Were it only the exceptional ideas and plans of Adolf Hitler and his NSDAP that led to World War II or did the Führer only succeed in the old aims of German foreign - and in the end - war policy of the former empire? If yes, it would not be only Hitler’s war, but a German war which could not be reduced any longer to the Nazi-ideology, but to a constant German policy, independent of the political system until the end of World War II.
It has to be explained, which aims Germany followed in World War I and World War II, why it followed them, who supported these aims in Germany and why, and of which kind their aims’s ideological background was.
Table of Contents
1. The Problem
2. The Aims of War
3. Ideologies and Origins
4. Before the Wars Began
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores whether German expansionism leading to World War II was merely a continuation of the war aims pursued during World War I or if it represented a distinct ideological shift. The central research question examines the extent to which the Nazi regime's foreign policy objectives were rooted in established Imperial German goals versus being unique products of Nazi racial ideology.
- Comparison of territorial and economic war aims between 1914 and 1939
- The role of nationalist umbrella policies in the German Empire versus Nazi totalitarianism
- Influence of the "Lebensraum" motive versus traditional "Weltpolitik"
- Analysis of the political and social power structures across both historical periods
Excerpt from the Book
2. The Aims of War
The main aims can be distinguished in territorial and technical aims. In World War I, German territorial war aims included in the West parts of France, especially the expansion of the German part of Alsace-Lorraine, which was supposed to be regained in World War II, the economical important area of Longwy-Brie with large iron ore deposits, the occupation of Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. These aims were nearly identically with Hitler’s aims in World War II. Already in his book ,,Mein Kampf”, written in 1924, Hitler complains, how dangerous - in his opinion - the French policy was for Germany:
“Für Deutschland jedoch bedeutet die französische Gefahr die Verpflichtung, unter Zurückstellung aller Gefühlsmomente dem die Hand zu reichen, der, ebenso bedroht wie wir, Frankreichs Herrschgelüste nicht erdulden und ertragen will.“ (“But for Germany the French threat means the obligation, to put back all emotional moments and to shake everybody’s hand, who is as threatened as we are and not willed to endure and to bear France’s thirst for power)
In September 1914 German chancellor Bethmann Hollweg had explained the war aims in the West in a very similar way: France had to be weakened, so that it will not be able to recover as a great power.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Problem: Introduces the core debate on whether Hitler's war policy was a continuation of Imperial German aims or an independent development of Nazi ideology.
2. The Aims of War: Details the specific territorial and economic goals, drawing parallels between the expansionist plans of 1914 and those of the Third Reich.
3. Ideologies and Origins: Analyzes how, despite differences in government systems, underlying political motives and influential conservative groups persisted from the Empire into the Nazi era.
4. Before the Wars Began: Examines the geopolitical situation and foreign policy maneuvers leading up to both world conflicts, highlighting the internal differences in political control.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings to argue that while some goals overlapped, Nazi policy represented a new, radical interpretation of Germany's global role.
Keywords
German Expansionism, World War I, World War II, Bethmann Hollweg, Adolf Hitler, Lebensraum, Weltpolitik, Nazi Ideology, Foreign Policy, Territorial Aims, Imperial Germany, Central Europe, Versailles Treaty, Anschluss, Racial Ideology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper investigates whether the German expansionist war aims that led to World War II were essentially the same as those from World War I.
What are the main thematic areas discussed?
The study covers territorial war aims, the influence of political ideologies, the continuity of foreign policy goals, and the contrast between the Imperial and Nazi regimes.
What is the central research question?
The question is whether German expansionism under Hitler was simply an extension of the former Empire's war policy or if it was fundamentally driven by unique Nazi racial objectives.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author uses historical-comparative analysis, examining primary source interpretations, government programs, and political speeches from both the Imperial and Nazi periods.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main sections detail specific territorial ambitions, the role of economic dominance in Central Europe, the transition from the Weimar Republic to the Third Reich, and the diplomatic history preceding both wars.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include German Expansionism, Lebensraum, Weltpolitik, Nazi Ideology, Imperial Germany, and war aims.
How does the paper differentiate between "Weltpolitik" and "Lebensraum"?
The paper explains that while "Weltpolitik" was a pragmatic tool for the Empire to manage internal groups, the "Lebensraum" motive was a deeply ingrained, racist ideological foundation for Hitler's regime.
Does the author conclude that Hitler's aims were just an extension of the past?
No, the author concludes that while Hitler pursued some traditional aims, his policies represented a new and distinct interpretation of Germany's role in the world, heavily influenced by racial ideology.
- Quote paper
- Carsten Lietz (Author), 1995, Was German expansionism which led to World War II simply an extension of the war aims of 1914-18?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/6000
