Hitlers program

Germany and the Two World Wars

Authorship and Background

• Author: Andreas Hillgruber

• Translator: William C. Kirby

• Published by: Harvard University Press, 1981

• Original Title: "Deutschlands Rolle in der Vorgeschichte der beiden Weltkriege"

• Copyright: 1981 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College

Key Themes and Concepts

Hitler's Foreign Policy

• Hitler's foreign policy evolved between 1919-1928.

• Aimed for Germany to be a world power or face extinction.

• Central goal: Eradication of Jews as perceived threats.

• Influenced by anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, especially 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion'.

Expansionist Aims

• Planned in two stages:

  • First: Establish continental control over Europe.

  • Second: Build a colonial empire and a formidable navy.

• Anticipated confrontation with the United States post-expansion.

Strategic Objectives

• Early strategy focused on expanding territory in Central Europe.

• Utilized struggles against the Versailles Treaty.

• Preferred peaceful means of initial territorial gains, shifting to localized wars as necessary.

• Sought to avoid large-scale conflicts until advantageous conditions were established.

Ideological Underpinning

• Hitler's program marked racially ideologically driven aims:

  • Extermination of Jewish populations and other perceived threats essential to policies.

  • Eastern European territories targeted for colonization and exploitation.

Practical Challenges

• Historical experiences from WWI shaped perceptions and strategic aims.

• Hitler overlooked the realities of power politics and the potential for coalition responses against Germany.

• His misconceptions about Russia and idealized views of England hindered strategic foresight.

Conclusion

• Hitler's methods and objectives, although ambitious and systemic, relied heavily on misconceptions about other powers, making sustained success unlikely.