Related Issue #2 – To what extent should National Interest be pursued?
Ultranationalism in WW2
Recap Interwar lead-up
German revolution took place
Treaty of Versailles severe limitations on Germany
Under Democratic leadership until Wall Street Crash
Economic restrictions turned people towards Nazi party
Recap Interwar leadup
Britain: Appeasement, giving things to Hitler
France: The same – appeasement
Russia: Signed Nazi-Soviet pact for no combat
USA: Hiding from the rest of the world intentionally (Isolationism)
German Resentment
Started with Treaty of Versailles
Germans called it ”Diktat” – dictated peace
Citizens upset the new government signed treaty, not wartime leaders
Not sure what they expected… it was sign or lose more lives
German Resentment
Economics
Reparations – money paid to rebuild after the war – harshly affected Germany’s ability to pursue National Interest
Hyperinflation – rapid increase in prices of goods and services
Overtook Germany in 1923 – Money pretty well became useless
Many lost their savings
German Resentment
Economics
The Great Depression – Caused by Wall Street Crash
Started in 1929, by 1932 six million people were unemployed
Led to a very angry and desperate society
Lost faith in democracy and turned back to Imperialism
German Resentment
Weimar Republic started to be viewed as weak
Political instability extremely high
Frequent elections, uprisings, violent protests
Many of the citizens themselves started to blame the Jewish people and communists
Adolf Hitler used that
German Resentment
Revitalized sense of Civic Nationalism
Able to apply blame to specific group (November criminals)
With national support Hitler willingly violated treaty terms
Source Analysis
Adolf Hitler, Speech at Munich, March 15th, 1929
Militarism
Racism & Xenophobia
Suppression
Expansionism
“We solemnly confess that we consider everyone a scoundrel who does not try day and night to figure out a way to violate this treaty, for we have never recognized this treaty…We will take every step which strengthens our arms, which augments the number of our forces, and which increases the strength of our people. We confess further that we will dash anyone to pieces who should dare hinder us in this undertaking…Our rights will be protected only when the German Reich [country] is again supported by the point of the German dagger…”
The Great Depression - Germany
Why exactly was Germany hit so hard?
Because with their ability to pursue Economic National Interest hindered, they had to get money from somewhere else
Loans from the USA were the solution
USA market crashes = German market now crashes
The Great Depression - Germany
More on unemployment
6 million people in 1932 equates to about 1 in every 3 workers
Poverty and famine rise rapidly
Government did very little to stop crisis
The Great Depression - Germany
Nazi Party capitalizes on the misfortune
Unemployed, Middle class that lost savings, New Nationalists
Nazi party promised:
Jobs, Food
Military Growth
“Make Germany Strong Again”
Hitler: “Give me four years and you won’t recognize Germany”
The Great Depression - Germany
Evolution of political support
1928: 12 seats
1930: 107 seats
1932: 230 seats (majority)
Re-engaging in expansionism
Timeline
March 1936 – Rhineland
March 1938 – Austria
September 1938 – Czechoslovakia (partial)
March 1939 – Czechoslovakia (The rest)
September 1939 – Poland (Triggered WW2)
Rhineland
Faced no resistance in re-claiming land
Was lost after WW1 due to treaty
France and Britain stayed out of it
Hitler confidence elevated
Austria
Claimed taking Austrian was necessary to “unite all German speaking people”
Austrian Nazi supporters staged uprising to help in takeover
Once again Britain and France twiddle their thumbs and ignore
Czechoslovakia
Originally took the Sudetenland
A German-speaking region in Czechoslovakia
Munich conference allowed this – Britain France signed deal to allow it to happen
Hitler swore this was his “Last territorial demand”
It wasn’t
Czechoslovakia – the rest of it
Not justified through any linguistic reasoning
Direct violation of signed agreement with France and Britain upset them
Britain and France swore to protect Poland if Hitler invaded
Poland
Secret Nazi-Soviet pact agreed to split up Poland – unknown to others at the time
Hitler’s justification: Falsified rumours of Polish aggression
Hitler went in fast with air strikes and new, speedier tanks
September 3rd, 1939 – two days later – France and Britain declare war
Source Analysis
Adolf Hitler on Poland, 1938
“Certainly, things were hard in this area. The nationalities and small national groups frequently quarrelled among themselves. But the main fact is that the two governments, and all reasonable and clear- sighted persons among the two peoples and in the two countries, possess the firm will and determination to improve their relations."
Ultranationalism in WW2 Nazi Party
In the lead-up to the war Hitler expressed two types of Nationalism at ultranational levels
Ethnic || Linguistic
Cultural aspects present, Ethnic Ultranationalism the primary driver
Ultranationalism in WW2 Nazi Party
The Holocaust
Rooted in racial superiority (Ayan Race)
Jewish people sold as a threat to “national community”
After war started Hitler begun process of ethnic cleansing
Ultranationalism in WW2 Nazi Party
The Holocaust
Used government assets and soldiers to enact his hateful agenda
This was classified as Genocide
Intentional and systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group
Ultranationalism in WW2 Nazi Party
The Nuremberg Laws (1935)
Pre-dates the act of war – enforced heavily after War started
Defined citizens by blood race only – Aryans
Banned marriage to Jewish people
Created legal divide that Hitler’s enforcers could act upon
Ultranationalism in WW2 Nazi Party
The Holocaust
Watch the video, make specific observations relating to each aspect of Ultranationalism