Hitler aimed to dismantle Czechoslovakia as part of his Lebensraum (living space) policy. He harbored a strong dislike for the Czechs due to several reasons:
Czechoslovakia's strategic location was crucial, as controlling the region would greatly benefit Germany's military and economic dominance in Central Europe.
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After capturing the Lithuanian port of Memel, which had a significant German population, Hitler turned his focus towards Poland.
Conclusion
Today, very few historians accept Taylor's view that Hitler had no long-term plans for war. While some of Hitler's successes were due to opportunism, there was a greater underlying strategy. Although he may not have had a detailed step-by-step plan, Hitler had a clear vision of a Germany-dominated Europe, achievable only through war. This is why rearmament was emphasized from 1936 onwards. Hitler believed that Germany's future could only be secured through war, and the timing and direction of that war were the main concerns.
The Second World War was significantly different from previous conflicts, leading to its classification as a total war. This concept of total war marked a radical shift from traditional views of warfare. The reasons for considering World War II a total war include:
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1. What were the main factors that led to the Munich Agreement of 1938? |
2. How did the propaganda campaign in the Sudetenland influence the events leading up to the Munich Conference? |
3. What were the consequences of the Munich Conference on European politics? |
4. How did the events in Poland contribute to the outbreak of World War II? |
5. In what ways did the Spanish Civil War serve as a prelude to World War II? |
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