注意：此題目原是DSE歷屆試題，但為免侵犯版權，題目經過修改，同學可以按試題之年份及題號自行查閱原題目。以下內容乃K.W.Ho之補習教材，於課堂教授，內容乃配合K.W.Ho之答題方法及風格所製作，同時內容可能有錯誤之處以供在課堂上糾正。非補習學生在未有得到課堂教學的情況下錯誤使用，恕不負責，同學請敬請留意。
【Free】6000頁筆記及60份5**考卷免費使用：按此
Youtube教學：按此
_________________________________________________________________________
原題目題號：DSE-2014-Essay-04
你是否同意1930年代的德國較第一次世界大戰前的德國更具侵略性？試提出理據，支持你的看法。
定義「侵略性」指的是一種主動進攻的欲望，希望侵佔別國的領土及資源，甚至迫害其他民族。 // 立場德國於一次大戰前及1930年代均具侵略性，但仔細端詳，不難發現1930年代的德國遠較其於一次大戰前更具侵略性，故題目所言確能成立。 // 架構以下，將從擴軍、擴張、同盟、對集體安全體系的破壞及民族主義方面比較。
主旨句 其一，德國在1930年代的擴軍遠較其在一次大戰前更具侵略性。 // 項目B 德國在一次大戰前雖然大肆擴軍，包括在陸軍方面擴至1914年可動員人數達450萬人；在海軍方面擴建無畏艦，由1910年的5艘增建至1914年的22艘。但一次大戰前的德國的擴張並未有受任何公約所約束，因此具有擴軍的自主權。 // 項目A 然而，至1930年代，當時德國的軍隊數目被《凡爾賽條約》所約束至10萬人，並且限制擴建海軍及空軍。但德國卻於1935年撕毀條約，重新實行徵兵制，並且建造海軍及空軍，明目張膽破壞了條約精神，及後於1936年再次公然違反《羅加諾條約》，重新將萊茵河區軍事化，此等均反映德國的擴軍行動極具侵略性。 // 對比(~20%) 相比之下，就國際規範而言，一次大戰前儘管德國有擴軍的行動，但未有違反任何公約，但1930年代的德國則多次打破條約規定而擴軍，故1930年代的德國的確較其在一次大戰前更具侵略性。
其二，德國於1930年代的擴張較其在一次大戰前更具侵略性。一次大戰前，德國的擴張集中於海外的殖民地地區，例如1905年及1911年兩次試圖與法國爭奪北非摩洛哥的利益。此時，德國沒有在歐洲進行直接的擴張，只是支持其盟國奧匈在巴爾幹擴張而已。然而，至1930年代時，德國積極並有計劃地在歐洲進行擴張，逐步侵略鄰國領土。其先於1938年強迫奧地利與之合併，又於同年要求取得居住了300萬日耳曼人的蘇台德區。及後，德國野心更盛，更將侵略進一步染指至非日耳曼人的地區，於1939年3月侵略捷克斯洛伐克，然後再於同年9月突襲波蘭，最終二次大戰亦都是在德國的一連串侵略下爆發。相比之下，就擴張的地點而言，德國於一次大戰前的擴張目標是海外殖民地，在當時帝國主義彌漫的情況底下，此乃強國的正常舉動，但至1930年代，德國侵略的地方是歐洲本土，嚴重破壞歐洲的勢力均衡，挑戰國際社會的底線，最終亦因其侵略而觸發二次大戰，可見1930年代的德國更具侵略性。
其三，德國於1930年代建立的同盟亦較其在一次大戰前的更具侵略性。於一次大戰前，德國締結的同盟是防守性的，前德國首相俾斯麥建立三國同盟(1882年)是為了防止法國及俄國攻擊，而盟約內容也是當盟國受到別國攻擊才會生效，因此並不具侵略性。然而，至1930年代，德國建立的同盟是以侵略為目標，例如1937年與意大利和日本簽訂的《柏林—羅馬—東京軸心》就是互相承認盟國在其所屬洲的行動，增加了各國侵略的野心。及後，德國更於1939年與意大利簽訂了《鋼鐵條約》，規定簽署國的其中一方處於戰爭狀態時，不論該方是主動發動戰爭或者受到別國攻擊，另一方也需要提供援助，反映此盟約極具侵略性，已並非三國同盟般受到攻擊才需要援助。相比之下，就性質而言，德國於一次大戰前的同盟是防守性的，以保護國家安全為目標，但1930年代德國所建立的同盟則是侵略性的，以侵略為目標，可見1930年代的德國實較其於一次大戰前更具侵略性。
其四，德國於1930年代對於集體安全體系的破壞也較一次大戰前更具侵略性。一次大戰前，雖然德國的不合作態度削弱了集體安全體系的成效，例如於1907年第二次海牙會議中，德國拒絕裁減海軍，使會議未能達致實質性的裁軍。但此時期，德國仍然會參與及遵守國際的維和秩序。然而，至1930年代，德國屢屢破壞集體安全，例如於1933年退出日內瓦會議，使會議夭折。同年，其又退出國聯，拒絕再與國際社會合作以維持和平。更甚，德國多次違犯了國際公約，例如其於1936年違犯《羅加諾公約》的規定，重新將萊茵河區軍事化；又於1939年違犯《凱格—白里安條約》中以非戰爭方式作為國家政策的精神，侵略捷克及波蘭等地，肆意踐踏和平條約，破壞集體安全體系。相比之下，就參與度而言，德國於一次大戰前仍然會參與集體安全體系的運作，但其於1930年代不但未有參與，更屢屢破壞集體安全體系，無視國際公約，由此可反映1930年代的德國更具侵略性。
其五，1930年代的德國民族主義也較其於一次大戰前的更具侵略性。一次大戰前，德國的民族主義是擴張性的，例如支持有1/3是日耳曼人的奧匈於巴爾幹擴張，以擴張日耳曼民族的勢力。同時，德國的民族主義也具排他性，認為猶太人是社會的掠食者，排斥猶太人。然而，1930年代德國的民族主義更具侵略性。在擴張性方面，由於希特拉認為日耳曼民族是最優越的民族，理應統治世界，故積極擴軍及發動侵略。此外，在排他性方面，由於希特拉的納粹主義提倡極端的反猶太主義，使猶太人不斷受到迫害，例如猶太人的公民資格及權利於1935年通過的《紐倫堡法規》中受到剝奪。往後，又不斷迫害及囚禁猶太人，使猶太人受到非人道對待。相對之下，就偏激程度而言，儘管兩時期的德國民族主義均有擴張性及排他性，但1930年代的德國在希特拉的領導下，民族主義已走向極度偏激，日後更大肆殘殺猶太人，使猶太人受到史無前例的迫害，可見1930年代的德國較一次大戰前更具侵略性。
總括而言，從擴軍、擴張、同盟、對集體安全體系的破壞及民族主義方面可反映1930年代的德國遠較一次大戰前的更具侵略性。更甚，由於1930年代的德國極具侵略性，其肆意擴張，破壞和平，最終使二次大戰在德國的侵略下變得無可避免。
Do you agree that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than it was before the First World War? Justify your view.
The word ‘aggressive’ refers to the desire to initiate invasion, getting the territories and resources of other countries, and even suppressed other nations. Germany was aggressive in both before WW1 and in the 1930s. However, the extent of German aggressiveness in the 1930s was more than that before WW1. Thus, the statement was valid. The stance would be analyzed in the aspects of military expansion, territorial expansion, alliances formed, damage to the collective security system and German nationalism.
Firstly, the military expansion showed that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than it was before the First World War. Germany greatly expanded her army before WW1. For instance, the size of mobilized army increased to 4.5 million soldiers in 1914; as for navy, Germany continued building dreadnoughts無畏艦 which the number rose from 5 in 1910 to 22 in 1914. But as German expansion was not restricted by any treaties, she had the autonomy to expand militarily. However, as in the 1930s, the number of soldiers was restricted to 100 thousands according to the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty also restricted her expansion of navy and air force. In 1935, Germany destroyed the treaty and reintroduced conscription徵兵制. Worse still, she reorganized army and navy which destroyed the treaty in an obvious way. Later in 1936, she openly violated the Locarno Treaties羅加諾條約 such as the remilitarization of Rhineland萊茵河區. Such actions implied that German military expansion was extremely aggressive. In comparison, in terms of international regulations, although Germany did expand its army before WW1, it did not violate any treaty. However, in the 1930s, Germany violated numerous treaties and expanded militarily. Therefore, Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than she was before WW1.
Secondly, expansion of Germany in the 1930s was more aggressive than she was before WW1. Before WW1, the expansion of Germany mainly focused on overseas colonies. For instance, she tried to fight against France and get the benefits of Morocco摩洛哥in North Africa (1905 and 1911). At that time, Germany did not directly expand into Europe. Instead, she just supported Austria-Hungary, which was her ally, to expand into the Balkan巴爾幹. However, in the 1930s, Germany actively planned and expanded in Europe. She gradually invaded the nearby countries. At first, she annexed Austria奧地利 in 1938, then demanded getting the Sudetenland蘇台德區 where lived 3 million Germans in the same year. After that, Germany was more aggressive and seized land where lived non-Germans. She invaded Czechoslovakia捷克斯洛伐克 in March 1939 and assaulted Poland波蘭 in September. Eventually, WW2 broke out with a series of invasions of Germany. In comparison, in terms of invasion targets. the targets of German expansion were mainly focused on overseas colonies before WW1. Under the influence of imperialism at that time, such act was normal for great powers. However, in the 1930s, Germany targeted on European countries and this greatly damaged the balance of power in Europe. She challenged the bottom line of the international community and eventually led to the WW2 with her invasion. This showed that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s.
Thirdly, the alliances formed by Germany in the 1930s were more aggressive than those formed before WW1. Before WW1, the alliances formed by Germany were defensive in nature. German Prime Minister Bismarck俾斯麥 formed the Triple Alliance三國同盟(1882) in order to prevent France and Russia from attacking her. The clauses would valid only when the ally was being attacked by other countries and hence was not aggressive. However, in the 1930s, the alliances formed was aggressive in nature. For instance, Germany formed the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis柏林—羅馬—東京軸心 with Italy and Japan in 1937. They recognized each other’s’ military action in their respective continent and this greatly boosted their ambition. After that, Germany signed the Pact of Steel鋼鐵條約 with Italy in 1939. It demanded any side of the signees to provide assistance to each other when other was in war. The clause was valid no matter the signee was the one being attacked or started the attack. This implied that the treaty was aggressive in nature and was unlike the Triple Alliance that clauses would be valid only when she was being attacked. In comparison, in terms of nature, the alliances formed before WW1 was defensive in nature. The goal of such liaison was to protect the national safety. However, in the 1930s, alliances formed with Germany were aggressive in nature which targeted on invasion. This showed that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than she was before WW1.
Fourthly, damage to the collective security system in the 1930s reflected that Germany was more aggressive at that time than before WW1. Before WW1, the uncooperative attitude of Germany hindered the effectiveness of collective security. For instance, in the Second Hague Conference第二次海牙會議 held in 1907, Germany refused to reduce her navy size and this led to the failure of conference in reaching concrete disarmament. However, Germany still participated and followed the peace agreement. In contrast, in the 1930s, Germany numerously damaged the collective security system. For instance, she quitted the Geneva Conference日內瓦會議 in 1933 and led to its failure. In the same year, she quitted the League of Nations and refused to maintain peace by cooperating with the international community. Worse still, Germany numerously infringed the international treaties. For example, Germany violated the regulations in the Locarno Treaties羅加諾公約 in 1936 and remilitarized Rhineland萊茵河區; she also violated the Kellogg-Briand Pact凱格—白里安條約 in 1939 which denounced the use of war as the national policy. Germany invaded places like Czechoslovakia捷克 and Poland波蘭 which arbitrarily violated peace treaties and destroyed the collective security system. In comparison, in terms of participation, Germany still participated in the collective security system before WW1. However, in the 1930s, not only did she refused to participate in the peace-keeping work, she destroyed the collective security system continuously. Worse still, she ignored the international treaties. These reflected that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s.
Fifthly, the German nationalism in the 1930s was more aggressive than it was before WW1. Before WW1, German nationalism was expansive in nature擴張性. For instance, Germany encouraged Austria-Hungary, where lived 1/3 Germans, to expand to the Balkans巴爾幹 so as to increase the influence of Germans. At the same time, German nationalism was exclusive in nature排他性. They thought that the Jews猶太人 were exploiting the resources of society and boycotted them. However, the German nationalism was even more aggressive in the 1930s. In terms of expansion, as Hitler thought that the Germanic people was the most superior of all. He also believed that Germans should rule the world, and hence, he actively expanded the army and initiated invasions. Apart from that, in terms of exclusivity, Hitler advocated extreme Antisemitism. Jews were being exploited continuously. For instance, the citizenship and rights of Jews were taken away after the passing of Nuremberg Laws紐倫堡法規 in 1935. After that, Jews were treated in an inhumane way as they were being suppressed and imprisoned. In comparison, in terms of ferocity, the German nationalism were expansive and exclusive in nature. However, under the ruling of Hitler in the 1930s, nationalism was very extreme. Jews were being slaughtered in the later stage and they were being suppressed in an unprecedented way. This showed that Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than she was before WW1.
To sum up, Germany was more aggressive in the 1930s than she was before WW1 as reflected in the military expansion, territorial expansion, alliances formed, damage to the collective security system and German nationalism. Worse still, Germany was very aggressive in the 1930s as she expanded arbitrary and destroyed peace. Eventually, German invasion made WW2 became inevitable.
Comments