(Interpretations) Do they support the view... (10 marks)
Example:
Do the interpretations support the view that Hitler’s main foreign policy aim was to conquer land to the east of Germany?
Interpretation one
The historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, writing in an article for an academic magazine in 1960. The article was called Hitler’s War Aims:
To the end Hitler maintained clear war aims. To him, from 1920 to 1945, the purpose of Nazism was always the same: it was to create an empire, to take the great area of Russia from the Russians. Even after defeat he did not try to deny it. The day before his death his last message said ‘the aim must still be to win territory in the East for the German people.’
Interpretation two
The historian Alan Taylor writing in his book, The Origins of the
Second World War, published in 1961:
Hitler wanted to free Germany from the restrictions of the Versailles Peace Treaty; to restore the German army and then to make Germany the greatest power in Europe which she naturally was. Maybe his ambitions were only to take land in the East. Maybe he would have taken Western Europe after that. However, no one can tell.
Tips:
You need to take a look at what the two interpretations are saying, and also importantly who is saying it. A structure you may look to follow is:
first talk about what the first interpretation is saying
then look at who is writing it and for what audience
now look at what the second interpretation is saying
then look at who wrote this interpretation
Finally, make a judgement about how much the interpretations are supporting the view that Hitler’s main foreign policy aim was to conquer the East and achieve Lebensraum
Remember to make sure you talk about who wrote the sources and who they wrote too, and make sure that you reach a judgement on how much the interpretations support the statement.
