Ch4 Outbreak of WWII in Europe Flashcards
Timelines to supplement these notes
When did the Peace Paris Conference take place?
1919
How did the worldwide economic depression happen?
- world trade boom
- USA provided loans stabilise Germany’s economy
- US stock market crashed
Why were international tensions low before 1929?
- economy flourshing
- League of Nations effective
When did the Great Depression occur?
1929
What are the 4 main effects of great depression?
- protectionism
- calling in loans
- rearmament
- radicalism
What is protectionism in the Great Depression? Which countries did this?
What is it?
- introducing tariffs protect own industry
- limit stop imports
- trade volume fall worldwide
which countries?
- Britian, France, USA
Calling in loans in G.D. -> Which countries participated in it?
Which countries did it
- USA (Call loans from Germany)
- Lead, collapse business
- Caused mass unemployment
Which countries participated in Rearmament during the Great Depression? Why did they do that?
Countries
- Britian
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
Why?
- create jobs
Which countries participated in Radicalism? What are their regimes called?
Germany
- Nazi Party
Italy
- More aggressive (fasicist)
When did Fasicism rise?
1930
Who was the leader of Italy, what were his ideals, and how did he use the Great Depression to fit his ideals?
Mussolini
- Want Italian Empire arnd North Africa
- Discussed alliance w/ Hitler
- Used Depression, opportunity, tighten grip on banks, industries
Overarching things that caused the collapse of European Peace
Authoritarian Regimes
Failures of LoN (1930)
- Failure, Disarmament
- Abyssnian Crisis
- Allowing Anchuluss, Austria, Remil. Rhineland
Policy, Appeasement
- Munich Agreement
Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
What is the Washington Naval Conference? When was it? Was it a success?
1921, success!
- Intiated by USA, not LoN
- Limit size, number of warships held by Britian, France, Japan, USA
- Ratio of Tonnange of Captial Ships set
USA:Britian:Japan:France:Italy
5 : 5 : 3 : 1.6 : 1.6
What is the Locarno Treaties? When was it, and was it successful?
1920s, partially successful
- Outside, LoN
- 7 countries inclu Britian, Czech, Germany
- Weimar govt. agree, settle any disputes w/ countries, thru League
- Germany accept Western borders, demilitarised Rhineland
What was the League Comission to prepare for World Disarmament Conference? Was it successful or failed?
Failed
- Britian, France refused to co-operate
What is the Kellogg-Briand Pact? Was it successful or failed?
- Outside of LoN, between 15 countries
- Agreement that force should not be used to settle disputes
- HOWEVER No clear way to enforce this pact.
What is the world disarmament conference? When was it held? What happened during the Conference?
1932
- tried to control offensive weapons, prohibit bombing of civilians, chemical walfare
- all countries cannot agree on what offensive/defensive weapons are
- all attempts to abolish planes capable of bombing, chemical warfare unsuccessful
- Individual countries raise their own particular issues
how did world disarmament conference end (talking about Germany)? was it a success or failure?
failure
- ToV should b fairer -> Germany (everyone)
- disarm, level of Germany, let Germany rearm
- Everyone hesitant, first option, France hesitant, second option
- France offered larger armed forces than Germany if Germany was allowed to rearm, or Britian, USA guarantee to fight with France
- disagreements continued, Germany accuse others of hypocrisy
- 1932 Germany put out proposal for all countries disarm down to it’s level
- Conference failed, agree on “equality”, Germany had enough
- walked out
Why did Disarmament Conference happen again at 1933 even after it broke up at 1932?
Recall: Broke up bcoz’ of disagreements n failure to agree on what is “equality”
- Adolf Hitler seemed interested to disarm
- behind the scenes League officials work with Germany + other major powers
What did Hitler do during the Disarmament Conference?
- Start rearmament plan
- said Germany wouldn’t rearm, other nations disarm in 5yrs
- Put pressure on France
Why did Mussolini want to invade Abyssnia?
- Bring back glory days of Roman Empire
- Friendship with Nazi Germany enboldened him to invade
- Revenge for humiliating defeat against Abyssnian tribesmen
How did Mussolini try to negotiate for Abyssnia?
1 Negotiate with the League for Abyssnia
2 Move forces into land next to Abyssnia
What was Mussolini’s first act of aggression against Abyssnia?
- claiming Wal-Wal Oasis from Abyssnia as there was a dispute over it
What were Hitler’s true intentions when attending the Conference?
Get justification to rearm Germany since other countries wouldn’t disarm
What is the Stresa Front? When was it signed?
Stresa Front, 1935
(just before Abyssnian Crisis)
Coalition -> Italy, Britian, France, oppose Germany’s intent to rearm
How did the British public react after realising that Mussolini wanted to negotiate for Abyssnia? What did the politicians do in response?
- Public outcry
Reaction
British Foreign Secetary: Made speech to League supporting rights of small nations, collective security
Why was Britian and France scared of upsetting Mussolini? What did they do?
- Potential ally against Hitler
- Don’t want Mussolini to ally w Hitler
what did they do
- blame neither side for Wal-Wal Incident
- Put forward plan to give Mussolini some parts of Abyssnia (rejected by Mussolini)
- Hoare-Laval Pact
What is the Hoare-Laval Pact? When was it discussed?
1935
- Secretly discussed Pact to give Mussolini 2/3 of Abyssnia to call off invasion
- Pact was leaked to French and British, felt it was treachery
- Hoare, Laval sacked, pact dropped
When did Mussolini invade Abyssnia? What was the outcome?
1935
Abyssnia lost
How did the League react to Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssnia?
Discuss sanctions
- League ban arms sales, all loans, export of rubbber, metals, all imports from Italy
- stop oil sales
Were the League’s sanctions towards Mussolini effective? Why?
not effective
- America increased supplies of oil to Italy
- Suez Canal still open to Italy’s supply ships
- Britian, France afraid of closing Canal
Why didn’t Britian and France close the Suez Canal?
- Scared that closing canal result in war w/ Italy
How many countries protested against Mussolini’s actions of invading Abyssnia?
6
When did Italy conquer Abyssnia? What happened to the Abyssnian Emperor?
- May 1936: Mussolini conquers Abyssnia
- Abyssnian Emperor went into exile
Why did the League lose credibility in Hitler and the public’s eyes through the Abyssnian Crisis?
- Failure to impose sancitons
- Leak of Hoare-Laval Pact
When was Anglo-German Naval Pact signed? What was it for?
1935
- Allow Germany to build small-size navy (against ToV)
When did German troops remilitarize the Rhineland by marching into it?
March 1936
When did Italy and Germany sign alliance agreement? What was it called?
Rome-Berlin Axis Agreement
Nov. 1936
Hitler’s 3 main things he wants to do for his country
- massive rearmament programme
- state control, industry, state investment, projects
- getting rid of ToV, reclaim territories taken by it
Recap 2: 4 main things that Hitler wants to achieve for Germany
- Abolish ToV
- Get Living Space, create empire for Aryan Germans rule over other race
- Destroy communism
- Enfore militarism (rearmament e.g.)
What did Germany do in 1933 that signaled aggression?
Leaving LoN (Rearmament also, that’s in another flashcard)
- German people voted in favour of leaving (1933 Refrendum)
- Hitler withdrew Germany from LoN on basis of it being treated unfairly (esp on rearmament)
What did Germany’s leaving of the LoN do to LoN?
LoN’s authority undermined
What period of time did Germany rearm? What did it signalise?
1933-1935
Germany’s growing aggression
How did Germany’s rearmament affect LoN and other countries??
Undermined League’s Authority
Britian, France, USSR, Czech concerned about Germany’s rearmament
- Went against ToV
- Workers drafted into army to reduce unemployment in secret
- 1935: Hitler reveal Germany’s rearmament programme
- Held freedom to rearm rally
What did Hitler do in the disarmament conference, signalling aggression?
Disarmament Conference
- Hitler walked out (1934)
- he said Germany not treated equal
What did Germany do in 1935 signalling aggression? (besides revealing his secret rearmament plan to the world)
Saar Plebiscite
- Hitler claimed it should be part of Germany
- League forced Hitler to agree to plebiscite (vote)
- 90% voted join Germany
- Boost Hitler’s confidence
What did Germany do in 1936 March that signalised aggression?
- Remilitarization of Rhineland
- Spanish Civil War
- Anti-Comintern Pact
Details about the Remilitarisation of Rhineland
- ToV ban German forces from entering Rhineland
- France+USSR agreed on Treaty of Mutual Assistance (1936) (protect each other from Germany)
- Hitler claimed Germany encircled + right to place troops in Rhineland
- Ordered troops into Rhineland (Mar 1936)
why was the remilitarisation of Rhineland a gamble?
- Germany army not strong enf. to stand against French
- Hitler would’ve lost prestige, support, humilated if French had moved troops in
What was the global response to Remilitarisation of Rhineland? Why?
How did it enbolden Hitler?
- League condemned Hitler, no action taken
why
- Britian, France, LoN preoccupied w/ Abyssnian Crisis
- British did not guarantee support to France if it challenged Hitler
enbolden
- more prestige, confidence
What is the Spanish Civil War? How did it enbolden Hitler?
- Civil war (Republicans v. Nationalists)
- Nationalist leader had similar views to Hitler, Mussolini
- Helped General Franco with troops
- Hitler test out Luftwaffe (Army+Air Force)
enbolden
- German Air Force bombed Republican strongholds -> casualties
- Britian, France stayed out
- Hitler believed Britian, France not ready for war
What did the Spanish Civil War do to USSR’s attitude of France+ Britian?
Increasing suspicion
- Due to their reluctance to oppose Hitler + Mussolini
Why did Germany sign Anti-Comintern Pact? When did they sign it?
1936
- Japan expand aggressively, Asia
- eye2eye
- signed Anti-Comintern Pact, oppose Communist International (Comitern)
- Agree not to sign, treaties w/ USSR
What is the Communist International? What is its alternative name?
Alt. Name: Comitern
- Set up by USSR
- Spread communism by encouraging uprising all arnd world
When did the Axis Alliance Form? How did it form?
1937
- When Italy sign Anti-Comintern Pact
1937 alliance between G, I, J was called…
Axis Alliance
Germany, Italy, Japan
4 Factors affecting Britian and France’s decision making in 1930s
- US isolationism
- Sympathy for Germany
- National interest
- Misjudgment of Hitler
What is US isolationism? How long did it last? How did this impact Britian and France’s decision making?
1920s-1930s
- US not getting involved in European affairs
- loss of lives during WW1 triggered this
- Help from USA against Hitler not an option
Why did people in Britian+France have Sympathy on Germany?
- ToV -> Sympathy, Criticism
- felt it was fair for Hitler to argue for rearmament when other countries refused to disarm
- Little backlash when Hitler reclaim Saar, rearm Rhineland
How did Britian prioritise their own interest? What are two examples of action that national interests took over instead of stopping Hitler?
- Britian more worried abt. USSR
- saw Germany as useful barrier against Stalin’s Soviet Union
action where national interest took over
- sign Anglo-German Naval Agreement w/ Germany
- British refuse to ally w/ France against Hitler (not their top priority)
when was anglo-german Naval Agreement signed and what are details of it?
1935
- allow Germany build Navy 35% size of its own
- went against ToV
How did France prioritise their own interest? What is one example of an action that national interests took over instead of stopping Hitler?
- more worried abt Hitler than Stalin
- Germany share border w/ France
national interest take over!
- France ally w/ USSR instead against Germany
- Hitler make this excuse to remilitarise
- British feel sympathy for Hitler, allow them to remilitarise
how did politicians misjudge Hitler?
- British, French underestimated impact of Hitler’s ideology
in 1937, what did Chamberlain do to face Hitler?
Neville Chamberlain
- appeasement
- authorised massive spending on rearmament
- recognise Britian, France has to work tgt
Why did Hitler target Anchluss with Austria? What year did he do it?
1938
- Reunite Germans of Austria w/ Germany
- Austria a great power b4 WW1
What challenges did Anchluss face? Why was Anchluss sucessful anyway?
challenges
- ToV banned this
reasons for succeeding
- Many Austrians keen to be part of new successful Germany
- strong Nazi party in Austria encouraged by Hitler to create disorder
- Hitler tried to persuade Austria Chancellor that peace can be restored if German troops moved in
- Though Austria Chancellor asked for help from Britian and France, they did nothing
- Hitler marched troops into Austria
- Voter intimidation and fraud caused 99.75% of Austrians to approve of Anchluss
Hitler’s tactic to gain territory with no war
- Ask Nazis to stir up trouble
- Demand leader of country to hand over country/allow German troops to march in on the basis of protecting the majority Germans and the people
- Claim the land
why did Britian and France do nothing to stop Anchluss?
- Both found it hard to deal w/ politican who didn’t care about international diplomacy, underestimated him
- Britian symphatised with Germany
CANNOT WRITE ABYSSNIAN CRISIS
Abyssnian Crisis -> 1934-1936
Anchluss -> 1938
what did Anchluss cause for Germany?
- enboldened -> Britian Foreign Secretary told Hitler Britian wont oppose
- absorbed Austria’s population, rescources, industry, reserves of gold
how did Hitler attempt to take Czechoslovakia?
- encourage Nazi to stir up trouble in Sudentenland, demand them join Germany
- 1938: Hitler claimed to protect Sudenten Germans
- threaten to invade Czechoslovakia if they do not hand it over
Hitler’s tactic to gain territory with no war
- Ask Nazis to stir up trouble
- Demand leader of country to hand over country/allow German troops to march in on the basis of protecting the majority Germans and the people
- Claim the land
why did Hitler want Czechoslovakia?
- large population of Germans
- small, active party of Nazis there
how was the situation like in 1938 at Czech?
Mid-Sept: everyone expecting war
neither Hitler nor Benes back down
Benes is Czechoslovakia’s leader
timeline of munich agreement
15 Sept: Chamberlain meet Hitler after moderates his demand
19 Sept: Britian, France convince Czechoslovakia surrender Sudentenland majority Germans
22 Sept: Hitler suddenly increase his demands
29 Sept: Four Power summit (BFIG), gave in Hitler’s demands
30 Sept: Chamberlain + Hitler joint declaration
Chamberlain meet Hitler after he moderates his demands
- when was this?
- what happened?
when
15 Sept (1938)
what
- Chamberlain met Hitler in Germany
- Hitler said he only wanted parts of Sudentenland with majority Germans
- Chamberlain convinced Hitler will be satisfied
Britian, France convince Czechoslovakia to surrender Sudentenland with majority Germans
- when was it?
when
19 Sept
Hitler suddenly increase his demands
- when was it
- what happened
22 Sept (1938)
what
- Hitler wanted whole of Sudentenland
- claimed to “rescue” Sudenten Germans from poor Czech govt.
- Chamberlain told Hitler it was unreasonable
Four Power summit (BFIG), gave in to Hitler’s demands
- when
- what happen
when
29 Sept (1938)
what happen
- BF give in to Hitler’s demands without consulting Czechoslovakia/USSR
- Munich Agreement: Hitler pledge for peace, they give whole Sudentenland
Chamberlain + Hitler joint declaration
- when
- what happened
when
30 Sept (1938)
what happened
- publish declaration that Munich agreeement wld bring “peace for our time”
Reactions to Munich Agreement
- majority cheering, happy
- British Media presented Agreement positively
- polls in 1938 showed majority of British did not think Appeasement will stop Hitler
when did Hitler move his forces into Sudentenland? How did he justify it?
1938 October
- claimed it was the end of his demands
when did German troops take over the rest of Czechoslovakia? How did Chamberlain react?
1939
Chamberlain felt it was step too far
- Czechs not separated from homeland by ToV
- Hitler continued unchecked = Poland will be invaded
what held Hitler back from invading Poland?
- though Polish forces cld be defeat easily
- USSR shared border w/ Poland
- USSR may oppose Germany, cause Britian, France join in two front war
how did Stalin’s actions in the 1930s show his concern towards Hitler?
(year)(action)
- 1934 join LoN against Hitler
- 1936 sign Mutual Assistance Pact w/ france
why did Stalin’s concern towards Hitler increased?
- Britian, France, League did not resist against Munich Agreement, Stalin not consulted
- Seemed like Britian and France allowing Hitler take over eastern Europe
When did Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact sign?
1939 August
what did Hitler, Stalin agree on in Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?
- dont attack each other
- Divide poland between themselves
Hitler and Stalin’s true motives in Nazi Soviet Non-agression pact
Hitler: Guarantee to invade Poland
Stalin: Decided British, French too weak to fight Hitler, buy time to get his forces ready to fight
why hitler interested in Poland?
- Polish Corridor, Danzig large population of Germans
- desire to build transportation line across Polish Corridor to East Prussia
What happened when Hitler tried to demand for Poland?
- Polish leaders rejected (fear of German invasion)
- tension escalate, negotiations broke down
- 1 Sept 1939: Invasion of Poland
- 3 Sept 1939: Britian, France declare war on Germany (WWII in Europe)
they feared an invasion and didn’t trust Hitler as before that he also used the same tactic with Czechoslovakia
When did WWII in Europe officially begin?
3 September 1939
1st Sept is when Hitler invaded Poland, not when WWII in Europe started. It only officially start when Britian, France declare war on Germany.
is remilitarisation of Rhineland expansionist?
no
- Rhineland originally part of Germany, however it is aggressive/failure of LoN
