Appeasement and avoiding war, 1936-39

Question 1

Which two policies were largely used by Britain on the outset of the 1930s as as way of avoiding conflict with other powers?

Answer 1

Apeasement and collective security.

Question 2

Which four main crisis’ was appeasement used to try and resolve?

Answer 2

The Manchurian Crisis (1931-32), The Abyssinian Crisis (1935), The rising threat of Nazi Germany (1935 onwards), The Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Question 3

Why was public opinion initially for appeasement?

Answer 3

Memories of WWI were still persistent; Britain was also generally perceived to be unable to fight another major war at this time. Dominions were also determined to not be dragged into another british war.

Question 4

Who was head of the British union of Fascists?

Answer 4

Oswald Mosley

Question 5

When did public opinion begin to turn against fascism?

Answer 5

After Kristallnacht and Hitler revealing his expansionist intentions by invading Czechoslovakia.

Question 6

Name the three key times british used appeasement to resolve hostilities with Germany.

Answer 6

Rearmament (1934 onwards), Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935), remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936).

Question 7

In the Spanish Civil War name the two main groups that supported the nationalists, and the two main groups that supported the Republicans.

Answer 7

Nationalists: Fascist Italy and Germany. Republicans: Soviet Union and left wing intellectuals.

Question 8

What did Britain work to establish, rather than participate in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 8

The Non-intervention committee

Question 9

What was the main reason for the defeat of the spanish republicans in the civil war?

Answer 9

The refusal of Britain to support them as well as its preventing the French from supplying the republicans fearing the gibraltar would be threatened by mussolini.

Question 10

What formalised the drawing together of Italy and Germany in 1939? And what extended this to include Japan in 1940?

Answer 10

The Pact of steel, the tripartite act.

Question 11

Were intelligence reports on the German military collated in 1938 accurate and why?

Answer 11

No. the massively overestimated the strength of the german military instilling more fear into the british government and the belief that vital time was needed to rearm.

Question 12

What year was the Sino-Japanese War?

Answer 12

1937

Question 13

Why did Chamberlain refuse to sanction an alliance with the U.S even after the Sino-Japanese war?

Answer 13

As he believed that they could not be trusted; was suspicious of their motives.

Question 14

1938 saw on italian and two major german challenges to the Treaty of Versailles. Name them.

Answer 14

Italian: The Easter Agreement (April 1938) German: Sudetenland Crisis (April-September 1938), Anschluss with Austria (march 1938).

Question 15

What was the Sudetenland Crisis of 1938?

Answer 15

Hitler wanted germans in Sudetenland reunited with the reich; Britain ultimately conceded to Hitler’s demands.

Question 16

What was the Munich Agreement (September 1938) and the context behind it?

Answer 16

In september Chamberlain met hitler three times and the final time was in Munich. He eventually agreed to all of Hitler’s demands but also made him sign an agreement promising not to go to war, which was largely herald as a success back in Britain.

Question 17

What repercussion did the Sudetenland crisis have for the French?

Answer 17

believed that they had to establish a more defensive policy to deter hitler from more aggressive actions. they looked to Britain more for support in this, wanting a greater british continental commitment.

Question 18

When did Germany occupy Czechoslovakia?

Answer 18

March 1939

Question 19

In 1939 which three actions did Britain undertake to try and build up its defence for an impending war?

Answer 19

I. Doubled the size of the territorial army II. introduced conscription. (march 1939) III. Air defence was increased

Question 20

What contributed to the resignation of foreign secretary Anthony Eden in 1938?

Answer 20

Chamberlain maintaining his sceptical stance against establishing and Anglo-American relationship

Question 21

What were the three main reasons that meant Chamberlain and Halifax remained reluctant to pursuing an Anglo-Soviet relationship?

Answer 21

1. conservatives were staunchly anti-communist 2. Poland and Romania were vehemently anti-communist and refused to let the soviets enter their territory for fear of betrayal. 3. british had a low opinion of soviet military capability after stalin’s great purges.

Question 22

Due to the British not wanting to pursue an Anglo-soviet relationship, what did Stalin do in retaliation in 1939?

Answer 22

signed the non-aggression pact with Germany; both countries promising not to go to war with one another.

Question 23

When did Britain declare war on Germany?

Answer 23

3rd September, 1939.