Adolf Hitler 4
Adolf Hitler's rearmament of Germany and formation of alliances combined with aggressive foreign policies were clear and calculated moves to achieve the goals of the new German state which eventually pushed the world into another war. Some historians will argue that Hitler did not plan to involve Germany in a full European war; but rather was an opportunist in the events leading up to the outbreak of war. On the contrary, by examining his published works in which Hitler envisioned a plan for the rise and expansion of Germany through warlike policies one can see that Adolph Hitler was not an opportunist but rather one who took necessary steps to achieve his goals. The rearmament of Germany allowed Hitler to proceed with his calculated aggressive foreign policy. In addition, Germany's ability to establish alliances allowed Hitler to continue to rebuild the army and implement his aggressive policies in Europe. The occupation of the Rhineland, the crisis in Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland, are clear examples of Hitler's calculated statesmanship that would eventually become known as the origins of World War II. Adolf Hitler expressed his ideas of German supremacy in his book Mein Kampf, my struggle, while spending ti
me in a prison in Germany. In this book Hitler offered a vision for German expansion into Eastern Europe through a policy known as Lebensraum. In 1922, Hitler stated, "We should attempt the carving up of Russia with English help" (Chodorow, 1990, p.839). In Mein Kampf, Hitler criticized William II's over-ambitious foreign policy for separating Germany from Britain, France and Russia all at the same time. Hitler believed the only way to achieve world domination was in stages. Though he realized that conflicts would arise he did not want to get Germany involved in a war on two fronts as William II had in the First World War. Instead Hitler believed in forming an alliance with Britain to isolate Germany's constant enemy, France, and then to move against Russia to achieve Lebensraum. In 1928 in an unpublished second book, Hitler named the United States as the final obstacle in the quest for German world domination. It is clear that though his plans may not have been specific in detail Hitler was planning and calculating his moves in Europe. This again reinforces that Hitler is calculating his moves against his European neighbours. Stalin's and Hitler's non-aggression pact solidified the eastern wall for Germany and allowed Hitler to move on Poland. Hitler ordered the attack on Poland for August 26th , but was delayed briefly because of the military alliance signed by England and Poland and the fact that, "Mussolini shamefacedly confessed that Italy was too weak to fight"(Chodorow, 1990, p.853). On the morning of September 1st, 1939, at 4:45 am the mobilized Wehrmacht invaded Poland from all possible directions. The English ultimatum to Germany expired at 11:00 am on September 3rd. The world was thrown into the Second World War twenty years after the, "War to End All Wars" had finished. "Everything I do is directed against Russia, if the West is too stupid and blind to grasp this I shall be forced to reach an agreement with the Russians, to attack the West and then, after its defeat, turn against the Soviet Union with my combined forces." (Adamthwaite, 1977, p.106). Germany's massive rearmament prior to the outbreak of war was a result of Hitler's calculated plans to be ready for war by the 1940's. In addition Germany's alliances against the West only confirm the idea that Hitler was taking the necessary steps required to realize his vision of a new powerful Germany. Also Adolf Hitler's confident and arrogant style of statesmanship proved to be the final blow to the attempts of the allies to keep Europe at peace. Finally a memorandum from Adolf Hitler to professor A. J. P. Taylor only confirm the thesis that Hitler's bold foreign policies were calculated moves in achieving Lebensraum and pushing toward another war. "You sum up that, Hitler did not make plans for world conquest or for anything else. Here I must take exception, Herr Professor. Surely, you must grant that I made at least some plans! I was a statesman, not an idiot" (Louis, 1972, p.29). Adamthwaite, Anthony. (1977). The Making of the Second World War. New
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Approximate Word count = 2606
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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