Adolf Hitler 4 Essay Research Paper Adolf — страница 2

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(Hiden, 1977, p.85). Western powers were not eager to attempt to stop Hitler s rearmament in fear of another world war. After reintroducing conscription in 1935, Hitler appointed Herman Goring, Chief of the Luftwaffe and second in command of the new Nazi state. Hitler gave him the power over the Nazi economy with simple orders, Within four years the German Wehrmacht must be ready to fight; within four years the German economy must be ready for war (Chodorow, 1990, p.843). This statement alone reinforces the idea that Hitler calculated his moves for the outbreak of a Second World War. Hitler s memorandum centered on the problem of creating enough living space and solving the economic problems caused by rearmament. He proclaimed, if we do not succeed in bringing the German Army as

rapidly as possible to the rank of premier army in the world so far as its training, raising of units, armaments, and above all, its spiritual education also is concerned, then Germany will be lost (Adamthwaite, 1977, p.163). It is pretty clear that Hitler was calculating his moves and creating opportunities for German aggression in Eastern Europe. Continuing with his push for rearmament Hitler developed a new concept of warfare known as Blitzkrieg. This concept of warfare involved quick and aggressive victories followed by the assimilation of all conquered resources. This would hopefully obviate the need to mobilize the entire national energies; the price of war would be paid by the defeated and the Germans would not be asked to sacrifice too much (Hiden, 1977, p.56). Rearmament

itself proceeded rapidly taking up more and more of Germany s national gross product (Chodorow, 1990, p.844). It is quite clear by examining the figures in the graph that Hitler was preparing for the day when the German army would put his plans for Lebensraum into effect. Hitler and his aggressive rearmament policies were very much successful, as he was able to build the most powerful airforce and army in the world. The German Army was indeed tailored to the needs of Germany s geographical position and the sort of war this entailed; namely, an army that could fight a lightning campaign on one front while conducting a holding operation of the other (Hiden, 1977, p.58). After neutralizing Poland with a non-aggression treaty Hitler made his first move in Europe by occupying the

Rhineland, which lead to the future alliance with Italy. While Britain, and France were occupied with the war in Abyssinia Hitler alleging a conflict between the Treaty of Locarno and the Franco-Soviet Pact, sent forces of 22,000 men into the demilitarized Rhineland, violating both the Versailles and Locarno treaties (Adamthwaite, 1977, p.52). Germany believed that Britain and France would not attempt to stop her and risk war. Hitler also believed that France would not dare to act alone against him. This enabled Hitler to, fortify Germany s western boarder and prevent France from defending its Polish and Czechoslovak allies by threatening to attack Germany (Chodorow, 1990, p.846). When Belgium proclaimed herself neutral, Hitler was at an advantage because the Maginot Line did not

extend to France s unprotected northeastern border. When the Spanish Civil War broke out Hitler supported the attempt to overthrow the republic, which brought him closer to the future alliance with Mussolini and diverted attention away from his moves in Europe. In the fall of 1936, Germany and Italy were brought together in an alliance by the formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis. Germany and Japan signed, the Anit-Comintern Pact, which involved a secret military commitment against the Soviet Union and an unspoken hostility to Britain (Chodorow, 1990, p.848). Italy soon joined the German-Japanese alliance and also left the League of Nations. Hitler s occupation of the Rhineland and formation of alliances proved to be critical in allowing Germany to proceed with her new foreign

policy. By now Hitler had successfully violated treaties, rebuilt the German army and secured important allies in the process. All of these moves allowed Hitler to go forward with his foreign policies, which were designed to push Germany into future conflicts. November 5th, 1937 Hitler announced that Germany might have the opportunity to seize Austria and Czechoslovakia or both in the near future and that war with Britain and France must in any event come before 1943-45, (Chodorow, 1990, p.848). This statement seems to prove that Hitler was calculating his moves in Europe. Hitler with the support of Mussolini marched troops into Austria in 1938 and signed an agreement giving Germany control over all of Austria s foreign and domestic affairs. Hitler s Anshluss of Austria into