AIms+of+Nazi+Foreign+Policy

=//What were the aims of Nazi Foreign Policy?//=


 * The Importance of Foreign Policy**
 * Hitler had little interest in domestic policy and focused on foreign policy - major issues of the policy were determined by Hitler himself. It was entirely Hitler's policy.
 * By 1935 Hitler had managed to secure entirely individual power over Germany. The Nazi party could not have existed without the Fuhrer. This was achieved by:
 * Eliminating all opposition
 * His position as head of state and head of government- allowed him to make all the foreign policy decisions without the interference from the Reichstag
 * The existence of a police state improved enforceability of laws, further suppressing opposition
 * German Army had taken an oath of loyalty to Hitler personally- this reinforced his ability to make foreign policy decisions alone
 * Economy was recovering- Lebensraum, it was thought, would help this further, and after the previous economic crises German's had recently face anything that improved their economy was very welcome
 * Policy of rearmament had begun- necessary for the rest of the foreign policy, as it was always going to eventuate in a war
 * The Fuhrer Myth was actively perpetuated by Nazi officials and completely believed- the German people loved Hitler even when they hated the Nazis
 * The Treaty of Versailles was hated in Germany, a source of much anger for a people who felt they were being unfairly punished for decisions that were never theirs to make.
 * There was alot of public support for its overhaul
 * Was able to be used as a tool to gain support for foreign policy
 * Anger at the other European nations which had imposed this humiliation
 * Hitler wanted to restore Germany to a position of great power, something that the German people last after their defeat in WWI

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 * Recovery of the Will- Volksdeutsche**
 * Restoration of Germany's former greatness
 * Hitler believed German people needed to be united for the Aryan race
 * Herrenvolk – Master Race
 * This was an application of Nazi ideology
 * Incorporate Aryan Germans outside Germany
 * Grossdeutschland and the idea of Volksdeutsche- a united German people
 * Hitler's disrespect for democracy allowed this blatant disregard of state sovereignty
 * Belief that strength could only be achieved through unity
 * First was Anschluss- annexation of Austria as a part of Germany
 * Often justified expansion with emphasizing (or creating) the plight of ethnic Germans in foreign countries- in order to protect these people, these countries must be joined as a part of Germany.
 * Used in Sudetenland- western Czechoslovakia with a large German minority encouraged to oppose their government- eventually led to the occupation and control of Czechslovakia
 * Lebensraum:**
 * Expansionist policy - wanted "Living Space"
 * Needed economic self sufficiency for survival of master race (Herrenvolk)
 * Hitler needed greater land (and their resources) to fulfill this- this land was to be taken and used for the benefit of Aryan Germans irrespective of any other inhabitants
 * Hitler's belief in Aryan supremacy underpinned his racism
 * Others, particularily Jews and Slavs were "untermenschen"- therefore their enslavement was justifiable
 * Ideology of struggle = force
 * i.e. strong overtake weak
 * Mainly concerned with conquering Eastern European countries
 * Polish corridor was important for resources and strategically, Poland was relatively small and considered an easy target. Could also be used to launch an attack on the Soviet Union
 * Hatred of communism led him to target the Soviet Union- rich in resources and full of "untermenschen"
 * West was considered more tolerable