born Aug. 27, 1869, Munich, Bavaria
died March 13, 1946, Pähl, W.Ger.
German officer and leading proponent of geopolitics .
As an army officer in Japan (190810), he studied its expansionist policies in Asia and later wrote several books on Japan's role in 20th-century politics. After retiring from the army (1919), he founded the Journal for Geopolitics (1924) and taught at the University of Munich (192139). Haushofer's influence in military circles was considerable, and in World War II he attempted to justify Germany and Japan in their drives for world power. Investigated for war crimes after the war, he and his wife committed suicide.