CH 3: Hitler’s Foreign Policy
Hitler’s Plans and Aims:
Hitler was never secretive about his plans for Germany: in 1925 he had published his book ‘Mein Kampf’,
in which he outlined what the Nazis would do if they achieved power in Germany.
1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles: the common belief in Germany was that the ToV was
completely unfair, with the German leaders who had signed it being called ‘The November
Criminals’ due to the humiliation they caused. Hitler took advantage of the German population’s
bitterness, promising to reverse the Treaty if he became leader of Germany.
2. Expand German territory: The Treaty of Versailles had taken away territory from Germany,
which Hitler wanted to regain. He wanted Germany to unite with Austria (Anschluss) and
German minorities in other countries such as Czechoslovakia to rejoin Germany. But he also
wanted to carve out an empire in eastern Europe to give extra Lebensraum or ‘living space’ for
Germans.
3. Defeat communism: Hitler was very anti communist. He believed that the Bolsheviks had helped
to bring about Germany's defeat in WW1, and that they were ultimately planning to take over
Germany.
Date Action
1933 took Germany out of LoN; began rearming
1934 tried to take over Austria but was prevented by Mussolini
1935 massive rearmament rally; reintroduced conscription
1936 sent German troops into Rhineland; anticommunist alliance with
Japan
1937 Participated in Spanish Civil War; anticommunist alliance with Italy
1938 Anschluss; took over Sudetenland
1939 Invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland; WW2
PLANNER
● He had already made the ‘blueprint’ in his book ‘Mein Kampf’ (1925-26) in which he expressed
that he wanted to expand eastward (Lebensraum), destroy communism, and exterminate Jews.
● His foreign policy showed he had some form of plan, which slowly escalated as seen in the table
above.
● He had consistent anti-Jewish policy escalation, first by enforcing segregation laws, then
introduced ghettos and finally mass genocide —> this suggests that there is some ideological
continuity.
OR
GAMBLER:
, ● Rhineland remilitarisation (1936): German troops were ordered to retreat if
France resisted → huge gamble that succeeded because Allies didn’t act
● As a result of appeasement, Hitler believed he could keep getting away with increasingly bigger
demands and aggressive acts.
One example of rearmament was that the number of soldiers drastically increased from 100,000 in 1932
to 950,000 (nearly 1 million) in 1939.
The rewards of Anschluss were that Austria’s soldiers, weapons and rich deposits of gold and iron ore
were added to Germany’s increasingly strong army and industry. Hitler was also keeping up with his
promises to the German public of reversing the Treaty of Versailles, which boosted Nazi support and
made it increasingly clear to Hitler that Britain and France were not willing to stand up to him anytime
soon.
ToV Terms What Hitler Did and What Reasons He Response From Other
When Gave for His Action Nations
Rearmament 1933 to 1939 - Hitler’s Hitler knew that rearming Britain believed that the
main aim as the leader of Germany would alarm other limits on Germany's armed
Germany was to make countries, so he handled the forces by the Treaty of
Germany strong again by situation cleverly by making Versailles were too harsh,
increasing its armed forces, sure everyone understood as they were not sufficient
and challenging the terms of that he was only doing it to defend Germany from
the Treaty of Versailles. In because other countries attack. Therefore, Britain
1935 he openly staged a refused to disarm helped to dismantle the
massive military rally (consequence of the Treaty by signing the 1935
(known as the Nuremberg Disarmament Conference). Anglo-German Naval
rally), and reintroduced In reality, he did it to Agreement with Hitler that
conscription to the army. increase Nazi support and allowed Germany to
German morale, and drastically increase its navy
decrease unemployment (up to 35% the size of the
and poverty in the country. British navy). France was
frustrated at Britain's
decision (they didn’t like
that their neighbor enemy
was beginning to regain
power) but there was little
they could do.
The Saar 1935 - During the Saar The plebiscite was entirely Since the plebiscite was
plebiscite, Hitler’s legal and within the terms entirely legal and even
propaganda minister of the Treaty of Versailles organized by the League of
organised a successful so there was no need for Nations, Britain and France
Hitler’s Plans and Aims:
Hitler was never secretive about his plans for Germany: in 1925 he had published his book ‘Mein Kampf’,
in which he outlined what the Nazis would do if they achieved power in Germany.
1. Abolish the Treaty of Versailles: the common belief in Germany was that the ToV was
completely unfair, with the German leaders who had signed it being called ‘The November
Criminals’ due to the humiliation they caused. Hitler took advantage of the German population’s
bitterness, promising to reverse the Treaty if he became leader of Germany.
2. Expand German territory: The Treaty of Versailles had taken away territory from Germany,
which Hitler wanted to regain. He wanted Germany to unite with Austria (Anschluss) and
German minorities in other countries such as Czechoslovakia to rejoin Germany. But he also
wanted to carve out an empire in eastern Europe to give extra Lebensraum or ‘living space’ for
Germans.
3. Defeat communism: Hitler was very anti communist. He believed that the Bolsheviks had helped
to bring about Germany's defeat in WW1, and that they were ultimately planning to take over
Germany.
Date Action
1933 took Germany out of LoN; began rearming
1934 tried to take over Austria but was prevented by Mussolini
1935 massive rearmament rally; reintroduced conscription
1936 sent German troops into Rhineland; anticommunist alliance with
Japan
1937 Participated in Spanish Civil War; anticommunist alliance with Italy
1938 Anschluss; took over Sudetenland
1939 Invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland; WW2
PLANNER
● He had already made the ‘blueprint’ in his book ‘Mein Kampf’ (1925-26) in which he expressed
that he wanted to expand eastward (Lebensraum), destroy communism, and exterminate Jews.
● His foreign policy showed he had some form of plan, which slowly escalated as seen in the table
above.
● He had consistent anti-Jewish policy escalation, first by enforcing segregation laws, then
introduced ghettos and finally mass genocide —> this suggests that there is some ideological
continuity.
OR
GAMBLER:
, ● Rhineland remilitarisation (1936): German troops were ordered to retreat if
France resisted → huge gamble that succeeded because Allies didn’t act
● As a result of appeasement, Hitler believed he could keep getting away with increasingly bigger
demands and aggressive acts.
One example of rearmament was that the number of soldiers drastically increased from 100,000 in 1932
to 950,000 (nearly 1 million) in 1939.
The rewards of Anschluss were that Austria’s soldiers, weapons and rich deposits of gold and iron ore
were added to Germany’s increasingly strong army and industry. Hitler was also keeping up with his
promises to the German public of reversing the Treaty of Versailles, which boosted Nazi support and
made it increasingly clear to Hitler that Britain and France were not willing to stand up to him anytime
soon.
ToV Terms What Hitler Did and What Reasons He Response From Other
When Gave for His Action Nations
Rearmament 1933 to 1939 - Hitler’s Hitler knew that rearming Britain believed that the
main aim as the leader of Germany would alarm other limits on Germany's armed
Germany was to make countries, so he handled the forces by the Treaty of
Germany strong again by situation cleverly by making Versailles were too harsh,
increasing its armed forces, sure everyone understood as they were not sufficient
and challenging the terms of that he was only doing it to defend Germany from
the Treaty of Versailles. In because other countries attack. Therefore, Britain
1935 he openly staged a refused to disarm helped to dismantle the
massive military rally (consequence of the Treaty by signing the 1935
(known as the Nuremberg Disarmament Conference). Anglo-German Naval
rally), and reintroduced In reality, he did it to Agreement with Hitler that
conscription to the army. increase Nazi support and allowed Germany to
German morale, and drastically increase its navy
decrease unemployment (up to 35% the size of the
and poverty in the country. British navy). France was
frustrated at Britain's
decision (they didn’t like
that their neighbor enemy
was beginning to regain
power) but there was little
they could do.
The Saar 1935 - During the Saar The plebiscite was entirely Since the plebiscite was
plebiscite, Hitler’s legal and within the terms entirely legal and even
propaganda minister of the Treaty of Versailles organized by the League of
organised a successful so there was no need for Nations, Britain and France
