If No Nazis, How Far Would Germany Go?

I assume that Germany would inevitably become revanchist even without the rise of the Nazi party, but I wonder how far they would go with their revanchism. Would there still be an Anschluss? Would Germany invade Czechoslovakia and annex the Sudetenland? Etc.

Furthermore, of greater interest is, can Germany keep any territories they take?
 

Deleted member 1487

I assume that Germany would inevitably become revanchist even without the rise of the Nazi party, but I wonder how far they would go with their revanchism. Would there still be an Anschluss? Would Germany invade Czechoslovakia and annex the Sudetenland? Etc.

Furthermore, of greater interest is, can Germany keep any territories they take?

No, the German elite, who I assume would be in power, were generally Prussian and did not want more Catholic southerners in their country competing against them for political influence, especially as there was a large communist working class in Austria. Likely no Anschluss or Czechoslovak move. The Prussians just wanted revanche against Poland and the end of restrictions on Germany (no military restrictions, recover Saarland, no reparations, and no demilitarized Rheinland). Hitler was a radical departure of the pre-Nazi politicians. He normalized relations with Poland and opened trade, worked with Britain rather than thinking of them as a long term foe, agree to British terms as far as the navy went, cut off trade/relations with the USSR, and worked within the international order to get his way.

The traditional German elite would likely not get nearly as far because no one trusted them internationally, while Hitler, who was radical, actually pushed peace early on and made it seem like he was just using rhetoric to get in power (except on Jewish and communist issues which the British liked), especially when dropping the socialist elements in his coalition and their policies. I think likely a traditional German governing coalition would be FAR more cautious internationally because they had to be and wouldn't rearm as much. Depending on who is actually in power they may never try to go to war at all and really end up working with Stalin a lot, which means a more hostile Britain and perhaps a somewhat less hostile France. Austria and Czechoslovakia may be neutralized in fact.
 
Top