The Ideological Origins of Nazi Imperialism

by Woodruff D. Smith

Overview

This study traces the evolution of imperialist ideology in Germany from Bismarck in the mid-19th century through Hitler and the Third Reich. Although much has been written about the virulently racist and anti-communist ideologies of the Nazi party, this is the first book to treat Nazi imperialism as a separate ideology and set it within a sturdy theoretical framework. Smith contends that Nazi imperialism represented the last, ambitious attempt to integrate two century-old ideologies—the elite, pro-industrial Weltpolitik and the popular-based, pro-agrarian Lebensraum—into a single system. In fact, Smith argues that it was largely the way in which the Nazis attempted to reconcile these contradictory ideologies that explains Germany's disastrous policies during World War II. This wide-ranging study also contributes to the debates over several other aspects of German history, including German military aims in World War II, the continuity—or discontinuity—of German policy from Bismarck to Hitler, and the relation between ideology and social-political life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195036909
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/06/1986
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	9.38(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

University of Texas, San Antonio

Table of Contents

1	Introduction	3
	Continuity and Ideology in the Historiography of German Imperialism	3
	Imperialism and the Autonomy of Politics	11
	Ideology in Modern Political Systems	13
	Structure	14
	Functions	16
2	The Origins of the German Imperialist Ideologies	21
	Migrationist Colonialism	21
	Economic Imperialism	30
	The Colonial Movement of the 1870s and 1880s	32
3	Wilhelmian Politics: The Role of Ideology in a Fragmented Society	41
	Perceptions of Change	41
	Wilhelmian Politics and Political Fragmentation	44
	The Search for a New Politics	49
4	Weltpolitik	52
	The Weltpolitiker	53
	The Structure of Weltpolitik	64
	Social Imperialism and Liberal Imperialism	81
5	Lebensraum	83
	The Elements of Lebensraum	83
	Lebensraum and the Pan-German League	94
6	Imperialist Ideologies in Conflict, 1890-1914	112
	Colonial Development Policy	113
	Mittelafrika and the Second Moroccan Crisis	129
7	Legitimation and Integration in Wilhelmian Imperialism, 1890-1914	141
	The Legitimation of German Imperialism	141
	Attempts at Integration in Imperialist Ideology	152
8	The First World War	166
	Weltpolitik and War Aims	168
	Lebensraum at War	174
	Weltpolitik and Reform	185
	The Triumph of Lebensraum in 1917-18	187
9	Imperialist Ideology in the Weimar Republic	196
	Continuities in Weltpolitik	196
	Continuity and Change in Lebensraum Ideology	203
	Colonialism and the Colonial Movement	213
	Geopolitics	218
	Hans Grimm and the Popularization of Lebensraum	224
10	Nazi Imperialism	231
	Nazi Ideology	232
	The Imperialist Aspect of Nazi Ideology	238
	Conclusion	255
	Notes	259
	Bibliography	309
	Index	327

Editorial Reviews

Smith has written a scholarly and intelligent study of the nature and evolution of the ideologies of imperialism in Germany during the century leading up to Nazi expansionism in World War II. He identifies two distinct types or ``aggregates'' of imperialist ideas in German politics: a migrationist colonialism (later Lebensraum) and an economic imperialism (later Weltpolitik), both of which evolved in the Wilhelmine years and continued to influence policy through World War I, Weimar, and into the Nazi era. These ideologies of imperialism, though logically inconsistent, were followed in various forms by the Nazis, and culminated in the catastrophe of Hitler's war. This is an important, challenging, and difficult book, recommended for academic libraries and collections with a German emphasis. James B. Street, Santa Cruz P.L., Cal.

Library Journal

"An excellent study—probably the most thoughtful, detailed, and erudite account of this subject that has yet been written."—American Historical Review

"Teachers of contemporary European history will find that Smith's book contains a great deal of fascinating material as well as many stimulating ideas. The book is based on impressive research."—The History Teacher

"Fascinating....Includes a most interesting analysis of the structure and functions of ideologies."—New York Review of Books

"A splendid synthesis of the numerous detailed studies of German chauvinism."—Journal of Modern History

"A significant contribution...A prodigiously researched, cogently argued, and forcefully written book that deserves wide attention."—Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"A scholarly and intelligent study of the nature and evolution of the ideologies of imperialism in Germany during the century leading up to Nazi expansionism in World War II."—Library Journal

"This study both synthesizes much recent research and makes an original contribution in its own right. Its carefully articulated theoretical framework allows us to make sense of this complex topic in a much more satisfying way."—Geoffrey Eley, University of Michigan

From the Publisher