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Kissinger Chapter 12 Outline
Kissinger Chapter 12 Outline
His philosophy ranged from banal to fantastic and had popular repackaging of
right-wing, rad, conventional wisdom
Designed campaign against France in 1940 and refusal to permit retreat in front of
Moscow in 1941
Felt that all his goals had to be accomplished in his lifetime b/c they were so
unique
Versailles left powerful country confronting grp of smaller unprotected states on eastern
border
neither Germ. nor West. Euro. estab. believed that he really meant to overturn
existing order
Germ. govt. now headed by chancellor who had proclaimed his intention to
overthrow Versailles settlement
Problem still remained how to find security if Germ. rearmed and GB refused a
guarantee
Hitler laid down challenge, yet democracies uncertain as to what he really meant
o
Offered to limit Germ. army to 300 k and air force to half size of France
diverted attention from fact that Germ. scrapped limit of 100 k established at
Versailles
France
o
GB and France opted to let Germ. rearm. because they did not know what else to do
o
League and France dispirited that they could not act on their own premonitions
Statesmen always face dilemma that, when scope for action is greatest, they have
minimum of knowledge
Shouldve been clear that large and strong Germ. bordered on east by small states
was dangerous for balance of power
British leaders rejected Churchills warnings, saying that disarm. not preparedness
was key to peace
1934, Churchill urged that GB respond to Germ. rearm. by buildup in Royal Air Force,
govt. and opp. leaders united in scorn
Last resort
Strategic dep. on GB
Mussolini
o
Feared German annex. of Austria would lead to demand for return of South Tirol
which was ethnically German
Stresa
o
Alliance among GB, France, and ITaly seemed developing after Hitler
reintroduced conscription
Mussolini adhered to RealPolitik and took it for granted that he had free hand for
the kind of colonial expansion that had been routine prior to WW1
Musso. aggression would have been accepted prior to WW1, it was now being
initiated in a world that was in thrall to collec. security and the League.
Italy hoist by engaging in what had been unprovoked aggression against member of
League
o
March 7, 1936 Hitler ordered army into demil. Rhineland, marking overthrow of last
remaining safeguard of Versailles settlement
France said that once Germ. fortified Rhineland, Czech would be lost and soon after that
Gen. war unavoidable
GB wanted to sit back and wait until Hitlers provisions seemed clearer
Each case, it had resisted most aggressive Euro. power attempt to draw Spain into
its orbit
Nov. 5, 1937 Hitler called meeting of war minister, commander in chief, and foreign
minister
Hossbach memorandum
secret
Anschluss
German Satellite
Brit and French reaction of drawing the line made equally little sense in terms of trad. Power
politics
However, after Germ. Occupied Czech, Brit. Pub. Opinion would tolerate it no further