Essay

Jon Borchert Mr. Hinze IB History essay December 10, 2009

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on foreign policy Initially, it would appear that both Hitler and Mussolini had the same goals and desires when it came to foreign policy. Both were Fascist dictators, who believed in ruling with an iron fist, and both were allies during World War II. Therefore, it is assumed that both had the same foreign policy goals. After Germany and Italy signed the Pact of Steel in 1939, which committed Italy to join a war on the side of Germany even if Germany was the aggressor, that was true. Both countries along with Japan, joined together against the Allies to fight the largest war know to mankind. Accordingly, the very existence of their remaining in power depended on their close relationship and shared goals. However, prior to 1939, their foreign policy goal had as many differences as similarities. Surprisingly enough, Italy had tried to contain German expansion of influence and territory, but it not receives any assistance from either England or France. Hitler’s foreign policy and his domestic policy, for that matter, were formulated in a jail cell and revealed in Mien Kampf, published in 1924. [i] Hitler’s rise to power in Germany was dependent on his ability to convince the German people that the Treaty of Versailles treated them unfairly. He would even imply that Germany did not lose the Great War, but had been sold out by forces within their country. Nevertheless, Hitler’s goal was to increase the size and influence of Germany. He also wanted to ensure that Germany remained economically strong. Germany experienced the Great Depression just like the rest of the world. Hitler promoted two concepts that appealed to the nationalistic desires of the German people. First, unite all German speaking people regardless of where they lived in Europe, Grossdeutschland and, second expand the German territory to the east- Poland and Russia- whereby providing Germans with Lebensraum-living space. Hitler’s foreign policy goals were always to make Germany a stronger country: militarily, economically, and influentially. Hitler’s two major adversaries were England and France. Hitler played upon the fears these two countries had of war and communism to his advantage. Both England and France had suffered many causalities during the First World War and either country wanted to repeat the experience. Since Germany joined the League of Nations, in 1926, both countries did not view Germany as a threat. Furthermore, when Germany signed a non-aggression pact with Poland, England and France felt they had nothing to fear. Hitler also played on the English and French fear of Communism. It must be remembered that German influence was behind Russia pulling out of World War I. The German government allowed and helped transport Lenin to Russia igniting the Bolshevik Revolution which eventually led to Russia pulling out of the war. Hitler gained the respect of England and France by revoking the Rapollo Treaty of 1922 [ii]. The Rapollo Treaty was signed between Germany and Russia after both countries lost territory to Poland at the conclusion of World War I. In the same year, 1933, Hitler signed a non-aggression treaty against Poland. Hitler gave England and France the impression that he was rejecting all relations with Communist Russia and wanted peaceful co-existence with Poland. In 1935 the English and the Germans signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement which allowed Germany a navy, 35% as large as the British navy [iii]. Although, this agreement violated the specific terms of the Treaty of Versailles, it showed that the English feared communism more than they feared the rise of the Nazi Germany. Therefore, Germany’s foreign policy was based on self-interest, economic improvement, and using England and France’s fear of war and communism to appease Germany’s new found military power. Historically, Italy was in a very different position than Germany. Mussolini longed for the days of the Rome Empire, when Italy was the King of Mediterranean. However, Mussolini goals were for prestige rather than monetary gain. Initially, Italy feared the expansion of German power and influence. For example, in 1934 [iv], after Nazi’s inside of Austria assassinated the Chancellor Dollfuss; it was Mussolini who sent troops to the Austrian border to prevent a German invasion. Germany backed down. Mussolini then signed the Stress Pact of 1935 [v] with England and France to prevent further German aggression. Italy wanted a united front against Germany, but it became clear with the subsequent signing of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement that at least England was not interested in enforcing the terms of the Treaty of Versailles [vi]. Mussolini then seeing that appeasement was dominating the relationship between England/ France and Germany, he felt he was given the red light to expand Italian territory. In 1935 [vii], he started the Abyssinian War. Unlike Hitler’s expansive policy, Mussolini chose a war against a poverty ravaged country with no economic gain evident. It was more in line with colonial expansion of the nineteenth century which all the other countries had eagerly participated in. The war was costly to Italy not only economically, but in the sacrifice of human life. The only gain was one of prestige that some how Italy was destined to expand to the old boundaries of the Roman Empire [viii]. Italy than set its sites on Albania, a poor country with few economic resources, Mussolini was only interested in territorial expansion for prestige purposes not economic gain or to gain concessions from the Allies. The difference between Germany and Italy’s foreign policy objects is best seen in the Spanish Civil War [ix]. Both Hitler and Mussolini supported Francisco Franco because of his anti-communist stand. Therefore, in 1936 when General Franco led a rebellion against the Popular Front-left wing government of Spain, both German and Italy offered their assistance. Although, both countries acted due to their hatred of communism and the opportunity to test their military might, Germany negotiated the Montana Project with Franco which gave Germany access to 75% of Spanish ores. These raw materials were essential for the build up of the Nazi war machine. Italy supplied 80,000 troops, while Germany sent only 20,000 troops. Furthermore, Hitler believed Italy would be distracted by the Spanish Civil War allowing Germany to gain Austria [x]. This strategy worked. While Italy suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Guadalajara, Hitler moved into Austria with no resistance from Italy. While Italy acted on principle, German acted on self-interest, gained economic advantages, and Austria. Two allies with very different objectives. As World War II approached, Hitler became more aggressive in pursuing Gross- deutschland and Lebensraum. In 1938 [xi], Hitler invaded Sudetenland, the economic heartland of Czechoslovakia, remilitarized the Rhineland, on the French border, invaded the remainder of Czechoslovakia, and finally invaded Poland in 1939 which caused the English and the French to declare war on Germany. While Mussolini did not oppose any of these moves by Hitler, Italy gained no benefit from them. He signed the Pact of Steel which obligated Italy to fight on the side of Germany if a war broke out. By 1940 Italy had still not joined the war claiming they were unprepared and in need of war materials [xii]. However, by then Italy was so closely tied to Germany that there was no turning back. Their foreign policy had merged. Germany was the driving force and Italy willingly when along, which ultimately caused the death of both men and their countries’ defeat in World War II. While Hitler and Mussolini shared certain foreign policy goals. 1) To spread a right-wing absolute dictatorship form of government-Nazism and Fascism [xiii] . 2) Spread the sphere of influence and power [xiv]. 3) Regain historical glories, it be pre World War I bounties or capture the glories of the Roman Empire [xv] . 4) Gain prestige for their respective countries [xvi]. However, in other ways their foreign policy was very different. Hitler’s foreign policy was always done to economically benefit the German people above all else. Hitler started with a blueprint outlined in Mien Kampf and followed it. He exploited the appeasement of England and France as well as used his ally Italy for his own purposes, Grossdeutschland and Lebensraum. On the other hand, up until 1939 Mussolini tried to stop Hitler and the spread of Germany. He stood alone in 1934, to stop Germany’s invasion of Austria [xvii]. However, the appeasement on the part of England and France and his own fascination with the cult of Hitler led to his downfall. While Italy wanted to regain the glories of ancient Rome, such exploits did not economically benefit Italy, but were merely done for the purposes of prestige. However, Hitler and Mussolini’s fate were the same death and the defeat of their respective oppressive states.

[i]  Tarr, Russell. "Russell Tarr sees similarities but also important contrasts in the foreign policies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy." //www.historytoday.com//. History Today, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [ii] Ibid [iii]  Tonge, Stephen. "Hitler's Foreign Policy." //Historyhome//. Historyhome, 23 Sept. 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. .

[iv]  Help Me. "Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between the Foreign Policies of Mussolini and Hitler:." //www.123helpme.com//. Help Me, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [v]  Tonge, Stephen. "Hitler's Foreign Policy." //Historyhome//. Historyhome, 23 Sept. 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [vi] Ibid [vii]  Totalitarianism. "Fascist Italy." //www.thecorner.org//. thecorner.org, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [viii] Ibid [ix]  Tarr, Russell. "Russell Tarr sees similarities but also important contrasts in the foreign policies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy." //www.historytoday.com//. History Today, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [x] Ibid [xi] Ibid [xii]  Totalitarianism. "Fascist Italy." //www.thecorner.org//. thecorner.org, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. . [xiii] Ibid [xiv] Ibid [xv] Ibid [xvi] Ibid [xvii]  Tarr, Russell. "Russell Tarr sees similarities but also important contrasts in the foreign policies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy." //www.historytoday.com//. History Today, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. .