How did Nazi ideas about Lebensraum influence German expansion during World War II?

The Nazi policy of Lebensraum, or "living space," served as a primary ideological driver for German expansionism during World War II. Rooted in social Darwinist concepts of national survival, the policy dictated that Germany required additional territory in Eastern Europe to achieve economic self-sufficiency and military security.12

Adolf Hitler utilized this doctrine to justify the aggressive conquest of Slavic nations, specifically targeting the agricultural resources of Ukraine and the raw materials of the Soviet Union. This expansionist vision was inherently racist; it categorized Slavic and Jewish populations as Untermenschen ("subhumans") and sought to depopulate these regions through forced relocation or mass famine to make room for German settlers.12

These ideas directly influenced the trajectory of the war:
* Invasion of Poland: The 1939 invasion was a foundational step in creating a "large economic unified space" (Grosswirtschaftsraum) under German control.2
* Operation Barbarossa: In June 1941, the pursuit of Lebensraum culminated in the massive invasion of the Soviet Union.1
* The Holocaust: The push for living space was inextricably linked to the systematic state-sponsored murder of millions, as the regime sought to eliminate those it deemed inferior to fulfill its vision of Aryan supremacy.1