German Geopolitics II.

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German Geopolitics II.

• Nazi Geopolitics

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Rural Landscape Highway as Signs of National
Identity
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Karl HaushoferThe Man Behind the Curtain

• Father of English Geopolitics
• Mackinder 1861-1947
• Father or Nazi Geopolitik
• Haushofer 1869-1946
• Same age, same dilemmas,
• different approaches

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His Life

• Studied Political sciences in Sweden at Rudolf
  Kjellén in 1891
• Then military-diplomatic career
• German Military Attache to Tokyo 1908-1910
• Close relation with Japanese Emperors family
• Close study of Japanese traditions and problems,
  future alliance system
• Annexation of Korea
• Japanese Leader Tradition

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Military Career

• WWI
• General of Artillery
• He had a soldier named Rudolf Hess
• Experience of war, experience of other European
  nations
• Comparism of War and Peace (Realism)

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Scientific Career and Munich

• Munich in the twenties HQs of the NSDAP
  established as a Bavarian regional party
• Haushofer back to the University in Munich
  Japanese studies dissertation
• 1921 establishing Geopolitical Institut
• He had a student called Rudolf Hess
• Beer Hall Revolt 1923
• Hiding Hess and Hitler sharing his ideas with
  them, visiting them in the jail
• 1924 establishing Geopolitical Journal
  (definitions of a science)

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Good Relations with NSDAP

• Hess, Hitler, Goebbels, Ribbentrop, Himler
• Similarities against neighbours, revenge for
  WWI, conservative, militarist traditions
• Haushofer as ex Imperial General introduced Nazi
  leaders to German and Swiss high society
• Haushofer real author of Hitlers books
• Mein Kampf and Second Book with exatly his
  early ideas

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Geopolitik Became a Pillar of Nazi Ideology
International Relations

• (more details and data from History of Diplomacy)
• Lebensraum
• Autarchy
• Pan Regions
• Naval and Land (Continental) Powers
• Borders

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The Role of (Mass)Communication

• Zeitcshrift für Geopolitics 750 000 copies per
  year
• Literature Nation without Space
• Radio Haushofer had weekly speeches (def. of
  soap opera)
• Head of German Publishing Company
• Science and Communication 2 levels
• The entire German nation accepted the ideas
  (propaganda)

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His Ideas Forming International Relations

• Shopping List expansion in Eu and Worldwide
• Organiser of Munich Conference in 1938
  (Czechoslovakia), his son draw the new borders of
  Europe
• Supporter of Ribentrop-Molotov pact 1939
• Organiser of Italian-Japanese-German-Hungarian
  alliance system (similar problems, need for
  space, WWI experience)

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Career and Success in Various Levels

• Science
• Military
• Political
• Political Adviser in International relations
• Communication
• Thomas Mann General Dr. von Staat
• 1946 Nürnberg trial