Germany's need for domination in Europe

Germanys Need for Domination in Europe

Consequent to the creation of the German Empire in 1871, the country's influence in Europe attained great heights as it slowly but surely became a major player in worldwide affairs. Germans were beginning to express their arrogance regarding their cultural and economic triumphs. At the time of the First World War, German people were certain that their country would win the war and increase its sphere of influence over Europe, as their trust in it and in the Kaiser had been enough to motivate everyone. Instead of weakening their spirits, the loss experienced in the Great War only served as an impulse for them to support concepts such as nationalism and the German birthright to conquer the continent.

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, German leaders believed that the best solution for any international problem that they came across had been to go to war. People in Germany did not hesitate to support their government in all campaigns, as they even seem to express a great deal of enthusiasm concerning their country oppressing other countries. Because of the fact that it felt humiliated after the First World War, Germany begun a countrywide movement meant to increase German confidence. As a result, Germans became certain the Allies had been mainly responsible for their condition, and, that they, as a superior nation, were entitled to demand their rights.

The concepts of militarism, imperialism, and nationalism had been symbolic for German behavior until the end of the Second World War. Germany's monarchy was mainly fueled by its history, and by the fact that it wanted to impose its power in Europe. In contrast, Nazi Germany wanted to "lebensraum" (living space) for the people in the country, given the fact that Hitler considered that it had been overcrowded.

One can go as far as claiming that the Germans had been traumatized by the losses that they suffered in the several wars that went back in the nineteenth and eighteenth centuries. The hunger and the dishonor provoked across the country by World War One were too much for them to put up with.

Hitler's plans involved conquering Eastern Europe in order to turn the territory there into parts of a greater Germany. In his opinion, his actions were not wrong, as he thought that would simply united all of the lands presumably belonging to Germany under one nation. However, he knew that several other European powers would interfere with his preparations. Consequently, he realized that he also had to weaken France and even England for his arrangements to work properly, hence his desire to extend his power over all of Europe.

It is possible that Adolf Hitler did not understand the consequences of his actions, as he believed that everything needed to be done in order for German people to "survive."