Impact of Nazism on the foreign policy of Germany

Cause of German expansion

Legacy of WW1
- Germany was defeated but also transformed → Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated → start of a new democracy
  - Wilhem always wanted to expand → shattered heart of GM state
- Paris Peace conference tried to reduce chance of war and effects of war
- Collapse of German empires
Treaty of Versailles
- Germany blamed for the war, article 231
- Undermined legitimacy of new republci
  - Sparticists uprising, KApp putsch
  - Electoral system → proportional representation failed
- “Diktat” ⇒ increased revisionist feelings and extremism
  - Due to reparations (6.6bn), war guilt, disarmament
- Rhineland demilitarized, reduced army to 100k men
Economic catastrophe
- Ruhr, 1923 ⇒ hyperinflation
- WS crash led to 30% unemployment

Formed in 1919, Hitler became leader in 1921
- Formed 25 point programme with nationalist, socialist policies + anti-semitism
- Beer Hall putsch in November 1923 → failed ⇒ mein kampf, reichstag principle
Foreign policy
- Overthrow TOV
- Greater Germany – without Jews
- Lebensraum ⇒ more living space, expand into east EU and Soviet Union
  - Destroy communism (enemy of Nazism)
  - Right to territory of sub-human races
Achieving foreign policy aims
- Suspended democracy through Decree for Protection of People and State, Enabling Act, banned other political parties
- Propaganda – Hitler Youth, Nazi Labour Front, Public Enlightenment Ministry
- SS/SA – involved in concentration camp, Gestapo, repression of opp