Resistance in Europe

Abstract

Hitler’s long-term plans for a‘New Order’ in Europe were based on his racial ideology. His intention was to purge Europe of ‘inferior’ races to provide living-space for those he deemed racially pure. He thought it fitting that this should be achieved by war and conquest, as he saw life as a continual struggle for superiority and the worthiness of any nation was shown by their ability to prevail. However, the short-term needs of the war came first. Thus, although policies towards European peoples were shaped by Nazi racial ideologies, policies towards European states were more pragmatic. While native fascist parties often proved useful tools for control of vital territories, there was no concerted effort to impose a fascist ideology or to nazify the satellites or conquered territories, except those absorbed into the Reich. Local fascists could sometimes become an embarrassment because of their excessive zeal, which could disrupt the stability of countries which were important to Germany as supply routes or for resources — an example would be the Ustashi in Croatia, whose brutal activities greatly strengthened the resistance movement.