Do you agree that Hitler's Foreign Policy appears to be following a traditional foreign policy?

Imperial Germany, when Bismarck was in charge of foreign policy used diplomacy(i.e. forming alliances and trade treaties with neighbouring countries) to protect Germany from attack from its rivals (France, Russia, Austria-Hungary) In the early (or cautious) years Hitler also used diplomacy, (e.g. Anglo-German Naval Agreement) Hitler used these tactics because the Nazis were not yet securely in power, and they could be removed by the elite, Hindenburg, the German people, the army and the allies. The only difference between the two menwas how where motivated. When the Kaiser was motivated by his envy of Great Britain's Empire and navy, he wanted this status for Germany. Hitler was motivated by his racial policies.

There were also similarities between the foreign policy of Weimar Germany and Hitler's Foreign Policy. Weimar Germany had began to revise the Treaty of Versailles, and Stresemann had began the reduction in the reparations payments after World War One. Stresemann had agreed to the Dawes Plan, in 1924, which agreed that reparation's payment's should begin at 1 billion marks for the first year and should rise over a period of four years to 2.5 billion marks per year although this did not work and so was soon substituted by the Young Plan. In this it was agreed that reparations payments would be paid in one unconditional sum (one third of the total) and then a postponed part (the remainder) Brüning, a member of Weimar Government ended reparations payments in 1932, just before the Nazis came to power. Also, Von Seeckt, began the re-armament programme for Germany in 1926. Hitler only increased the rate at which the rearmament went, he merely 'quickened the pace' on it.

Brüning, in 1930 had negotiated with the allies to end the occupation of the Rhineland, only six years later Hitler sent German forces into the Rhineland. Also Brüning had campaigned for equal treatment for Germany on the issue of re-armament. He felt that they had been unfairly treated. In October1933, Hitler withdrew Germany from the Disarmament Conference, blaming the lack of progress on France, who was reluctant to reveal anything about the arms they held and wanted a four year delay on the issue.

Stresemann had signed the Locarno Treaties in 1925. This guaranteed the border between Germany, France and Belgium, based on the borders agreed in the Treaty of Versailles. This left open the possibility for Germany to expand to the east. Stresemann had used diplomacy in this, by discussing what to do with France and Belgium. Hitler used diplomacy in the early years ('cautious years) too. Hitler signed the non-aggression pact with Poland in January 1934 (which was to be in place for ten years) He also signed the Anglo-German Naval agreement, allowing Germany to have 35% of the number of members in the British Navy, in its own Navy. This annoyed France and led to the break-up of the Stresa Front.

Hitler also wanted to expand to the east, to gain more 'Lebensraum' and to unite all Germans in the one country, which Stresemann had also wanted to do. Stresemann wanted to help all the Germans who had been forced, by the Treaty of Versailles to live in other countries. Hitler had targeted Czechoslovakia, Poland and Russia to name a few countries in the east. Hitler wanted to expand Germany to be not only a huge superpower but be in domination of the entire world for 1000 years in the 'one thousand year Reich'.

Some of the people who were members of the Weimar Government continued into the Nazi Government. Von Neurath, who had been foreign minister, during Weimar Germany, continued on until 1938, under the Nazi Government. Blomberg and Fritsch, both served under the Weimar and the Nazi Government until 1938. Von Papen(who had been Chancellor from 1932-33) after Hitler became Chancellor was part on the Nazi Government post 1933.

29/30, Need to improve on conclusion and introduction LY!