How far was Hitler’s foreign policy responsible for the Second
World War, 1918-89?
Intentionalists
-Hitler had a masterplan from the start, outlined in Mein Kampf.
-Knew what he wanted, but took advantage of events
-Hitler had a step-by-step plan to either a) take over Eastern Europe b) take over Europe,
then the middle east, then British colonies, then the rest of the world.
Structuralists/functionalists
-Outside influences were as significant, if not more so than Nazi foreign policy in the
outbreak of the war.
-German rules typically followed a policy of expansionism: the gap between the First and
Second World War was just a lull in the same 30 Years War.
-Events in the rest of the world, and the actions of other world leaders had a significant effect
on whether the world went to war or not.
Aryan Racial Theory
-An invention drawn on the ideas of late 1800s that Nordic and Germanic races were
superior
-True Germans were Aryan, who were superior to all other races ethnic groups such as black
and asian, Jews and Slavs in Eastern Europe.
-’Scientific’ tests to measure racial purity, e.g measuring nose.
-Law banning Jews from the civil service specified 3 or 4 Jewish grandparents
-Idea of ‘Pan-Germanism’ uniting all German speakers in one country, capturing other
countries and clearing them of ‘inferiors’ to give ‘pure Germans’ enough land to live on.
-Led the Nazis to favour alliances with racially acceptable countries such as Britain.
Why the Third Reich?
The First Reich- The Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne (800- 1806)
The Second Reich- German Empire founded by Otto von Bismarck Prime Minister of
Prussia.
Both empires had gained land through military strength, but worked hard for acceptance by
other nations.While Nazi propaganda focused on the glory of these empires because his
foreign policy during his early years stressed his desire for peace.
Harking back to earlier empires was a way to appeal to Germans as ‘continuing’ and
‘restoring ‘ a great Germany.
Hitler and the Nazi Party
-In Mein Kampf outlined his political theories and his experiences as a soldier in the First
World War.
-During the war raged against the politicians he felt had betrayed Germany
-Joined NSDAP, had a 25-Point Programme which contained ideas about race and German
expansion that Hitler had outlined in Mein Kampf
-After writing Mein Kampf decided his next takeover should be by gaining a majority in the
Reichstag.
World War, 1918-89?
Intentionalists
-Hitler had a masterplan from the start, outlined in Mein Kampf.
-Knew what he wanted, but took advantage of events
-Hitler had a step-by-step plan to either a) take over Eastern Europe b) take over Europe,
then the middle east, then British colonies, then the rest of the world.
Structuralists/functionalists
-Outside influences were as significant, if not more so than Nazi foreign policy in the
outbreak of the war.
-German rules typically followed a policy of expansionism: the gap between the First and
Second World War was just a lull in the same 30 Years War.
-Events in the rest of the world, and the actions of other world leaders had a significant effect
on whether the world went to war or not.
Aryan Racial Theory
-An invention drawn on the ideas of late 1800s that Nordic and Germanic races were
superior
-True Germans were Aryan, who were superior to all other races ethnic groups such as black
and asian, Jews and Slavs in Eastern Europe.
-’Scientific’ tests to measure racial purity, e.g measuring nose.
-Law banning Jews from the civil service specified 3 or 4 Jewish grandparents
-Idea of ‘Pan-Germanism’ uniting all German speakers in one country, capturing other
countries and clearing them of ‘inferiors’ to give ‘pure Germans’ enough land to live on.
-Led the Nazis to favour alliances with racially acceptable countries such as Britain.
Why the Third Reich?
The First Reich- The Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne (800- 1806)
The Second Reich- German Empire founded by Otto von Bismarck Prime Minister of
Prussia.
Both empires had gained land through military strength, but worked hard for acceptance by
other nations.While Nazi propaganda focused on the glory of these empires because his
foreign policy during his early years stressed his desire for peace.
Harking back to earlier empires was a way to appeal to Germans as ‘continuing’ and
‘restoring ‘ a great Germany.
Hitler and the Nazi Party
-In Mein Kampf outlined his political theories and his experiences as a soldier in the First
World War.
-During the war raged against the politicians he felt had betrayed Germany
-Joined NSDAP, had a 25-Point Programme which contained ideas about race and German
expansion that Hitler had outlined in Mein Kampf
-After writing Mein Kampf decided his next takeover should be by gaining a majority in the
Reichstag.
