I need to submit an IHP Long Essay that is 6000 words long. The essay title is ‘Account for the fluctuations in Anglo-German relations between the years 1935-38.’
Essay Briefing: Account for the Fluctuations in Anglo-German Relations (1935-38)
Title: “Account for the fluctuations in Anglo-German relations between the years 1935-38”
Word Count: Please write 4000 words. I will add 2000 words to meet the full requirement of 6000 words as specified in the assessment brief.
Essay Structure:
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Introduction:
- Provide a brief overview of Anglo-German relations leading up to 1935, setting the context for the period in question.
- Establish the key themes of military and strategic considerations, Nazi racial policy, and changing diplomatic attitudes.
- State the thesis clearly, which should reflect the various factors influencing fluctuations in relations during 1935-38.
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Military and Strategic Considerations for Germany:
- Discuss Germany’s rearmament efforts under Hitler and the strategic imperatives that influenced Germany’s foreign policy.
- Examine key events such as the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936.
- Analyze how Germany’s military strategy affected its relations with Britain, considering both immediate and long-term objectives Rearmament and Expansion: Renunciation of the Treaty of Versailles, the Stresa Front formed by Italy France and Britain
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Strategic Alliances and Agreements: Anglo-German Naval Agreement is signed, allowing Germany to expand its navy to 35% of the size of the Royal Navy. This agreement is seen as a form of appeasement by Britain.
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Geopolitical aims: Lebensraum and expansionist policies
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The Hossbach Memorandum is recorded, where Hitler outlines his expansionist policies. Although not immediately affecting Anglo-German relations, it indicates future German intentions, notably marking 1943-45 as the deadline for achieving German hegemony in Europe
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Anschluss – Germany annexes Austria. Britain and France issue formal protests but do not intervene militarily.
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These are just ideas
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Military and Strategic Considerations for Britain:
- Explore Britain’s response to Germany’s rearmament and strategic moves.
- Consider the influence of Britain’s defense policy, economic constraints, and public opinion on its diplomatic approach to Germany.
- Discuss key policy decisions and military strategies that shaped Britain’s stance towards Germany during this period.
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Nazi Racial Policy toward Britain:
- Analyze how Nazi racial ideology shaped Germany’s diplomatic approach towards Britain.
- Consider the role of propaganda and the influence of Nazi racial theories on Germany’s perception of Britain.
- Examine specific incidents or rhetoric that highlight the impact of Nazi racial policy on Anglo-German relations.
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Changing Diplomatic Attitude from Germany:
- Discuss the evolution of Germany’s diplomatic stance towards Britain from 1935 to 1938.
- Consider Hitler’s shifting priorities and how these influenced Germany’s foreign policy.
- Analyze the impact of key diplomatic events, such as the Munich Agreement of 1938, on Anglo-German relations.
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Conclusion:
- Summarize the key points made in the essay, tying them back to the thesis.
- Offer a reflection on the broader implications of the fluctuating relations between Britain and Germany during this period.
- Suggest areas where further research could provide additional insights.
Historiography:
- Please ensure that the essay is thoroughly grounded in the relevant historiography. Engage critically with the arguments of key historians in the field, and thread these discussions throughout the essay.
- Utilize the key readings I have provided to support the analysis, and ensure that the historiographical debate is clearly integrated into the narrative.
Referencing:
- Use Harvard referencing
Additional Instructions:
- Focus on maintaining a clear, coherent structure, as outlined above, while providing detailed and nuanced analysis.
- Ensure that the essay remains focused on the question and avoids unnecessary digressions.
- Pay close attention to the quality of writing, aiming for clarity, precision, and fluency.
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Hildebrand, Klaus, The Foreign Policy of the Third Reich, trans. by Anthony Fothergill (University of California Press 1979)
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Crozier, Andrew, Prelude to Munich: British Foreign Policy and Germany, 1935-8 (London: European Studies Review, 1976).
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Kennedy, Paul M., ‘The Tradition of Appeasement in British Foreign Policy 1865-1939’, British Journal of International Studies, 2.3 (1976), 195-215.
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Newton, Scott, ‘The ‘Anglo‐German connection’ and the Political Economy of Appeasement’, Diplomacy and Statecraft, 2.3 (1991), 178
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Waddington, Lorna L., ‘The Anti-Komintern and Nazi Anti-Bolshevik Propaganda in the 1930s’, Journal of Contemporary History, 42.4 (2007), 573-594.
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Leitz, Christian, Nazi Foreign Policy, 1933-1941: The Road to Global War (London: Routledge, 2004).
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A.J.P Taylor, he makes some credible points,
I can provide the PDF’s if needed
If any further clarification is needed, feel free to reach out to me.