Question

An anvil is a block with a hard surface on which another object is struck by a hammer . Hitler compares Germany to an anvil . What does he mean ?

A) Germany should remain neutral in the conflict.
B) Germany should be the primary aggressor and initiator of hostilities.
C) Germany should serve as a stable foundation for its allies to launch offensives from.
D) Germany should withdraw from the war entirely.

Answer 1

Hitler's comparison of Germany to an anvil suggests that he viewed the country as a resilient power capable of enduring and supporting aggressive warfare and expansion, ultimately initiating World War II with the invasion of Poland.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Hitler compares Germany to an anvil, he means that Germany should be like a strong, resilient base that can endure strikes and support forceful actions. In the context of his policies and actions leading up to World War II, this comparison implies that Germany was ready to sustain hostile actions and aggressive expansion, not remain passive or neutral. Germany, under Hitler's command, pushed the boundaries of the Treaty of Versailles and looked for opportunities to expand territorially, such as through the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland, eventually leading to the invasion of Poland which marked the beginning of WWII. Hitler's confidence that Germany could handle a full-scale war reinforces the metaphor of Germany being the robust anvil, capable of both withstanding punishment and being the foundation upon which war efforts would be launched.