WWII Notes

Hitler’s Foreign Policy and the Outbreak of WWII

Definition of Hitler’s Foreign Policy

• Hitler's foreign policy aimed to overturn the Treaty of Versailles.
• It sought to unite all German-speaking people.
• It aimed to expand German territory (Lebensraum).

Ideology

• Based on nationalism.
• Rooted in racism, specifically Aryan superiority.
• Fueled by anti-communism.

Aims of Hitler’s Foreign Policy

• Destroying the Treaty of Versailles:
  • The treaty symbolized national humiliation for Germany.
  • It caused economic hardship.
  • It limited military strength.
  • It hindered ideological goals of uniting Germans.
• Uniting all Germans in one Reich:
  • This included Austria and Sudetenland.
  • The goal stemmed from Nazi ideology.
  • Aimed to create a single, powerful German Reich.
  • Sought to rule over people in the east.
• Expanding eastward for “Living Space” (Lebensraum):
  • Driven by the concept of Lebensraum.
  • Necessitated acquiring new territories in Eastern Europe.

Territorial Aggression: The Anschluss

• The Anschluss was Germany, under the Nazi regime, forcibly annexing Austria.
• It resulted in Austria ceasing to exist as an independent nation.
• Austrian and German Nazis implemented Nazi ideology and policies throughout Austria.
• This included:
  • The persecution of Jews.
  • The adoption of Nazi laws.
  • Austrian involvement in World War II and the Holocaust.

Munich Agreement and Occupation of Sudetenland

• To avoid war threatened by Hitler, Britain, France, and Italy agreed in the 1938 Munich Agreement that Czechoslovakia had to hand over its Sudetenland region (which had many German-speaking people) to Nazi Germany.
• Czechoslovakia wasn't involved in the decision but was pressured by Britain and France to accept it.
• German soldiers moved into and took control of the Sudetenland.

How Hitler’s Foreign Policy Was Implemented

• 1933: Left the League of Nations.
• 1935: Reintroduced conscription and built up the military.
• 1936: Remilitarized the Rhineland.
• 1938: Anschluss with Austria.
• 1938: Munich Agreement and occupation of Sudetenland.
• 1939: Took over all of Czechoslovakia.
• 1939: Nazi-Soviet Pact and invasion of Poland.

Why It Led To War

• Violated international agreements, increasing tensions with entities like the League of Nations and through breaches of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Aggressive expansion made countries like Britain and France feel threatened.
• The invasion of Poland in 1939 directly triggered war when Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Should Hitler’s Foreign Policy Be Blamed?

• Yes, it should be blamed because it was aggressive.
• It violated peace treaties.
• It aimed at expansion and domination.
• Some Germans felt the Treaty of Versailles was unfair, but the methods used (threats, war) were not justified.
• Overall, it is mostly to blame due to its aggressive nature and goal to conquer, which France and Britain felt threatened by.

Conclusion

• Hitler’s foreign policy was a key cause of WWII.
• It showed clear intentions of expansion, war preparation, and ignoring peace efforts.
• The policy directly led to the outbreak of war in 1939.

Citations

• “Foreign Policy and the Road to War.” Foreign Policy and the Road to War – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for Schools, www.theholocaustexplained.org/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/foreign-policy-and-the-road-to-war/. Accessed 8 May 2025.
• “Foreign Policy Aims - Hitler’s Foreign Policy - WJEC - GCSE History Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News, BBC, 16 Jan. 2023, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z92hw6f/revision/1.
• Wade, Zoe. “Hitler’s Foreign Policy IGCSE - History Notes.” Save My Exams, 17 Sept. 2024, www.savemyexams.com/igcse/history/cie/18/revision-notes/the-20th-century-international-relations-from-1919/was-hitlers-foreign-policy-to-blame-for-the-second-world-war/context-of-the-second-world-war/.
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