-“Send every man, woman and child of polish descent and language to their death” -The Nazi Party
Nazi Party proposed citizenship laws based on ethnic criteria, excluding Jews -The Tripartite Pact in September 1940 marked a crucial milestone in Axis powers
--Nazi authorities established ghettos in major Polish cities, such as Warsaw, Lodz, and
Krakow, forcibly confining Jewish residents into overcrowded and unsanitary living
quarters
-virulent anti-Semitic ideology, targeted Jewish populations in Poland as part of a
broader racial purification agenda.
- “poland will be depopulated and settled with germans”-hitler
- “in one of the primitive peasant houses…the house was set alight after a short while
the woman was surrounded by flames and tried to get out but we stopped her”
-Nazi occupation policies in Poland aimed to exploit the country's resources and labor
for the benefit of the German war machine. Polish industries, agriculture, and natural
resources were seized and used to support the German economy and military
infrastructure. The economic exploitation of Poland further fueled Nazi expansionist
ambitions and aggressive foreign policy objectives
-In September 1938, Nazi Germany, along with Italy, France, and Britain, signed the
Munich Agreement, allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland violating the territorial
integrity of Czechoslovakia and the Treaty of Versailles.
Doris bergen- “hitler believed humanity was engaged in a war of the races if you
weren't expanding you were doomed” .
-Lebensraum believed in the superiority of the "Aryan" race and viewed the acquisition
of additional territory as essential for its preservation and dominance.which further
played into themes of the german third reich
-The concept of Lebensraum was not merely about territorial acquisition but also about
the colonization and exploitation of conquered territories. Nazi foreign policy aimed to
establish German settlements in Eastern Europe, with the indigenous populations
serving as a source of labor for German industries and agriculture.
-The concept of Lebensraum provided a pseudo-ideological justification for Nazi
aggression and territorial conquest. By framing Germany's expansion as a necessity for
national survival and prosperity, Hitler sought to rally popular support for his
militaristic foreign policy objectives.
and other non-German minorities from full citizenship rights. This discriminatory collaboration. This pact solidified the alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan,
policy aimed to establish a racially homogeneous society under Nazi control as seen binding them together in a formal agreement for mutual defense and cooperation.
under point 4 and 5 established a framework for strategic coordination and joint military planning,
-The Nazi Party proposed aggressive foreign policies aimed at territorial expansion, laying the groundwork for the Axis powers' combined efforts during World War
national self-determination, and the establishment of a dominant German empire. II.
This expansionist agenda laid the groundwork for Hitler's later militaristic -Axis powers engaged in extensive economic collaboration, trading resources and
ambitions and conquests. Seen under point 3 technology to support their militarization efforts. Germany, Italy, and Japan
-“The aim of war lies not in reaching particular lines but in the physical annihilation exchanged raw materials, industrial goods, and military equipment, strengthening
of ones enemy”-Hitler aug 1939 their war economies and enhancing collective capabilities
-point 24,4,5 all very natisemtic -Axis military support of Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces against the
Republican government. Germany and Italy deployed troops, aircraft, and military
advisors to aid Franco's cause, while also testing new weapons and tactics in a
real-world conflict. The Spanish Civil War served as a “dress rehearsal” for ww2
Treatment of poles 25 point plan Collaboration of axis powers -A major impact is the invasion of poland which only would of happened with the
nazi soviet pact finally spurred the allies to declare war on germany causing the
official start of ww2
-The pact also allowed The nazis to expand under the banner of Lebensraum,
which further galvanized the public through gobbles propaganda campaigns
lebensraum German foreign policy Nazi soviet non aggression -Allowed the nazis to focus on getting revenge on france, AJP taylor
pact “continuation of ww1” as well as hitler knowing he could not win a war on two
fronts
-Only existed to lul the Soviets away from conflict with Germany early in the war
and allow them to mutually take over poland. And let both consolidate their
control in eastern europe
-Always intended to break as seen in Mein kampf “the menace of Russia hangs
Intensionalist Structuralist Breaking of the tov over all of germany. All our strength is needed to rescue our nation from this
international snake”
August 23rd 1939
-Structuralists emphasize broader socio-economic, political, and institutional factors
that influenced Nazi policies and decision-making, arguing that Hitler's actions were
shaped by these structural constraints. -"Nazi policies were shaped by a complex
interplay of factors, including economic conditions, bureaucratic rivalries, and
international developments." -Hans Mommsen.
-Hitler's actions were often reactive responses to immediate challenges and
contingencies, rather than part of a grand design or master plan. -"Hitler's foreign policy
decisions were shaped by external pressures and events, leading to improvisation and
opportunism rather than strategic foresight." - Adam Tooze.
If structural factors played a significant role, then Nazi foreign policy would be seen as
shaped by broader historical forces and institutional dynamics. This perspective would
highlight the influence of factors such as economic imperatives, diplomatic pressures,
and bureaucratic politics on Nazi decision-making.
-Intentionalists argue that Hitler possessed a clear and coherent plan for achieving
his ideological goals, including territorial expansion, racial domination, and the
establishment of a Greater German Reich.
-"Hitler had clear intentions from the beginning to pursue a path of aggressive
expansionism and conquest” ian kershaw
-Hitler's actions and speeches consistently reflected his long-term objectives,
including the acquisition of Lebensraum in Eastern Europe and the eradication
racial enemies.
-"Hitler's speeches and writings consistently articulated his vision of German
expansionism and racial supremacy." - Richard Evans
-If Hitler's intentions were paramount, then Nazi foreign policy would be seen as a
direct reflection of his ideological goals and expansionist ambitions. This
perspective would emphasize Hitler's personal role in initiating aggressive actions,
such as the invasion of Poland in 1939, and pursuing a path of militaristic
expansionism.
-Mass rearmament of germany military, specifically a strong invasion force,
murray + millet “1939, the wehrmacht gained a significant benefit from its
massive rearmament and the looting of austria and czechoslovakia”
-The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938,
violating international treaties. It marked a significant step in Hitler's expansionist
ambitions and led to the suppression of dissent. Internationally condemned but
with little opposition, it foreshadowed further aggression and the outbreak of
World War II.
-Following the remilitarization of the Rhineland, Nazi Germany embarked on a
massive military buildup in defiance of the limitations imposed by the Treaty of
Versailles. The German military, particularly the wehrmacht and Luftwaffe, were
expanded far beyond the treaty's limits.
-The Treaty of Versailles imposed reparations on Germany as punishment for its
role in World War I., Nazi Germany reputed its obligations under the treaty,
refusing to make further reparations payments. Article 231

-“If we loose the war in the air we loose the war on the ground and we loose
quickly”-bernard law montgomery
- If Germany had been successful in winning the air war over britain it would not have
had to fight a war on two fronts
-The Battle of Britain ensured that England was not invaded, nor did it surrender. The
B.O.B was a turning point which allowed Britain to remain a fighting power in WW2
-The bombings compounded Germany's struggle towards the end of the Russian
campaign as they had to recall both men and planes home to Germany to help protect
the cities.
-The bombings assisted Allied success in their counter offensives (D-Day). Germany
could not match the manpower or resources of the Allies during the D-Day landings in
France as their forces and equipment were bogged down in Russia and at home in
Germany
-German moral was heavily damaged by the bombings in berlin where as the british
moral/resolve was only strengthened through the blitz and enforced the morality of
“keep buggering on”
-German attempt to win the skies as a prelude to invasion Between the RAF and -Between the 7th of September and the 11th of May London was bombed every
German Luftwaffe night
-The actual invasion plan was Operation Sea Lion which could only be possible -15th Sept germany launched a massive day bombing raid on london, lasted till
with German control of sea and air Only attempt to invade britain resulted in a loss the 30th of September
(hitler was hoping it would cause a surrender) -Main force of Blitz Sept 1940 to May 1941 By May, the Luftwaffe was need in
-Early german tactics involved destroying strategic costal targets eg: the East for the German invasion of Russia
communications and shipping -57 straight days of bombing
-First major raid on July 10th 1940 Between 8-18th of August, attacks -In 9 months luftwaffe dropped about 55 tonnes of bombs (55,000kg)
concentrated on airfields used by RAF frontline groups – aimed to destroy -40,000 civilians died,
communication and resource bases -86,000 were injured and
-15th August ‘Eagle day’ launched 1,790 attacks along the east and south coast of -150,000 were slightly injured
england -Over 2 million houses destroyed or damaged - 60% of london
-Late august RAF was running out of aircraft pilots germany was close to victory -Hardened british resolve, ‘we can take it campaign’ creation of public bomb
Evening of 25th/26th of August, RAF bombers launched major attack on shelters
Berlin—Hitler was furious and ordered attacks on London -Germany lost 2,700 airmen britain lost 500
-Germany failed to gain air superiority, in 2 months luftwaffe suffered the loss of
1,244 and crews whereas the RAF lost 688, on the 15th of september goreing lost -
56 planes
-17th Sept. Hitler called off Operation Sea Lion indefinitely. This would mark the
beginning of the Blitz.
Battle of Britain The blitz -”the progressive destruction and dislocation of the german military, industrial and
economic system, and the undermining of the morale of the german people to a
point where their capacity for armed resistance is fatally weakened”-churchill
-15th/16th of may 1940 96 british bombers attacked the Ruhr - only a quarter
found there target
Significance of air The air war Bombing of berlin -In 1941, 1034 bombers were lost but german anti aircraft guns only accounted
control for 1/3rd
-Night bombing was ineffective and inaccurate - poor navigation and equipment
They also focused on area bombing (entire cities) rather than strategic bombing
(specific target areas) and so were not effectively destroying German Industry
(even though the bombings were generally ineffective, the bombing still angered
hitler so much he switched to the blitz and gave up on invasion)
Bombing of dresden Dora-Mittelbau Bomber harris “...Millions of workers absented themselves from work, and the economy
gradually creaked to a halt”-richard Overy
“Allied bombing did make an oil famine in germany… too late to win the war on
their own but did make a decisive contribution to the defeat of germany”-N
Frankland
-Allied “terror bombing” of dresden over february 13th-15th 1945
- dresden acted a center of culture and art for nazi germany considered the “florence on
the elbe”, filled with an inexperienced high class german populace with roughly
25,000–35,000 civilians dying
-dresden was also filled with refugees fleeing the soviet push and the allied hope was
the mass influx of refugees to central germany would hamper the nazi military
-worked as a show of power from the allies to hitler as well as the power of strategic
bombing.
-dresden included a multitude of factories that among other things produced munitions
for nazi use
-“This was the raid which went horribly right”-Fredrik taylor
-The bombing of Dresden had a significant psychological impact on the German
population, fueling feelings of anger, despair, and resentment towards the Allied
powers.
-Direct response to allied bombing of germany where german industry needed to
be moved to safe spaces eg; underground
-In December 1943 Speer visited the Dora missile factory. This was an
underground complex where V2 rockets were manufactured. The camp was run by
the SS
-Conditions were horrendous. Workers toiled in semi-darkness with no medical
support. The death rate was close to 7% per month.
-60 000 enslaved men worked at Dora and 30 000 died.
-Speer actually recorded that “the air in the cave was cool, damp and stale and it
stank of excrement. The lack of oxygen made me dizzy too.”
-Speer did order improvements for the workers at Dora, including the construction
of external housing complexes and better rations, it is uncertain whether this was
for the sake of maintaining production levels or for the genuine welfare of the
workers.
-Commander in chief of bomber command from Feb 1942
-He improved flying techniques, including adding bomb-aiders to crew and
pathfinder crews who led bombing groups to targets
-Assistance from the americans air force from Aug 1942
-Greater improvement in navigation equipment and new planes that could fly a
greater distance eg: creation of disposable fuel tanks also gave fighters greater
range
-Multitude of technological developments e.g. when thousands of steps of
aluminum foils were dropped, German radar became ineffective