<p> Year 12 Modern History – Twentieth Century Germany Understanding Nazi Foreign Policy – Key points Key documents/periods. 1. Nazi 25-point program – 1921 – see classwork 2. ‘ Mein Kampf’ – 1923/4  ‘The acquisition of land and soil as the objective of our foreign policy’ – meant expansion 3. ‘ Zweites Buch’ – 1928  Introduced a 5-stage program for a NSDAP government i) removal of the Treaty of Versailles ii) end of the French system of alliances in eastern Europe and outlined German plans for control over Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland iii) defeat of France iv) invasion of Russia v) contest for world supremacy, possible against Britain and the USA</p><p>4. Revision of Versailles – 1933-1937  Generally seen as a series of ‘diplomatic coups’ by Hitler at the expense of Britain, France and the League of Nations  some historians see this as leading to Hitler seeing himself as being invincible (see Kershaw)</p><p>5. Hossbach Memorandum – November 1937  Secret document recorded during meeting by Hossbach in which Hitler outlined program for acquisition of lebensraum  Hitler argued that the time had come to solve the question of living space for the German people (projected for 1943-45) by taking territory in eastern Europe  Outlines Hitler’s expansionist foreign policy – change from diplomatic to military force in f.p.  Some historians see this as a manouevre in domestic affairs by Hitler to overcome conservative doubts about the pace of German military rearmament  Seen by intentionalist historians as a ‘blue-print’ for following events BUT structuralists point out that events did not unfold as outlined by Hitler, therefore it was not a blue-print  Cited at the post-WW2 Nuremburg trials as proof of Hitler’s intentions to go to war. 6. Pre-war crises – 1938-1939 - to be covered by presentations Other factors:  Past traditions of German foreign policy: 1. Fischer – pre-Nazi expansionist path (aims from WWI – see Treaty of Brest Litovsk 1918) 2. origins of lebensraum in pre-1914 fringe groups 3. Streseman (1923-1929) focused on the revision of Versailles ; the army (von Seekt) tried evade military restrictions in this treaty (see class notes)</p><p> Domestic economic situation 1. Sauer saw blitzkrieg (lightning war) as an economic as well as a military strategy 2. Kershaw saw situation as more problematic – the Four Year Plan (create a war economy) and Hossbach were a response to the German Economic crisis of 1935-36 3. Therefore, Hitler accelerated the pace of foreign policy plans in order to divert German public opinion away from domestic (economic) problems</p><p>Historiography: Intentionalists - 1960 – Trevor-Roper really began - emphasises the central place of Hitler in the creation of Nazi foreign policy, the racial framework of this policy and the belief in the need for conquest of lebensraum as the basis for Germany’s future status - divided into two main groups: continentalists (Hitler wanted hegemony within Europe) and globalists (Hitler wanted supremacy in the Middle East, Africa and possible even the USA as well) - other historians – Bullock, Hildebrand Structuralists - really begun by AJP Taylor - pin-points other forces at work in Nazi Party and system - sees foreign policy and actions as being shaped by numerous agencies and institutions within and outwith the party, with a confused variety of aims - sees the evolution of foreign policy in the 2nd half of the 1930s as related to domestic economic pressures and therefore to the overcoming of internal discontent - at most extreme, sees Hitler’s goals as ‘utopian’ and that the dynamism of the Nazi movement is what was responsible for the transformation of the idea of lebensraum from an ‘ideological metaphor’ to a political reality - other historians – Mommsen, Broszat, Kershaw </p>