Lebensraum

Lebensraum

1) Definition

Lebensraum literally translates into "living space" and represents Hitler's belief that in order to survive and become a great empire, Germany needed more living space. Hitler claimed that the German population was too large for the territory it was confined to by the Versailles Treaty, and that more land was necessary to provide the German people with an area to settle and colonize. This was to be achieved by expanding first into the nations lying to the east of Germany, including nations such as Poland and Russia.

2) Significance

Lebensraum was an important Nazi ideology that justified its invasion of Poland in 1939 and later the Soviet Union in the 1940s. This ideology from Hitler appealed to the general German public during his rise to power in that it signified Germany's return as a world power. The idea of expansion and invasion into Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Russia was a breach of the Versailles Treaty, and by advocating this ideology, Hitler was able to gain popularity and support. With Lebensraum, Hitler implied the destruction of the Versailles Treaty which had brought much shame and humiliation to Germany. In this sense, the ideology of Lebensraum can be argued as a part of the intentionalist point of view. Hitler understood the public dissatisfaction with the Versailles Treaty and the humiliation of losing its status as a major world power; thus, Hitler was able to use Lebensraum as a way of appealing to the population to rise to power. Lebensraum would also go on to influence his policies, such as the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland.