Nazi foreign policy debate

The foreign policy and war aims of the Nazis have been the subject of debate among historians. The Nazis governed Germany between 1933 and 1945. There has been disagreement over whether Adolf Hitler aimed solely at European expansion and domination, or whether he planned for a long-term global empire.

Continentalists vs. Globalists

Moltman and Hillgruber

The argument for what these aims meant in literal terms originates from the 1960s by historians Gunter Moltman and Andreas Hillgruber who, in their respective works, claim that it was Hitler's dream to create "Eutopia" and eventually challenge the United States. This thesis puts these two historians in the "Globalists" category, with opposition labelled "Continentalists". Evidence for these claims comes from Germany's preparation for war in the years 1933–39 with increased interest in naval building, and Hitler's decision to declare war on the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor, which shows Hitler's determination. The Globalists use this as an argument for how Hitler's ideology was shaped; i.e., the US could only be defeated if Germany conquered Europe and allied with Britain. It is said with general agreement that this viewpoint expressed by Hitler was written with the mindset that the US was of little interest to Germany, and did not pose a threat to her existence. However, noted through speeches and recorded conversations, after 1930, Hitler viewed the United States as a "mongrel state", incapable of unleashing war and competing economically with Germany due to the extreme effects of the Great Depression.