To what extent did the international situation in 1933 favour Hitler's foreign policy aims?

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Emily Kaill

To what extent did the international situation in 1933 favour Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

   Although in 1933 Germany was still to some extent a pariah nation, and many countries were still cautious of Germany’s actions; the international climate in which Hitler was operating actually favoured his foreign policy aims. Germany was still regarded by Western nations as a defeated state, under the constraints of the Versailles Treaty. This was emphasised by the fact that at first Hitler’s foreign policies were moderate and cautious; any action was matched with a peaceful, diplomatic gesture. So to a certain extent in 1933 Germany was underestimated. Britain appeared to be fairly, willing to be pragmatic and acquiescent. Its general policy was that the Versailles Treaty had been unfair on Germany and needed revision. Although France favoured a tougher line against Germany, they were in a particularly weak position due to their domestic situation and relied increasingly on Britain. France was unable to take an independent line in foreign affairs; they would have liked to have taken a tougher line on Germany but were unable to do so as Britain allowed Hitler a free hand. To add to this, the general international situation was greatly affected at this time by the worldwide economic depression. An attitude of national insularity and self-sufficiency was fostered; many countries concentrated on their own domestic situation rather than that of Europe. This was particularly true of the USA; after the 1929 Wall Street Crash, isolationism was at the heart of their foreign policy. Similarly in the USSR, they were preoccupied with domestic matters, such as industrialisation. Stalin’s main concern was to avoid war at all costs, a policy which was reflected world wide due to the horrors and destruction of the first war.

   In 1933, there was a growing change of attitude in Britain; it was suggested that Germany had not been solely responsible for the outbreak of war. Britain’s attitude towards Hitler was particularly favourable; the British Prime Minister felt Hitler should and could be accommodated, and that it would be possible to do business with him. The emergence of the communist Russia made Britain more wary of the ‘Red’ threat to the east, and looking at the leaders in Russia, Hitler was comparatively seen as the ‘lesser evil’.

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   The general attitude in Britain was that the Versailles Treaty had been unfair on Germany, and was in need of revision. Britain was quite prepared to allow Germany some rearmament, and Macdonald proposed the reduction of French troops from 500,000 to 200,000, and to increase German troops level to this. Britain also agreed that Germany should have an air force half the size of France’s. However, France declined this offer, causing Hitler to withdraw Germany from the rearmament conference. This gave Hitler a good cover for the first stages of rearmament, and consequently German military expenditure increased.

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