Aims Of Big 3 & LoN

Question 1

Aims of big 3?

Answer 1

France: Punish Germany harshly
Britain: Punish Germany reasonably to keep them as an ally.
USA: World peace. Economic recovery of Europe for trade. Strengthen democracy in Germany

Question 2

Why did France what to punish Germany harshly?

Answer 2

• During WW1, most of fighting done on French land
• Great destruction of French property.
• 4% of population killed or wounded
• Large parts of French industrial & agricultural areas destroyed
• 60% drop in industrial production

Hence,
- France wanted revenge on Germany
- Germany had large population of young men
- population of young men could start a future war
- France wanted to ensure Germany would never rise and attack them again by imposing a harsh treaty

Question 3

Why did Britain want to punish Germany reasonable only (wanted fair peace)

Answer 3

• Britain thought that Germany should be punished for its actions

BUT
- Germany used to be Britain’s 2nd largest trading partner before WW1
- A strong German econ would mean a strong Brit econ
- There was also a rising threat of communist Russia
- Britain wanted Germany as an ally against communism in Russia

Hence,
- Britain wanted Germany to not be completely weakened
- Because Britain hoped to continue trading with Germany
- Britain also wanted Germany to help them fight off communism

Question 4

Why did USA wanted Germany to recover and strengthen democracy in Germany?

Answer 4

Experience:
- USA entered WW1 late
- so USA did not suffer as much as France & Brit during WW1
- USA actually benefitted from the sale of weapons during WW1
- US Pres Woodrow Wilson never wanted to be involved in WW1
- USA only interested in issues of free trade

Hence,
- USA did not have revenge on their minds
- USA wanted to strengthen democracy in Germany
- so that Germans would not let its leaders start another war

Question 5

Military Terms of TOV and Its Effect on Germans

Answer 5

• Small army of 100 000 men
• no conscription
• Navy only 6 battleships, 24 smaller ships and 0 submarines
• No armoured vehicles, tanks or air force
• Allies occupied Rhineland next to Germany
• No German troops allowed to set up in Rhineland

Hence,
- German military weakened
- Germany vulnerable to external attacks.
- German military was a symbol of German pride
- Germans felt humiliated as their military was made so weak
- Germans felt it was unfair -> great unhappiness
- also No other country was made to disarm to such an extent

Question 6

Successes of LON?

Answer 6

1. 1921. Upper Silesia
         
         • Conflict between Poland and Germany over Upper Silesia.
         • LON oversaw a peaceful vote which divided Upoer Silesia into 2 between P & G
         • Manage to solve conflicts without going to war. YAY
2. 1925 Greece & Bulgaria
   - Greek soldiers killed on Greece’s border with Bulgaria
   - Bulgaria appealed to LoN for help
   - LON told both sides to stand down
   - Greece to withdraw & obeyed
   ——
   HENCE
   - Success conflict resolved w/o war

Question 7

1920. Vilna (Failures do LoN)

Answer 7

• Poland took control of Vilna
• Vilna appealed to LoN for help
• But Br & Fr who controlled LoN were did not help
• saw Poland as a potential ally against Germany
• LoN turned a blind eye
• Vilna invaded by Poland
  ——
  HENCE
• Unsuccessful as LoN picked and chose who they wanted to help
  Only helped if it benefitted them
• Failed objective. Did not manage to resolve all conflicts

Question 8

Lack of Involvement of Great Powers. (Failure of LoN)

Answer 8

• 3 biggest nations not in LoN
• USA policy of isolationism
• Russia communist
• Germany Involvement in WW1
  ——
  —— W/O USA ——
• Difficult to impose econ sanctions as USA would still sell to aggressor countries
• No military backing from USA, which had one of the world’s most powerful militaries
  -> Hard to take strong military action against aggressors
• LoN had no army

Question 9

Post war attitudes (Failure of LoN)

Answer 9

• Br & Fr just came out of WW1
• Devastated by loses
• Most of fighting on French land- Fr 4% of population wounded or killed
• Still recovering
• Scared to start another war by taking military action against aggressors
  ——
• Hesitant to impose econ sanctions on aggressors
  -> Would damage own econ
• Reluctant to stop trading w/ aggressors
  ——
  HENCE,
• LoN more concerned w/ protecting own interest
• Lack of action against aggressors
• LoN not taken seriously
• Did not fulfil objective

Question 10

Social Improvement (Success of LoN)

Answer 10

• Improved lives & jobs of ppl
  -> Took action to improve ppl’s health & welfare
  -> Encourage ppl to start businesses, econ growth
  ——
  Egs :
• returned 400 000 POWs home from WW1
• Actively killed mosquitoes to reduce malaria
• Sent econ experts to Austria & Hungary
  -> established International Labour Organisation
  ——
  HENCE
• Improved