hist2125 hitler’s germany lecture 13: expansionist foreign politics, 1938-39 15 november 2012
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
Sudeten Crisis, summer 1938
• 3,5 million Sudeten Germans in CZ opposed to Prague
• Hitler’s ideologically-driven expansionist goals
• Wehrmacht’s military-strategic considerations
• Hitler’s demand for cession of Sudetenland
• Appeasement policy of Chamberlain
Appeasement Policy
• Historical experiences
• Belief in peaceful solutions
• Disillusionment with Versailles Treaty
• Fear of communism
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
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
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
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 reality not much cooperation with Mussolini
Interpretations:Hitler’s Role in foreign policy
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
Integrated School
• Hitler’s major initiatives & vital decisions
• Hitler’s fresh, unorthodox line ≠ other power groups’ suspicions & objections
• Hitler attentive to ‘structural’ domestic & external limitingfactors
• No evidence of ‘weak dictator’
= Hitler with dominant role in foreign policy decisions