German Geopolitics II.
Nazi Geopolitics
Rural Landscape & Highway as
Signs of National Identity
Karl Haushofer
The Man Behind the Curtain
•
•
•
•
•
•
Father of English Geopolitics
Mackinder: 1861-1947
Father or Nazi ‘Geopolitik’
Haushofer: 1869-1946
Same age, same dilemmas,
different approaches
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 Emperor’s family
• Close study of Japanese traditions and
problems, future alliance system
• Annexation of Korea
• Japanese Leader Tradition
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)
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)
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 Hitler’s books
• ‘Mein Kampf’ and ‘Second Book’ with
exatly his early ideas
‘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
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)
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-GermanHungarian alliance system (similar problems,
need for space, WWI experience)
Career and Success in Various
Levels
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Science
Military
Political
Political Adviser in International relations
Communication
Thomas Mann: General Dr. von Staat
1946 Nürnberg trial