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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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