War on the Western Front
Conflict in Europe: 1935-1945
Dictatorship in Germany and Italy
Germany and Italy had aggressive, expansionist foreign policy aims, stemming from their fascist ideologies – created an atmosphere of fear and tension in Europe
Lebensraum – desire to regain German nationalist spirit for Grossdeutschland as evidenced by the Hossbach Memorandum, 1937 – also made clear plans to partition sections of Austria into German territory (the Anschl uss) and Czechoslovakia
Prime objective of Hitler was to reverse provisions of the Treaty of Versailles; similarly, Mussolini felt Italy had been betrayed by Britain and France and were owed land (1935, Germany began re-armament and brought army up to 500 000, 1936, re-militarisation of the Rhineland)
Grossdeutschland (big Germany) – sought to unite all Germans who were populated in new and weak nations such as Poland created from 1919 Treaty of Versailles – inevitable conflict to unite all Germans spread across Eastern Europe . Also, Eastern Europe were rich in resources which would ensure the survival of Hitler’s Aryan race (master race = Herrenvolk) which would subjugate Slavs and other inferior races
Nazism was, inherently, a doctrine of force – struggle was an essential element of both life and international relations, ideologies made violence and conflict inevitable
Hermann Goring: “Foreign policy was the Fuhrer’s very own realm”
1922, Mussolini rose to power – ambition to make Italy an international superpower, reminiscent of the great Roman Empire
Similarly, Mussolini’s foreign policy aims was overwhelmed by his desire of national glory – restore Roman Empire, revise Paris Peace Settlement, Expansion (Mediterranean Sea =Italian lake). Mussolini endeavoured to represent himself as a statesman with superiority over other nations.
1936, re-militarisation of the Rhineland was, according to N. Rich was, “one of the boldest and most momentous gambles” of Hitler’s career
1938, the Anschluss, union between Austria
Dictatorship in Germany and Italy
Germany and Italy had aggressive, expansionist foreign policy aims, stemming from their fascist ideologies – created an atmosphere of fear and tension in Europe
Lebensraum – desire to regain German nationalist spirit for Grossdeutschland as evidenced by the Hossbach Memorandum, 1937 – also made clear plans to partition sections of Austria into German territory (the Anschl uss) and Czechoslovakia
Prime objective of Hitler was to reverse provisions of the Treaty of Versailles; similarly, Mussolini felt Italy had been betrayed by Britain and France and were owed land (1935, Germany began re-armament and brought army up to 500 000, 1936, re-militarisation of the Rhineland)
Grossdeutschland (big Germany) – sought to unite all Germans who were populated in new and weak nations such as Poland created from 1919 Treaty of Versailles – inevitable conflict to unite all Germans spread across Eastern Europe . Also, Eastern Europe were rich in resources which would ensure the survival of Hitler’s Aryan race (master race = Herrenvolk) which would subjugate Slavs and other inferior races
Nazism was, inherently, a doctrine of force – struggle was an essential element of both life and international relations, ideologies made violence and conflict inevitable
Hermann Goring: “Foreign policy was the Fuhrer’s very own realm”
1922, Mussolini rose to power – ambition to make Italy an international superpower, reminiscent of the great Roman Empire
Similarly, Mussolini’s foreign policy aims was overwhelmed by his desire of national glory – restore Roman Empire, revise Paris Peace Settlement, Expansion (Mediterranean Sea =Italian lake). Mussolini endeavoured to represent himself as a statesman with superiority over other nations.
1936, re-militarisation of the Rhineland was, according to N. Rich was, “one of the boldest and most momentous gambles” of Hitler’s career
1938, the Anschluss, union between Austria