AboutTom Expertise While it is a huge topic, I am well-versed in World War II generally. There is a huge wealth of information available on the internet, HOWEVER, one has to know the trash from the gems. Many sites which are not obviously credible (govt, university, and museum sites, for ex.), provide erroneous information (intentionally or otherwise).
Experience BA in history, and been reading and studying WW2 as my 'hobby' for 30 years. Regular contributor to several online forums in military history, WW2, and related areas and topics.
Organizations None relevant to this topic.
Education/Credentials BA, History (Secondary Education), with minor in Geography
US Army Engineer Officer (Officer Basic and Advanced Courses)
Expert: Tom Date: 2/22/2008 Subject: Naz Foreign Policy
Question What were the aims and strategies of Nazi Germany's Foreign Policy?
Answer This question is enormous in depth and scope, and really is far beyond a site like this to answer, as depending on the need and intent of your question, it could literally involve enormous research and analysis. Literally - not figuratively - there are scores of books in many languages (esp. German and English) over the past decades touching on this topic. It truly is enormous, so I am at a loss how to answer from a 'free site'.
The simple answer - to support Hitler's Nazi aims of a Third Reich (a new German empire, or modern new Holy Roman Empire of sorts). Foriegn policy of the nazi state sought to carve out "Lebensraum" (Living Space) primarily in the east (Poland-Ukraine), and to gather up all the "Aryans" or Germanic peoples together under one Reich (state), ruled by Hitler (Nazis), in a new world order. To that end, it sought to put doubt in potential enemies (UK, France, USSR, Poland, and in the mid-1930s, even Italy) about Germany's intentions, and its potential aims.
By the late 1930s, much had changed, with Hitler solidly in power, the Versailles treaty renounced, foriegn enemies trying hard to avoid war, and ethnic Germans from surrounding countries actively seeking to join Germany (Danzig, Austria, Sudetenland). You may read (or be aware already) about Hitler's moves to regain control over the Saar, then the Rhineland, and then the union with Austria that in theory the western allies would 'never' permit. When fall 1938 came about, Hitler pressed for the union of largely German Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and won it through bluster and bluff.
Strategies were a combination of normal diplomacy, with a heavy dose of espionage, deceit, pragmatism, and duplicity. Hitler made a pact with his devil when he signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR - a shocking development to all the world, as the two political systems seemed headed to a showdown. The secret protocols divided up eastern europe between the USSR and Germany (Poland, Baltic states, Finland, Romania).
I hope this helps. This truly is very broad, and can EASILY be extremely detailed area - a focus on Hitler's foriegn policy and dealings with Spain, or South America or Japan, for ex. are the subject of books - and those are "minor" compared to his policies regarding the US or USSR. I would note that there are so many good sites out there with information that I won't even bother to direct you. If you need more info, more detail, it is out there. If you need more focus, that too can be found.
