The Intentions of Nazi Germany

Background Information • What are your opinions of the intentions of the leaders of Nazi Germany? • To locate evidence, let’s examine written documents that were available to the world following WW I.

The Nazi Party Programme, 1920 • A Twenty-Five Point platform designed to control everything from industry profit-sharing to land speculation. The bottom line was to support the creation of a strong middle class. • However, the document was ultra-nationalistic (demanding self-determination and territory) and dismissed Jewish and immigrant peoples from becoming citizens.

Mein Kampf (‘My Struggle’) Published in 1924, they portrayed Hitler’s extreme right-wing perspectives. • Outlined his disdain for the “Twin evils of the world: Communism and Judaism” • Expressed the need for people to be controlled with propaganda • Described 3 stages of foreign policy: -Massive rearmament to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles -War against France and her allies -War to overthrow the “Judeo-Bolshevik” – meaning the Soviets and Jews

Excerpts from Mein Kampf (Adolf Hitler,1924). Source A “The Versailles Treaty is worthless. 60 million German hearts and minds are on fire with anger and shame. They will cry out ‘We want war!” Source B “It will be the duty of German foreign policy to get large spaces to feed and house the growing population of Germany. Destiny points us towards Russia.” Source C “The menace of Russia hangs over Germany. All our strength is needed to rescue our nation from this international snake.”

A History: From principles to power

Hitler’s Three Primary Objectives: With furious political ambitions driving Hitler during the 1920s, could Europe have foreseen what would happen once the Nazi’s were in power? In 1935, the historian HAL Fisher wrote that ‘a country which is determined to have a war can always have it.’ Hitler was determined to destroy the League, and it is doubtful if anything could have saved it.

I) abolish the Treaty of Versailles  Germans hated it, especially: • Restricted armed forces, • Rhineland demilitarised, • Anschluss with Austria forbidden, •Germans forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) and Poland. The Treaty was a constant reminder to the Germans of their World War I humiliation. Hitler did not believe that Germany had lost the war, and was determined to restore German pride.

II) expand German territory • The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation needed more Lebensraum (‘living space’). • He was determined to get Lebensraum by conquering land in Eastern Europe.

III) defeat Communism   • The Nazis were Fascists (a regime intolerant to diversity and individuality); the exact opposite of the Communists who ruled Russia. Hitler was determined to destroy Communism, which meant an eventual war with Russia. • As we have seen, this point also encompassed Hitler’s ‘Final Solution’ to rid Europe of the ‘Jewish Peril’

The Key to Hitler’s Objectives: Nazi Propaganda • The German people were subjected to continual propaganda, under the control of Josef Goebbels. It was the cult of personality - everything was organised to make Germans permanently grateful to Hitler. • Goebbels ensured that virtually every household owned a radio, and the Propaganda Ministry controlled the majority of newspapers and agencies •Germans were made to feel part of a great and successful movement - in this respect the 1936 Olympic Games were a propaganda coup.

GLorified Propaganda Images With propaganda, Hitler was able to control popular thought. From enhancing national pride- as the above images convey- to inciting racism, bigotry, and terror.

War propaganda Images • What does this image represent? • Do you think it was effective? • What is the point of the ‘Ku Klux’ collar and American Indian on the shoulder?