Final answer:
Germany's leadership felt justified in not worrying about the anxieties of other powers due to a combination of perceived threat of encirclement, confidence in its military capabilities, and the policy of appeasement by Britain and France. The German expansion was seen as a right to assert itself as a major power based on ideologies promoted by military figures like General Friedrich von Bernhardi. Appeasement and relative inaction by other powers further emboldened Germany's aggressive postures.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the lead up to both World War I and World War II, Germany did not significantly worry about other powers feeling threatened for various strategic and ideological reasons. Firstly, the German leadership felt encircled by hostile powers such as France and Russia, which justified their aggressive stances. This sense of encirclement, referred to as einkreisung, and the desire to break out of it led to a militaristic and expansionist ideology. Additionally, German expansion was rationalized by comparing it to the imperial practices of other European powers.
By 1938, under Hitler's rule, Germany had grown confident in its military capabilities, believing they could sustain a war, and adopted a policy of expansionism through aggressive actions that went unchallenged due to appeasement policies from Britain and France. This policy of appeasement, due in part to fear of communism from the Soviet Union and concerns over military preparedness, allowed Germany to annex territories without immediate reprisal. Finally, Germany's leadership, especially figures like General Friedrich von Bernhardi, believed strongly in Germany's right to become a major power and to defend its position in Europe and the world, arguing that this was essential for the nation's survival and growth.