Historical Interpretations

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  • Created by: mayacm456
  • Created on: 16-03-23 17:02
In what way did Nazi foreign policy reflect previous German policy or attitudes? (5)
September Program, Wilhelm's Weltpolitik, Lebensraum, Anti-Semitism, the idea that all German people should be united in one country
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What was the September programme?
it was drawn up by the German govt at the start of WW1 and set out Germany's ambition to take over vast areas of Europe
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What was Weltpolitik?
'world politics' : the German policy developed from the mid 1890's of seeking enhanced power and status in Europe and around the world through colonial and military expansion
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Who made the idea of Weltpolitik?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
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What was 'lebensraum'?
the idea that German people needed territorial 'living space' to expand into
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Why do some historians believe that Germany's modern development had followed a Sonderweg (special path) that caused them to become more militaristic and aggressive than other developed nations?
-authoritarianism and militarism of German culture
-Second Reich being created after a series of military conflicts
-the influence of the militaristic traditions of the Prussian Army on German culture
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What do the critics of the Sonderweg argue?
that most other major European countries were imperialistic and racist in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and yet this did not led them to prepare for a major European war during the 1930's
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Why do some historians argue that long term relations between France and Germany led to the outbreak of WW2?
-2nd Reich formed in aftermath of defeat of France in Franco-Prussian War. At end of this conflict, new German Reich took over French region Alsace-Lorraine and suspicions about German actions continued btwn 1871-1914

-After end of WW1, French were deter
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What ways show Hitler was personally instrumental in pushing foreign and economic policy in a more aggressive direction that made war more likely? (5)
-it was Hitlers decision to redirect economic policy from 1936 towards preparing for a large scale war
-remilitarisation of Rhineland, breaching ToV, going against advice of his generals.
-Anschluss
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What was the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair?
Blomberg and Fritsch were the Minister of War and army Commander-in-Chief in the 1930's. Hitler felt they were insufficiently supportive of his desire for territorial expansion and war. In 1938, the two were forced to resign their positions after largely
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When was the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair?
1938
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How did Hitler use the opportunity of the resignations in the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair? (2)
-increase his control over the army

-to establish a new Supreme Command of the armed forces in order to weaken the power of the traditional German army structure
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What evidence is there that Hitler was a master planner (planned for the war to happen)? (5)
-Nazi 25 Point Programme
-Mein Kampf
-Hitler's Second Book
-Four Year Plan
-Hossbach Memorandum
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How did the 25 Point programme show Hitler had a plan for war?
it demanded the abolition of the ToV and land for Germany to colonise
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When was the 25 Point Programme published?
1920
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How did the Mein Kampf show Hitler had a plan for war?
it set out Hitler's vision to create lebensraum in Eastern Europe
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How did the Hitler's Second Book show Hitler had a plan for war?
it set out his Stufenplan, a stage-by-stage programme which aimed to make Germany the world's dominant power
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How did the Hossbach Memorandum show Hitler had a plan for war?
it was a record of Hitler's discussion with senior generals which took place in 1937, and set out Hitler's vision for Anschluss and the destruction of Czechoslovakia by 1945
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How did the Four Year Plan show Hitler had a plan for war?
it was introduced in 1936 in order to get Germany ready for war in the early 1940's
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How would some people argue that Hitler was an opportunist?
Some think Hitler tended to improvise and make most of opportunities as they arose e.g Hitler was unsure of how Britain and France would respond to remilitarisation of the Rhineland, but after they accepted it Hitler's foreign policy became bolder
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How could some historians argue that Hitler had a plan for peace?
Some argue that his main goal was to avoid war. His attempts to find excuses to justify expansion into Czechoslovakia and Poland, and willingness to sign treaties with Britain France and USSR could be viewed as evidence Hitler was keen to expand w/o start
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4 points about the weakness of the international system in the 1930's that gave Hitler the confidence to ignore the ToV and launch aggressive actions.
-USA and USSR stayed largely out of foreign affairs
-Britain + France not in strong position to uphold international order
-League of Nations ineffective
-events of the Spanish civil war
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Why were Britain and France not in a strong position to uphold international order during the 1930's?
-both had economic problems after Great Depression
-France v. unstable politically
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Why was the League of Nations ineffective in the 1930's? (example)
League supposed to work for peace, but lacked unity and power to take decisive action over aggression. e.g unable to stop Italy's invasion of Abyssinia in 1936
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How did the Spanish Civil War play a role in starting WW2? (3)
-won by nationalists and fascists, and strengthened Germany's international position
-led to greater unity btwn Germany and Italy
-Britain and France maintained position of neutrality, which created impression they would not intervene to stop military agg
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What was 'appeasement'?
the name given to the British and French policy towards Germany from 1935 to the invasion of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. It means making concessions in order to avoid war.
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Why did Britain and France adopt a policy of appeasement?
-wanted to avoid war in context of depression and aftermath of WW1
-many in Britain believed ToV was too harsh, so supported Hitler's policies to reverse the terms of the ToV
-French in political crisis during 1930's. govt did not feel strong enough to ta
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What were the consequences of appeasement?
-B + F overlooked or even consented to aggressive acts by Nazi govt
-no action to remilitarisation of Rhineland
-no actions to stop Anschluss
-PM Neville Chamberlain negotiated Munich Agreement in response to Hitler threatening Czechoslovakia in 1938, all
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How did a lack of unity contribute to the outbreak of WW2?
concerted action by USSR, France and Britain might have prevented Hitler's attack on Poland, however they could not work together.

Britain reluctant to work with USSR. British leader did not want to share intelligence with a communist country- suspicion
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When was the Polish guarantee signed?
March 1939
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What was the Polish Guarantee?
following German takeover of Czechoslovakia, B+F govt signed Polish Guarantee in which they pledged to support Polish independence, with the hope that this would persuade Hitler to stop German expansion.
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What was the Nazi-Soviet pact?
a non-aggression pact signed btwn Germany and Soviet Union which meant Nazis could invade Poland w/o fear that USSR would attack them. They pledged to not attack each other. It allowed Poland to be divided between the USSR and the Germans
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When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
August 1939
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What were the domestic reasons for the invasion of Poland? (3)
Economics and public opinion, the role of other individuals, the nature of German govt
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How did a need for raw materials to make weapons contribute to the German invasion of Poland?
it caused a balance of payments crisis. 1939- Germany forced to slow down rearmament drive. Hitler believed solution to this was to gain more territory, taking hold of more resources. Could have been a motive for Hitler's eastern expansion.
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How did rearmament contribute to the German invasion of Poland?
it had a negative impact on living standards. huge amnt of resources for rearmament meant Germany did not have resources to improve wages, supply of consumer goods and food became limited. Historians argue Hitler had to go to war to unite the country.
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How would Blitzkrieg provide a solution to Hitler's economic and political troubles?
Hitler prepared to launch a Blitzkrieg (lightning war) with Poland. this would benefit in uniting Germany behind war effort, make govt pop. after quick victory and allow Germany to seize Polish resources
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who was Ribbentrop?
Foreign Minister appointed by Hitler in 1938
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how did Joachim von Ribbentrop contribute to the German invasion of Poland? (2)
he replaced someone who wanted a pragmatic foreign policy, removing an obstacle to the developmt of a more aggressive foreign policy. also played key role in negotiation of Nazi-Soviet Pact
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what did Goering hide the failures of and what effect did this have?
hid failures of Four Year Plan and weaknesses of Luftwaffe, encouraging Hitler to think Germany was ready for war, persuading him to risk war.
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What was the Luftwaffe?
German air force
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What did Hermann Goering do?
-responsible for creating and equipping Luftwaffe
-responsible for much of rearmament as head of Four Year Plan
-helped lay econ + military foundations for war
-advocated aggressive approach to Anschluss, making Hitler's foreign policy more bold
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How did the nature of the German govt contribute to the German invasion of Poland?
-cumulative radicalisation meant that radical Nazis and policies came to dominate govt, so policies became more aggressive
-conservatives and pragmatists had no way of stopping Hitler taking risks as checks and balances of W.R were ignored. no effective o
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What was the September programme?

Back

it was drawn up by the German govt at the start of WW1 and set out Germany's ambition to take over vast areas of Europe

Card 3

Front

What was Weltpolitik?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Who made the idea of Weltpolitik?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What was 'lebensraum'?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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