Hitlers Außenpolitik einfach erklärt | Nationalsozialismus | Zusammenfassung

Summary

This video explores Adolf Hitler's foreign policy leading up to World War II in twelve key steps. It highlights Hitler's long-term goal of expanding 'Lebensraum' for the Aryan people and his strategic violations of the Treaty of Versailles. Key events include agreements like the Concordat with the Vatican, Germany's exit from the League of Nations, reoccupation of the Rhineland, and alliances with fascist powers like Italy and Japan. Hitler exploited appeasement policies from Britain and France to expand Germany's territory, ultimately leading to the invasion of Poland and the start of World War II.

Takeaways

• 📜 Hitler's foreign policy aimed at expanding Lebensraum for the German Aryan people, planning a large-scale war from the start.
• 🤥 The Treaty of Versailles was only a step for Hitler, not his ultimate goal; his endgame was always war.
• 🕊️ One of Hitler's first foreign policy moves was a concordat with the Vatican to appease conservative Catholic circles in Germany.
• 🚪 Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations, which hindered international disarmament and peace efforts.
• 🇩🇪 After a Saarland plebiscite, 90.5% voted to rejoin Germany, further consolidating Nazi control.
• 💣 Hitler's rearmament program violated the Treaty of Versailles, but Western powers, including Britain, largely ignored it.
• 👥 The UK followed a policy of appeasement, hoping concessions to Germany would prevent future conflicts.
• 🚶‍♂️ In 1936, Hitler militarized the Rhineland, defying both the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact.
• ✈️ Germany supported Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War, testing military strategies and fostering fascist alliances.
• 📜 Hitler made alliances with Italy and Japan, formalized in the 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact, symbolizing cooperation against the Soviet Union.
• 📋 In 1938, Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss) with little international opposition, moving closer to the start of WWII.
• 🇨🇿 Hitler seized the Sudetenland and later occupied Czechoslovakia after the Munich Agreement, which aimed to avoid war but failed.
• 📅 In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, secretly dividing Eastern Europe between them, paving the way for WWII.

Q & A

What was Adolf Hitler's primary goal in his foreign policy before World War II?

Hitler's primary goal was to acquire 'Lebensraum' (living space) for the German, Aryan people, which he intended to achieve through a large-scale war.

Why did Hitler negotiate a concordat with the Vatican in 1933, and what was its significance?

Hitler sought the concordat to calm conservative Catholic circles in Germany and demonstrate that the Nazis could negotiate with their opponents. However, it was largely a political maneuver, as Hitler soon violated its terms by persecuting many Catholic clergy.

Why did Germany leave the League of Nations, and what was the impact?

Germany left the League of Nations because Hitler wanted to rearm, and the League's mission of disarmament and peace conflicted with his goals. This move initially isolated Germany internationally but enabled Hitler to proceed with military expansion.

What was the outcome of the Saarland referendum in 1935, and why was it significant for Nazi Germany?

The Saarland referendum resulted in 90.5% of the population voting to reunite with Germany, which was seen as a significant propaganda victory for Hitler's regime.

How did Hitler violate the Treaty of Versailles with respect to military buildup?

Hitler announced that Germany would expand its army to 580,000 soldiers, violating the Versailles Treaty, which limited Germany’s military to 100,000 troops. This marked a clear breach of the treaty, but the Western powers largely ignored it.

What was the significance of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935?

The agreement allowed Germany to expand its naval forces to 35% of the British Navy's size, marking another violation of the Treaty of Versailles. The British government hoped this would prevent a naval arms race, but it ended up aiding Hitler's military plans.

How did Hitler justify the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936, and what was the international response?

Hitler justified the remilitarization of the Rhineland by citing the right of nations to self-determination. Despite it being a clear violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact, Britain and France did not intervene, which was a major propaganda victory for Hitler.

What role did Nazi Germany play in the Spanish Civil War, and why did Hitler get involved?

Hitler provided support to Francisco Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War by deploying the German Luftwaffe. This allowed the Nazis to test their military forces and strengthen ties with a potential fascist ally.

What was the purpose of the Anti-Comintern Pact between Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan?

The Anti-Comintern Pact, signed in 1936, was a symbolic agreement aimed at countering the Communist International (Comintern) and eventually the Soviet Union. It formed a fascist alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan.

How did the Munich Agreement of 1938 contribute to Hitler's territorial ambitions?

The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia without military conflict, under the guise of protecting the ethnic German population. It was a clear example of the appeasement policy, as Britain and France hoped to avoid war, but Hitler's ambitions went far beyond the Sudetenland.