An evaluation of the reasons for the aggressive nature of the foreign policies of Germany and Italy in the 1930s
Germany's Aggressive Foreign Policies
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Bitterness over the Treaty of Versailles: Germany felt unjustly punished by the treaty, which blamed them exclusively for WWI, demanded financial reparations, and restricted their military power. This led to a thirst for revenge and re-establishment of lost prestige.
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Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism: Hitler promised to restore Germany’s pride and reverse the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles. His aggressive foreign policies were aligned with his expansionist and racial ideologies.
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Appeasement by Britain and France: Hitler was encouraged by the policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France, which allowed him to defy the terms of the Treaty of Versailles without being challenged.
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Economic Factors: The severe economic crisis in Germany during the Great Depression fuelled anger and unrest, which Hitler exploited to gain popular support for his aggressive policies.
Italy's Aggressive Foreign Policies
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Fascism and Mussolini's Leadership: Fascism was inherently expansionist, aiming at creating a new Roman Empire. Mussolini’s desire to showcase Italy as a leading global power led to aggression in foreign policy.
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Economic Aspirations: Italy aimed to improve their recession-ridden economy through aggressive foreign policies, including colonial expansion and seizure of resources.
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Failure of the League of Nations: Both Italy and Germany were emboldened by the League of Nations' failures to effectively prevent and punish acts of aggression.
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Appeasement by Other Powers: The policy of appeasement by Britain and France facilitated Italy's aggression in Ethiopia and Albania.
Contextual Factors Influencing Aggression
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Rise of Totalitarian Regimes: The spread of fascism in Italy and the rise of Nazism in Germany led to dictatorship, militarism and expansionism in these nations.
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Complacency of the League of Nations: The league's weak responses to aggressive acts by these nations undermined its credibility and encouraged more aggression.
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Economic Depression: The global economic crisis of the 1930s contributed to the rise of extremist political ideologies and aggressive foreign policies in Italy and Germany.
Overall, these points illustrate the mix of ideological, economic, political, and strategic considerations that shaped the aggressive foreign policies of Italy and Germany in the 1930s.