4. Impact of ideology on Nazi foregin policy to September 1939 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 4. Impact of ideology on Nazi foregin policy to September 1939 Deck (15)
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1
Q

what do many historians argue?

A

argued that impact of Nazi ideology was enormous and ultimately resulted in war with Great Britain and allies

2
Q

Bullock presents theory that?

A

Hitler was an opportunist who acted in response to circumstances, but he was only able to do this because he had long-term goals clearly in mind

3
Q

Alternatively, other historians argue that?

A

ideology played a minor role, and that Hitler was just following traditional German expansionist aims similar to those of his predecessors of Imperial Germany

4
Q

Hitler was not evil madman, rather, as AJP Taylor states?

A

he sought the same solution to Germany’s problems as had all German leaders

5
Q

Main goals: Lebensraum?

A

(living space) – Expansion into Eastern Europe would bring conflict with Soviet Union and expansion west would bring conflict with England, France and their allies

6
Q

Goals: what kind of alliance did Germany desire?

A

sought alliance with Italy, a fascist state, which made it a natural ideological ally for the Nazi state. Germany also desired alliance with England on ideological grounds

7
Q

why did want alliance with England?

A

Like Germany, England was Aryan and anti-Communist. Their mutual history would make them unique allies in the fight against Jewish and Communist conspiracy

8
Q

Racial policies argument?

A

– Some historians argue that Hitler’s ultimate goal was the elimination of the entire Jewish race (belief in Aryan superiority)

9
Q

what was the Social Darwinist view?

A

Hitler accepted the Social Darwinist view that nations prosper at expense of others

10
Q

What does he state in Mein Kampf?

A

“Kindred blood should belong to a common empire”

11
Q

what does statement in Mein Kampf reveal about aims?

A

aim of drawing together all German speaking people into a GrossDeutschland

12
Q

what did it mean to ignore to argue that ideology had minor impact?

A

would mean ignoring the forecast made by Hitler in the Mein Kampf, and all speeches and actions by Hitler, which were rife with bellicosity and racial hatred.

13
Q

Ultimately, Nazi ideology was focused on the objectives of ?

A

territorial expansion and racial purity, both of which drove German foreign policy on a path to war

14
Q

Winston Churchill argues?

A

Mein Kampf made clear his intentions form creating a National Socialist state to world conquest

15
Q

Richard Evans suggests about lebensraum?

A

desire for lebensraum had less to do with ideology and more to do with economic necessity/recovery “…secure recovery of the German economy was through the conquest of ‘living space’ in the East”