CONCEPTUL “SPAȚIU VITAL”: FRIEDRICH RATZEL, KARL HAUSHOFER, ADOLF HITLER
The concept of "living space": Friedrich Ratzel, Karl Haushofer, Adolf Hitler

Summary/Abstract: The concept of "living space" was one of the most important of the Nazi period. It was considered the main explication for Hitler starting the war. This concept was nevertheless not invented by the national-socialism. The first one who introduced it was Friedrich Ratzel, professor of Geography. His intentions was not to justify an agression, but to analize the differences between countries and people. The next scientist that was interested in this concept was Karl Haushofer. Althought he was Rudolf Hess's teacher he did not want to agree with Hitler way of using this theory. Because of that he became indesirable for the Nazi and ended up hanging himself. The Führer was the one to use the living space theory towards Eastern countries in order to explain the begining of World War II. Nevertheless there is a big difference between Ratzel and Haushofer on one hand and Hitler on the other. The professors wrote studies based on their researches unlike Hitler who wanted to leave the impression that his way of thinking was scientifically sustained.

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