German Foreign Policy and Nazi Ideology?
German Foreign Policy and Nazi Ideology?
does anyone have any opinion or information on the role that ideology has on german foreign policy during 1933 - 1945?
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Matt Gibbs
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Foreign Diplomats
The nazis certianly were very careful about where foreign dignatories went, which is pretty true of most countries I supopose, but there was defiantely cases of making sure they only saw certain things and not others. As for german diplomats and officers visiting foreign countries in a similar way they were picked, with their escorts etc to maximise what was good about Germany and the Aryan ideal wherever possible. Just look at some of the photographs of the time.
Perhaps one example I have read about was an award to Henry Ford, the famous US Automobile manufacturer and a noted anti semite - didn't he recieve some sort of decoration from Hitler..? I recall hearing that he published a book about his feelings or something, anyone seen it..??
Regards
Perhaps one example I have read about was an award to Henry Ford, the famous US Automobile manufacturer and a noted anti semite - didn't he recieve some sort of decoration from Hitler..? I recall hearing that he published a book about his feelings or something, anyone seen it..??
Regards
Big question.
On a very general level, it is clear that German foreign policy of the time, like that of all countries, was an instrument for the political goals of the government. To the extent that these goals, as they related to foreign affairs, were ideologically determined, ideology was a factor in German Foreign Policy. And that's something I am sure we can have an endless debate about. Some stick to the view that German foreign policy aims were connected primarily to rational power politics considerations. Others see Nazi foreign policy as above all motivated by, serving and furthering ideological concepts like Lebensraum and Racial policies.
To briefly state my own position, this is that the foreign policy aims of the Third Reich were far-reaching and highly and obviously ideologically conditioned, which is not to say that they did not incorporate more rational power-political considerations, nor that these aims were not at times pursued in a pragmatic fashion.
cheers
On a very general level, it is clear that German foreign policy of the time, like that of all countries, was an instrument for the political goals of the government. To the extent that these goals, as they related to foreign affairs, were ideologically determined, ideology was a factor in German Foreign Policy. And that's something I am sure we can have an endless debate about. Some stick to the view that German foreign policy aims were connected primarily to rational power politics considerations. Others see Nazi foreign policy as above all motivated by, serving and furthering ideological concepts like Lebensraum and Racial policies.
To briefly state my own position, this is that the foreign policy aims of the Third Reich were far-reaching and highly and obviously ideologically conditioned, which is not to say that they did not incorporate more rational power-political considerations, nor that these aims were not at times pursued in a pragmatic fashion.
cheers
