Lebensraum

American  

[ley-buhns-roum, -buhnz-] / ˈleɪ bənsˌraʊm, -bənz- /

noun

(often lowercase)

1. additional territory considered by a nation, especially Nazi Germany, to be necessary for national survival or for the expansion of trade.

2. any additional space needed in order to act, function, etc.

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Lebensraum British  

/ ˈleɪbənzˌraʊm /

noun

1. territory claimed by a nation or state on the grounds that it is necessary for survival or growth

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Etymology

Origin of Lebensraum

1900–05; < German: living space

Explanation

Lebensraum is the land or territory that a country's leaders believe it requires in order to grow and flourish. The word lebensraum has almost always been used to talk about Germany's strategy in World War II. Lebensraum was used early in the twentieth century by Germans explaining a plan to colonize other countries, but the word is most strongly associated with Nazi Germany. The Nazis used the idea of Lebensraum, literally "living space" in German, as the basis of their policy for the Germany's expansion. Lebensraum was the excuse for the invasion of Poland and the desire to occupy Russia, the the goal of using resources from those countries to benefit Germans and Germany.

Example Sentences

Poland was a prime target of the Nazis as they looked for Lebensraum.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Discussions of Putin frequently led back to Hitler and Stalin; talk of Russia’s military aggression beyond its borders conjured German Lebensraum.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2022

Hitler spoke of Lebensraum, the “living space” for his people to be acquired by conquest; Mussolini spoke of spazio vitale, which meant the same thing.

From Washington Post • Dec. 31, 2020

Hitler, in his obsessive pursuit of Lebensraum, had his troops invade Russia in summer uniforms expecting a swift victory, but they were swallowed up in the vastness of the Russian steppes and another cruel winter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2018

Hitler suggests a future foreign policy for Germany which would assure Lebensraum and domination of the European continent.

From Readings on Fascism and National Socialism Selected by members of the department of philosophy, University of Colorado by Various