What was the actual motivation of the Nazis when they started and then expanded WWII?

Answer 1

The Germans called it 'Lebensraum', or 'living space', the space for a growing population with limited resources to live on. Poland was not a military threat to the National Socialists, but Poland did offer land. Once the Western (and European) powers were defeated, put into a defensive position, or allied with Germany in 1941, then the National Socialists turned East again in search of land and to destroy the 'Bolsheviks', or Communists, of Russia. Russia was the only nation in Europe whose power was equal to that of the National Socialists in Germany.

Answer 2

Hitler desired an empire to match that of Britain which he greatly admired.
He thought he could get this by expanding Germany eastwards into the Slavic territories of Poland and the Soviet Union. He considered their people would make ideal slave labor.
Once he invaded Poland things began to go wrong when France and Britain declared war on Germany. This was unexpected but he managed to defeat all opposition in continental Western Europe by June 1940
His major mistake was then to invade the Soviet Union before finishing off Britain. Once it was clear that the Soviets had gained the advantage after Stalingrad in 1943, Hitler was facing eventual defeat.

Answer 3

After WWI Germany went into a period of inflation which was incredible--a wheelbarrow of money might be needed to buy a loaf of bread, for instance. The Germans were ripe for anyone who could get them out of their economic mess. In the beginning this is what the Nazis used to come to power and they were to some measure successful.

The motivation to expand is always for resources, and in this case to keep the unification Hitler had achieved.
He created the Aryan myth and around that myth he began
to first of all take the resources of the wealthy Jewish community in Germany, to begin to develop a "superrace"
which let him get rid of weaklings in society, and to keep his power, used it against anyone who might speak out against him. He was bent on World Conquest--power.
The allies could have stopped him when he made his first move over the line. They didn't and encouraged by their weakness he came close to achieving his goal.

We have much the same situation in Iraq. Only instead of the Aryan myth we have the myth of the Holy War and the
American devil instead of the Jews (one always needs to have a group to hate in these situations) and the goal of making the entire world Islamic or kill off everyone who won't bow in the process.

That is why Iraq is so important. Our division shows our weakness and encourages not only the Iraqi insurgents,
but Iran, North Korea, and China, as perhaps the most immediate threats. That is why staying in Iraq is so important for us. If we give up in Iraq we will find ourselves fighting on more, not fewer fronts, just as happened in WWII. History does repeat itself, and unless we are willing to draw a line and say and mean thus far and no farther, the dissenters in the U.S> government who think this is about political opportunity for themselves, shortsighted and selfishy will take us down. In war, especially, we need to be united. And the largest part of a war is after the fighting--rebuilding the past enemy into a strong friend.

Answer 4

Believe it or not, total world domination. Also, the Germans were pissed after their defeat in WW1 and desperately needed someone to give them a sense of National pride, enter Hitler, who convinced the Germans that a great injustice had been done to them via the Jews, and viola, WW2. You should read "Stones From the River" by Ursala Hegi, it really gives an accurate description of how the average German felt before, during, and after WW2.

Answer 5

They were nuts, and needed to prove something---lots of resentment had built up over the harsh terms imposed on them after losing ww1, and Germany's economic problems.
There have also been theories that the generation of the Nazi leaders (who were about 40 or 50 at the time) had been children when there was a broad outbreak of encephalitis---if this brain inflammation is survived, it leads to real mental problems later in life.

Answer 6

"Today Germany; tomorrow the world!" Adolf Hitler was motivated by fantasies of Aryan superiority and visions of world conquest.

His manifesto, "Mein Kampf" (my struggle), written during his brief imprisonment after the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, fully ten years before he came to power legally as Chancellor in 1933, made it very clear that he was also obsessed with ridding Europe of its Jewish population by genocide.

Answer 7

Glorification of the German Nation. Reclamation of the rightful place of glory the other nations took from it after WWI.

Answer 8

Wealth and national pride and identity!
Germany was bankrupt after the first world war, and as a nation they were defeated.

Answer 9

they thought that by killing all the jews, they would end the huge depression they were in and there would be great times.
theres more but my hand hurts already

Answer 10

to rule europe