Two views of Germany: Nevile Henderson vs. Vansittart and the Foreign Office, 1937–1939

1980 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron L. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Third Reich ◽  
The Third ◽  
Enormous Amount ◽  
Foreign Office ◽  
The Third Reich ◽  
British Embassy ◽  
As If

On April 30, 1937 Sir Nevile Henderson arrived in Berlin and assumed charge of the British Embassy as His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. There appeared to be nothing unusual about the appointment which seemed on the surface to reflect the new more active attempts to approach the leaders of the Third Reich by Neville Chamberlain who knew that he would shortly become Prime Minister. What was unusual about the choice was the fact it was made by Sir Robert Vansittart, then Permanent Undersecretary at the Foreign Office and approved by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden. Both men soon regretted the grave decision and Vansittart, as if to try to rectify his error, spent an enormous amount of energy during the next two and a Jialf years severely critizing Henderson's recommendations, evaluations and actions.

The Supernatural and the Second World War

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Kurlander
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Third Reich ◽  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
The Third ◽  
Practical Evaluation ◽  
Foreign Office ◽  
The Third Reich ◽  
Second World

This chapter evaluates the influence of the supernatural imaginary on the Third Reich's conception of foreign policy, investment in fanciful weaponry, and use of astrology, divination, clairvoyance, and telepathy in prosecuting the war. The Second World War was neither caused nor directed primarily by occult designs. However, many aspects of the war were influenced or determined by folklore, border science, and the broader Nazi supernatural imaginary. Rather than rely on a practical evaluation of risks and rewards, Hitler frequently tapped into his own intuition in making foreign-policy decisions and appealed to the German people's collective unconscious in selling his aggressive policies. Abetting Hitler's faith-based foreign policy, the Propaganda Ministry and Foreign Office employed professional astrologers and diviners to produce wartime propaganda aimed at both the Allies and the German public. Finally, the Third Reich utilized occultism and border science to gather military intelligence, search for enemy battleships, and train Nazi soldiers.

(Nie)udany projekt. Vidkun Quisling i paradoks norweskiego faszyzmu lat 30. i 40.

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2 (461)) ◽  
pp. 29-34
Author(s):  
Paweł M. Sobczak
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Third Reich ◽  
The Third ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Third Reich

The article discusses the history of the Nasjonal Samling party (founded in 1933) and its leader Vidkun Quisling – a military, politician and prime minister of the collaborative government of occupied Norway in 1942–1945. Currently, Norwegian fascism of the 1930s and 1940s does not serve as a popular exemplification of fascist ideology, although unlike many other European movements of this type, it managed to gain power in its own country. However, this happened only after Quisling entered into an alliance with Germany and the Third Reich attacked Norway. The history of Quisling and his party seems to prove the bankruptcy of his ideas, which never gained popularity in Norwegian society.

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