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HIST2134 The Third Reich through Documents, 1933-1945

HIST2134 The Third Reich through Documents, 1933-1945. Lecture 7: External policies of the Third Reich, 1933-39 19 March 2013. Foreign policy 4-phase-model. Revisionist and high-risk foreign politics , 1933-36 Expansionist foreign politics, 1938/39

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HIST2134 The Third Reich through Documents, 1933-1945

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  1. HIST2134The Third Reich through Documents, 1933-1945

    Lecture 7: External policies of the Third Reich, 1933-39 19 March 2013
  2. Foreign policy 4-phase-model Revisionist and high-risk foreign politics, 1933-36 Expansionist foreign politics, 1938/39 Blitz Wars and ideological warfare, 1939-42 Total War and downfall, 1943-45
  3. Hitler’s foreign policy goals Mein Kampf(My Struggle): Reversal of Versailles Treaty Creation of Greater Reich of all German-speaking people Conquest of ‘Lebensraum’ (living space) in Eastern Europe Establishment of new European political order dominated by ‘Germanic race’
  4. League of Nations ☻ Germany’s withdrawal, 14 Oct 1933: Hitler as chief initiator and in full agreement with leading German diplomats, army leadership, industrialists, conservative-revisionist forces Popular move to end Weimar Republic’s peaceful revisionist policy Necessary step after launching Germany’s rearmament program
  5. Poland ☺ Rapprochement, 1933/34: Hitler’s surprising move vs. foreign-policy makers & his dominant role → Consequence of G’s withdrawal from League of Nations → PL (Marshall Pilsudski) isolated after France’s non-interest in joint preventive war vs. G ► German-Polish Non-Aggression Treaty, 26 Jan 1934 = Undermined F’s containment policy with CEE states vs. G = Ended German-Polish trading war ► Great sympathies of PL for Hitler ► Pilsudski’s underestimation of Hitler’s ruthlessness
  6. Soviet Union ☻ Negative ‘mirror image’ to Poland: NS anti-Communist propaganda ‘Natural antagonism’ between National- Socialist Germany and Communist- Bolshevist SU Hitler’s dominant role having long-term options in mind
  7. Great Britain ☺ Bilateral Naval Treaty, 1935: Hitler’s dominant interest & influence → Conservative Foreign Minister von Neurath not involved German navy 35% + U-boat 45% of GB’s tonnage = Hitler: Step towards full alliance with GB = GB: Mainly concerned with Asia & acting without consultation with her French ally
  8. German Rhineland☺☻ Germany’s occupation of demilitarised zone: Hitler inspired by Mussolini’s Ethiopian campaign (1935/6) Popular foreign policy success No interventionby GB + F: Self-blockade = F only read to act with GB + GB positive to occupation & sceptical vs. F = Versailles (1919) & Locarno Treaties (1925) violated = Hitler emboldened  
  9. Italy ☺ Germany’s most important alliance partner: Close ideological ties shaken following Mussolini’s support for independent Austria, 1934 Improved relations following after Germany’s support for Italy’s Ethiopian campaign, 1936 Joint support for & cooperation with Fascist Franco during Spanish civil war, 1936 → Berlin-Rome Axis, Oct 1936 …
  10. Berlin-Rome Axis, Oct 1936 German-Italian agreement on: Germany’s support for Italy’s occupations in Africa Joint support & official recognition of Franco’s Fascist counter-government in Spain Mutual promise of fight against ‘Bolshevism’ (SU)
  11. Japan☺ Germany’s second most important alliance partner: Japan’s initiative for joint Anti-SU + Anti-Comintern (Communist International)front ► Anti-Comintern Pact, 25 Nov 1936 (+ I, 1937) Hitler’s initiative for secret supplementary agreement on joint anti-SU policy = But: Factual break of ACP by ‘Hitler-Stalin Pact’ (1939)
  12. Foreign views on Hitler’s Germany, 1933-36 Poland: Positive: underestimation Czechoslovakia: Negative GB: Positive & disinterested USA: Hitler compared with Roosevelt: disinterest + NS seen as European factor only F: Hitler seen as strong politician: defensive attitude NL / B / CH: Positive & disinterested
  13. Western powers’ main reasons East Asian crisis (Japan) + Indian independence movement (Ghandi) SU ideological confrontation (Comintern) Domestic economic & social challenges Feeling-of-guilt (Versailles Treaty)
  14. Conclusion Germany’s foreign policy restrictions abolished Much improved foreign political standing Good precondition for strongly expansionist policy Western democracies without counter-actions &in defence
  15. Foreign policy 4-phase-model Revisionist and high-risk foreign politics, 1933-36 Expansionist foreign politics, 1938-39 Blitz Wars and ideological warfare, 1939-42 Total War and downfall, 1943-45
  16. Austria ☻ ☺ Anschluß (annexation), Mar-Apr 1938: Hitler’s home country + historical & economic factors No intervention of Britain & Italy Austrian’s enthusiastic welcome of Hitler → planned forceful subordination becomes peaceful Anschluß Plebiscite in both G & A: 99% supportive of Anschluß
  17. Sudeten Crisis, summer 1938 3,5 million Sudeten Germans in CZ opposed to Prague Hitler’s ideologically-driven expansionist goals Wehrmacht’smilitary-strategic considerations Hitler’s demand for cession of Sudetenland Appeasement policy of Chamberlain
  18. Appeasement Policy Historical experiences Belief in peaceful solutions Disillusionment with Versailles Treaty Fear of communism
  19. Munich Agreement, 30 Sep 1938 Treaty of Britain-France-Germany-Italy: German occupation of Sudetenland British-French guarantee for remaining CZ German-British declaration of non-aggression and consultation No further German territorial demands on CZ
  20. Protectorate Bohemia-Moravia, Mar 1939 Hitler’s high-risk policy to ‘smash CZ by military action’ President Hácha relinquishes CZ to Germany: No foreign intervention Slovakia’s ‘independence’, 14 Mar Occupation of rest-CZ by Germany, 15 Mar Creation of ‘Protectorate’ with limited sovereignty under German protection = Slap-in-the-face for Chamberlain & appeasement policy
  21. Consequences Violation of Munich Agreement tolerated but not accepted by Western powers Hitler no longer seen as ‘revisionist’ but aggressor GB guarantee of PL freedom with tacit support of USA (31 Mar 1939) USA as armament provider for GB + F Strong boost for possible future Anglo-American war alliance
  22. Stahlpakt (Pact of Steel), May 1939 Offensive German-Italian military alliance: Continuation of Berlin-Rome Axis Close cooperation in war economy & military matters Common agreement on future truces & peace treaties = Highly important for Hitler’s decision to go to war = In realitynot much cooperation with Mussolini
  23. Intentionalist, programmatist, Hitlerist school: Hitler’s ideological goals shaped consistent foreign policy Foreign policy’s broad outlines and objectives were ‘programmed’ long in advance Structuralist, functionalist school: No program: Foreing policy with unclear & unspecific ways & aims Foreign policy more result of uncontrollable dynamism & radicalizing momentum of NSDAP and government offices Interpretations:Hitler’s Role in foreign policy
  24. Integrated School Hitler’s major initiatives & vital decisions Hitler’s fresh, unorthodox line ≠ other power groups’ suspicions & objections Hitler attentive to ‘structural’ domestic & external limiting factors No evidence of ‘weak dictator’ = Hitler with dominant role in foreign policy decisions
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