The history of the world is a complex arrangement of happenings and occurrences that have shaped the current state of civilization. However, history is not as straightforward as it may seem. While all historical events are a result of cause and effect, the origins of these events are often quite hazy due to their many distinct interpretations. A certain group or individual may believe that an event emerged a particular way, whereas a different group or individual may have a completely contrasting idea about how that event started.
Defining the root of important events has been and will continue to be an everpresent conflict throughout history. A notable example of this conflict is regarding the origins of World War II in 1939, specifically the question of whether or not Adolf Hitler intended to start the war. The Origins of the Second World War by A. J. P. Taylor and Hitler’s War Aims: Ideology, the Nazi State, and the Course of Expansion by Norman Rich are two conflicting accounts of Hitler’s actions that attempt to answer this question.
Both works possess clearly varying views, each portraying Hitler in a different way. Taylor’s argument suggests that Hitler did not intentionally cause war, but rather accidentally paved the way to it through the downfalls of others. Conversely, Rich’s argument concurs with the common notion that Hitler deliberately wanted war, planned for war and launched the war. On November 5th, 1937, a meeting was called among German leadership in which Hitler’s expansion plans were discussed.
This meeting marked a huge change in Hitler’s foreign policies as the actions of his party began to radicalize. Hitler, frustrated by the lack of living space for German citizens, planned to acquire land through the expansion of Germany, at the expense of other European nations. The Hossbach Memorandum, a summary of the meeting written by Hitler’s military adjutant, outlined Hitler’s assertive decision to go to war and his aggressive way of doing so. Because this document is a primary source, many historians consider it to be definitive proof that Hitler intended to start WWII in 1939.
Overall, the content of The Hossbach Memorandum allows for an easier understanding of the arguments of both Taylor and Rich. Through the close examination of these three documents, it can be determined whether or not Hitler intended to start WWII in 1939. Published in 1961 by Hamish Hamilton, The Origins of the Second World War is a non-fiction book written by English historian A. J. P. Taylor. It presents readers with an alternate look into the causes of WWII, predominately detailing Hitler’s role in starting the war.
Through the careful tracing of the events that occurred prior to the Nazi’s invasion of Poland, Taylor argues that Hitler did not set out to initiate the war as part of a malicious plan, but instead mistakenly fell into it through the defects of others. Taylor’s viewpoint has been at the centre of much controversy for decades, as popular opinion states that Hitler, alongside his military, had an elaborate plan to start WWII. Rather than manifesting Hitler in his typical stereotype; an evil madman urging for a violent war, Taylor presents Hitler as an ordinary German citizen who patiently attained his successes through the failures of others A. J. P Taylor wrote The Origins of the Second World War to debunk the accepted societal truths about Hitler and provide a provocative yet interesting perspective his role in the commencement of WWII in 1939. Through manifesting Hitler as an opportunist who waited out the downfall of his opponents, Taylor constructs a unique argument that ultimately forces his readers open their minds and reconsider the way in which they view Hitler. The writing is rich with both strong factual evidence and insightful analysis.
While it is evident that Taylor was extremely well-researched in his controversial attempt to reevaluate the actions of Hitler, it is difficult to agree with his standing for a few reasons. Firstly, one cannot ignore the plain reality of WWII, specifically the horrific chain of events that made up the Holocaust. There is absolutely no doubt that Hitler was an evil man with ill intentions. The calculating attitude that Hitler held created devastating destruction to the extent that no other historical event has produced.
Secondly, documents such as The Hossbach Memorandum, which provide a direct look into the meetings of Hitler and his allies, patently demonstrate the Nazi push for war. For these reasons, it is incredibly hard to agree with Taylor’s disputed viewpoint on Hitler and his role in the launch of WWII. Hitler’s War Aims: Ideology, the Nazi State, and the Course of Expansion, published in 1992 by W. W. Norton & Company, is the first book in the Hitler’s War Aims duology by Norman Rich.
This book aims to outline Hitler’s blueprint of German expansion, aided by his various foreign policies. Much of the content is based upon Hitler’s radical ideology as well as Germany’s political and military needs. From the perspective of German history, readers are introduced to Hitler’s initial theories and taken through how these theories translated into the rise of the Nazi party in Europe during WWII. In regards to the question of whether or not Hitler intentionally started WWII, this book does a phenomenal job of accurately and adequately answering this.
Rich argues in favour of the widespread viewpoint on Hitler’s regime. He, like many historians, believes that Hitler purposely made WWII happen through meticulous planning and a detailed execution. Hitler’s War Aims: Ideology, the Nazi State, and the Course of Expansion by Norman Rich paints the typical portrait of Hitler: an evil mastermind with a grand plan for global warfare. Rich manifests Hitler as the man he truly was and places the blame on him for WWII – where it should be.
While creating an argument about Hitler that does not differ from that of most people, Rich makes clever use of evidence to support his claims and constructs a very solid analysis. Rich’s argument is compelling, well-written and includes a vast amount of detail. This work provided many important pieces of information regarding Hitler’s involvement in the start of WWII and allowed for a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the state of Germany at this time.
It is not difficult to agree with Rich’s viewpoint because it is one that is rather universal. Additionally, Rich explains his argument with appreciable articulation, which makes it easier to empathize with and interpret. The Origins of the Second World War by A. J. P. Taylor and Hitler’s War Aims: Ideology, the Nazi State, and the Course of Expansion by Norman Rich are two contrasting accounts of Hitler that attempt to answer the question of whether or not he intentionally started the war in 1939.
Taylor’s controversial account, which challenges the common idea of Hitler, attempts to justify the actions of the Nazi party through the notion that Hitler accidentally found his way into war through the downfall others. While this argument may somewhat make sense, when looking at the destruction Hitler caused during the war, it is clearly impossible that he didn’t mean to start WWII. Rich’s account, which concurs with the viewpoint of most other historians, contends that Hitler deliberately wanted war, planned for war and launched the war.
This detailed and wellwritten content alongside the obvious reality of WWII makes Rich’s argument one that is easy to agree with. Ultimately, the consensus is that, Hitler did intentionally start WWII as evidenced by Hitler’s War Aims. However, it should be recognized that each of these accounts are different interpretations of history that are constructed by the viewpoint of their authors. Ultimately, Hitler had a huge impact on Europe during WWII and his actions have shaped the world into what it is today.