
Murray Rothbard and World War II Origins
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Oct 30, 2025 Explore Murray Rothbard's compelling views on the origins of World War II. Discover how he critiques the notion of Hitler's master plan, interpreting him as a rational statesman aiming for traditional goals. Learn why the Anschluss and the Sudetenland crisis unfolded as they did, driven by regional dynamics and provocations. Rothbard underscores the dangers of hard-line foreign policies and promotes non-interventionism. His insights challenge the myth of just wars, urging a deeper understanding of the conflict's beginnings.
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No Predetermined Master Plan
- History doesn't follow a fixed master plan; actors react to events as they occur.
- Rothbard argues Hitler adapted to opportunities rather than executing a predetermined timetable for conquest.
Anschluss Began With A Broken Agreement
- The Anschluss followed a gentleman's agreement between Hitler and Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg.
- Schuschnigg later repudiated the agreement and precipitated the crisis that led to Anschluss.
Sudeten Crisis Fueled Locally
- The Sudeten crisis emerged from local German agitation and Czech provocation, not direct German orders.
- Munich allowed annexation and Czechoslovakia then disintegrated through regional pressures and opportunism.




