Germany's quest

Germany's quest

Germany had smarted as its European neighbors build empires through colonization. There was little left for the Germans to colonize. The doctrine of appeasement would be the most valuable tool Hitler would have in implementing Lebensraum, the concept of giving Germany more living space. The victors of World War I were mired in economic, social and political problems. As Hitler began to lay clamed to countries in Europe, France and England, who were friends at arm’s length, assumed their previous might and world leadership would protect them. “French and British military were slow to learn the lesson of the Polish campaign.” (Gilbert and Large, 307.) They were functioning under the illusion that they were superior and Germany would never attack them. But it did as it did Russia. “Western European statesmen, alarmed by the German annexation of chunks of Poland and Czechoslovakia, sought reassurance that the integrity of their states would be respected, and their sovereignty restored.” (Mazower, 145.) None was forthcoming as Hitler had other plans. In essence his goal was to basically colonize all of Europe. As Luciolli wrote in his report to Mussolini, “The emphatic German decision to organize Europe hierarchically, like a pyramid with Germany at the top, is well known to all.” (Mazower, 139.) The everyday man saw the German movement as an opportunity to improve his life economically, which in a time of depression, was his primary concern. Politicians coveted this also but did not want to lose their independence. Democracy after the war was the whipping boy for European workers. As Hendrik Colijn denounced the “evils of democracy” has message fell on eager ears. Europeans were jobless. Democracy did not put food on their tables. Germany had, in spite of the restrictive Treaty of Versailles, had prospered.
The doctrine of living space met with some resistance initially, but was only fully opposed when those looking for a savior...

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