The Third Reich's Macroeconomic Policies: Enablers Of Genocide by Major Adam W. Grein II

Author:Major Adam W. Grein II [Grein, Major Adam W. II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, United States, Europe, General, Germany, Special Forces
ISBN: 9781782897996
Google: ophvCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T05:02:08+00:00

Figure 12. Austrian Jews Scrub Pavement

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, “Vienna Austria, Photo Dated Between, Tuesday, March 1, 1938 and Friday April 1, 1938,” http://digitalassets.ushmm.org/photoarchives/detail.aspx?id=28172&search=jews+cleaning+streets&index= 8 (accessed 20 May 2012).

Outside the economic gains of the Anschluss, there were other gains. Mostly political but nevertheless continued to move the Germans closer to realizing their goals. As a result, Hitler’s confidence grew and Germany become more powerful in terms of not only resources but people as well.

The Anschluss added to Hitler’s list of accomplishments, Hitler gained confidence and the audacity needed to continue his quest for expansion and rearmament. Nevertheless, confidence alone would not pay for Weltanschauung or Lebensraum. The state treasury needed another infusion of money, and without an increase in revenue, the German financial situation would only get worse. Hitler understood that the only way to maintain the course toward expansion and rearmament was to gain control of Czechoslovakia. “Hitler was also undeterrable; he embraced war because he knew he could not get what he wanted without it.”{66} Thus, he directed his Ministry of War to make plans for the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the Sudetenland.

Despite Hitler’s desires for an aggressive seizure of the Sudetenland, he understood the value of popular support and international opinion. He quickly advocated for the millions of ethnic Germans living in the Sudetenland on the grounds of self-governance and determination. With support from Germany, the Sudeten German Party led by Konrad Henlein issued a list of demands to the Czech government that included full autonomy for the Sudetenland.{67} Other demands made called for change to Czech foreign policy, reparations for damages suffered by Sudeten Germans since their incorporation to the Czech Republic.

Knowing Hitler’s intentions were set on annexing the Sudetenland the Czech government looked to her allies-namely France-for support and solidarity. Reluctant to get involved in a potential military conflict without the backing of England, France waivered in her support for the Czech Republic. In an attempt to avoid war, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sought to negotiate with Hitler but to no avail and the process fell apart with Hitler ultimately demanding entry to the Sudeten. At the behest of Italy’s Benito Mussolini, Hitler agreed to international negotiations.

On 29 September 1938, under the terms of the negotiations, Germany received access to the Sudeten. The Czechoslovak government was further ordered to “release from their military and police forces any Sudeten Germans who may wish to be released, and the Czechoslovak Government will within the same period release Sudeten German prisoners who are serving terms of imprisonment for political offences.”{68} Without a single shot fired, Hitler won his battle for the Sudetenland. Gaining ground, people and resources this victory would not suffice but merely fueled or spurred Hitler’s hunger for expansion.

Hitler realized that Germany was not ready for war but in order to continue her economic growth and realization of Weltanschauung, he had to come up with a plan to take Poland without creating the potential for conflict on two fronts. Not wanting to repeat

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