The Treaty of Versailles had banned political union between Germany and Austria. However, such a union was one of Hitler’s cherished ambitions. From 1933, Hitler backed a campaign by Austrian Nazi’s to undermine the government of that country, led by Engelbert Dollfuss. There actions included blowing up government buildings and attacking officials. On 25th July 1934, Austrian Nazi’s had murdered Dollfuss. However, their attempt takeover of power was foiled by government troops led by Dr Kurt Von Schuschnigg. The affair raised the possibility of Nazi intervention in Austria. This was made impossible by actions of Mussolini who deployed 40,000 troops along the Austria border.
The Treaty of Versailles had limited the size of the Wehrmacht as well as Germanys navy and airforce. In March 1935, Hitler announced that Germany formally renounced the sections of The Treaty of Versailles concerned with its disarmament. Immediately he introduced conscription and rearmament. France reacted strongly to German rearmament and encouraged Britain and Italy to protest. The three countries met at the Strassa conference in April 1935; however no formal agreement could be reached. The most common criticisms of the Treaty Of Versailles by Hitler were the creation of the Polish Corridor and the placing of the port of Danzig into the League of Nations administration. By 1938, 70 seats in the senate of Danzig was held by Nazi’s, giving control to Germany and once again become part of the German Reich.
In March 1938, Hitler fulfilled a long cherished personal ambition by invading Austria and proclaiming Anchluss between Germany and Austria. Mussolini’s opposition was reduced by Italy’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War and Mussolini’s desire to develop a strong alliance with Germany, which had begun in 1936 with the formation of the Italian-German Axis. After Anchluss with Austria, Hitler turned his attention to Czechoslovakia. Before 1919, the provinces that made up Czechoslovakia were part of the Austro-Hungary Empire. Therefore there was a considerable German Speaking minority in Czechoslovakia, called the Sudaten Germans. In February 1938, Hitler promised protection to German minorities outside of the Reich’s Borders. This was a clear signal that he was preparing to make a move against Czechoslovakia. By late 1938, Hitler successfully invaded the Sudatenland and then eventually went on to invade Czechoslovakia.
‘Mien Kampf’ contained a foreign policy programme designed to secure German dominance over Europe and provide the basis for establishing German World Supremacy. The programme was shaped by a number of ideological and conclusions based on Hitler’s assessment of European political developments in the early 1920’s and the modification of these after 1933. From social Darwinism Hitler derived the notion that Human life like an animal life was a struggle of the fittest. Hitler concluded that the theory applied to social groups as well as individuals. After he had written ‘Mien Kampf’ Hitler’s basic Foreign Policy objectives did not change. Hitler’s ‘second book’ was written in 1928, but not published until 1962. The second book was basically a restatement of policies in Mien Kampf, however, with two key differences. He stated that France would always be Germany’s adversary, and there system of alliance with Poland and Czechoslovakia must be broken. He believed that Great Britain could become Germany’s ally, as Britain main concern was their empire, which Hitler did not want to intervene in.
Once crucial element within Hitler’s commitment in his foreign affairs is a clear indication of what his intentions would be; and that is the HossBach Memorandum. On November 5th, 1937, Hitler held a secret conference in the Reich chancellery during which he revealed his plans for the acquisition of Lebensraum, or living space, for the German people at the expense of other European nations. Present at the conference were all of Germany’s head advisors such as the German war minister, Von Blomberg, Commander in chief of the army Fritsch and other military officials. Hitler spoke of ‘The history of all ages – the Roman empire and the British Empire, had proved that expansion could only be carried out by breaking down resistance and taking risks. These comments could be interpreted into many different ways; however, the main fear from this is that Hitler intends to mobilise his forces into taking his ideas by war intent; showing that his expansion mentioned in Mein Kampf will engulf Europe into war; on a small scale or large.
Some Historians tend to disagree with this view, such as AJP Taylor suggests that the HossBach Memorandom or his policies as a whole were either Hitler daydreaming or were not his actual intent while commenting that Mein Kampf should not be taking by face value. There isn’t a lot of strong backing from this interpretation as Hitler himself personally suffered lose in The Great War, suffered in the Great Depression and Economic crisis of Hyperinflation; his views were the same then as to when he was in office, so he would not suddenly change his principles, yes slightly to adjust to changing times but not on a whole, however I suggest Hitler may of not wanted War yet he would definitely enter it to achieve his aims.
Hitler’s single aim in his foreign policy was not only to expand in the east, however this was his ultimate and most important goal as he had many different views on how he should achieve this. Hitler when coming to power did not follow his goal of Lebensraum immediately yet he followed the goal of reversing the Treaty Of Versailles, this could be argued to be his most important goal or to prepare for Lebensraum or to test the nations of Europe whether they could resist Hitler’s attempts at later dates to expand.
Appendix 1
Mien Kampf extracts
‘We turn our eyes towards the land of the east…. When we speak of new territory in Europe today, we must principally think of Russia and the Border States subject to her. Destiny itself seems to wish to point out the way for us here. We must not forget that the Bolsheviks are bloodstained. That they overran a great state…and for ten years have been conducting the most tyrannous regime of all time. We must not forget that many of them belong to a race, which combines a rare mixture of bestial cruelty and vast skill inlies.
Years of change.pg377.Robert Wilson