However the ambition of Germany has always been conquering of the whole Europe. The truth is that, no matter how well prepared they had been, it is even physically impossible for 1 country to capture millions of people and maintain it. Even the ancient superpower like Roman Empire, was not able to keep for a long time it’s vast country together when it was spread almost on the whole coastline of Mediterranean sea. All the more, it would be less possible to do it in the 20th century, which has furthermore developed, cruel and effective weapons.
Crucial was also the tactic. The same maneuver which was impossible to pursue was certainly the idea of having two open and active fronts. In the First World War it was connected with the Schlieffen Plan, in which he planned attacking Russia just after capturing France. Although in The World War One, the defeat of Russia in 1917 was very helpful for tired German troops, however they didn’t have same luck in the next conflict.
During the Second World War the two fronts opening was delayed but not deleted. The Second One’s ideology was much more clear. Germans aimed to get the biggest possible territory, as a cure element of their living (Lebensraum). Although they firstly thought of finding necessary area in the east, Hitler’s ambitions have quickly spread to the west. Having the open front on the west (last attempt of capturing great Britain), Hitler came back to the east and attacked USSR, opening the eastern front.
Maybe it was also connected with ambitions of people in charge, but both wars had end up with 2 fronts fighting. That was of course a great mistake, as troops, wakened after 4/6 years of chronic war were not able to fight on 2 fronts. That’s why we can see that one of the reasons of Germans failure had to be tactic mistakes.
Bringing about the subject of tactic problems we have to emphasize the next consequence of German ambition, which was without doubts the underestimating of its enemies. That was of course one reason for maintaining two open fronts but also had led to the American involvement in war, which in both cases ended up with Germans failure.
Even if Germany would manage to defeat the whole, weakened Europe the new fresh forces from U.S. had been definitely impossible to defeat for the nation which have been already fighting for several years.
However, by underestimating the power of enemies, I also meant European leaders. According to historian, Norman Lowe, during the World War One, the leaders of Entente (Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Haig) have been more competent than those from the Central Powers. They quickly learnt how to recognize German policy.
Although we can’t undermine Hitler’s tactic abilities, he also couldn’t understand that Alliance learnt from their early failures and knew how to prevent next.
It’s clearly depicted on the example of sea wars, were Germany was defeated in both, first and second war. In the first one, it was a terrible mistake, as it not only weakened Germany (submarine didn’t have chances with alliance convoys and destroyers), but also brought USA to war, which was the worst possible thing for Germany.
During The World War Two, despite some winnings the navy campaign failed, as alliance connected it with aircraft forces. It has also had very important political consequances, because the loss of Germany in the sea field, in which it fought mainly against GB and USA, allowed England to maintain fighting without being defeated, and strengthened its political situation.
Of course, we have to remember about differences between those conflicts, as they were in completely different times and had different background. In the 1WW Germans were more dependant on its alliances in the second one there were some technical tactic mistakes, like developing rackets instead of aircraft and shortage of raw materials. However, the truth is that in majority we can find the similarities between them. The only crucial different was social attitude. It’s said that one reason of Germans defeat in World War One, has been the social discontent, as German citizens were tired of war. In comparison during The Second World War, thanks to very effective propaganda, till the last defense of Berlin, when Germans failure has been already definite, all young Berliners fought to the very last moment.
To check the validity of this factor we can consider whether Germany would have any chances of winning the war if its citizens had been enthusiastic towards the idea of war. In my opinion that wouldn’t change much, as Germans situation in the World War One was critical enough, due to the reasons I have already admitted. If Germany hadn’t resign (what will be in the future called “stab in the back”), the war would only prolonged and widened the number of casualties, but the end result would remain same.
In the light of my work we can see that all the reasons which led to Germans defeat in both wars, were the consequences of its high ambition of conquering whole world. That led to underestimating of enemies and overstating its own power, which is the most dangerous mistake in war campaign.
