ww2 opinions

by ulabo

How did the germans view themselves during 1930? and how did other countries view Germany at the same time? Following question: How did that opinion change in 1939?

Matty303

Firstly, Please note I am no expert, but I can give some knowledge. Following the 1st World war Hyperinflation and a weak economy had crippled Germany with unemployment being high. The Germans would have viewed themselves as ill-treated by France and Britain and Hitler's rise to power does show you that Germany was desperate to re-gain its former glory. In the early 1930s Britain and France saw Germany like many countries see Greece today, weak and crippled. Also, its worth noting that the populations of Britain and France would have had some stigma towards Germany as propaganda had worked very well during WW1, especially in Britain. The Allies(although they werent the allies at this point they had been part of 'the triple entente') after the treaty of Versailles, did not give Germany much flexibility at all eg. limit to active army count being 100,000 and the complete demilitarisation of the productive Rhineland.

By 1939 Hitler had utilised the public disgust towards the treaty of Versailles. At this point the German people were mostly inspired with the gesture of a new Germany wanting to see them rival the power of France and Britain. Some did believe that aryan Germans were a superior race after all. Interestingly Britain and France no longer stepped on Germany like they did before, realisation truly kicked in that Germany could bring a repeat of the first world war, and they wanted to avoid that. France and Britain adopted a policy known as 'appeasement' were they tried to tiptoe around any actions Hitler took, including the many that broke the treaty of Versailles. For these countries there was a great deal of fear. A good example of Germany's progression from where it was in 1930 was the openness in which Austria allowed Germany to take control of it in 1938. It was plain to see for everyone that Germany had bounced back.

Also, if this is for an exam please do not rely totally on what I said, this was designed to give a brief understanding of feeling in the countries. The Syllabus will have much more detail.