Chapter 4: Outbreak of War in Europe

Question 1

What were the aims of the League of Nations? List 4.

Answer 1

Remove Causes of War (M.A.I.N)

(1) Disarmament to prevent (M) (militarism)
(2) Provide a place to resolve conflicts to prevent (A) (formation of Alliances)
(3) Use peacekeeping measures to prevent aggressor from (I) (Imperialism / Expansionism)
(4) Allow people to choose their own government to prevent (N) (Nationalism)

Question 2

What do we mean when we say that the League of Nations failed?

Answer 2

Failed to remove causes of war (M.A.I.N)

(1) Failed to get countries to disarm
(2) Failed to prevent countries from forming alliances
(3) Peacekeeping measures failed / collective security failed to stop aggressors
(4) Failed to allow people to choose their own government / people of the same group were separated and put in different countries

Question 3

The main purpose of the League of Nations was collective security. What is collective security?

Answer 3

Members of the LON coming together (collective) to keep peace (security) by stopping aggressors using peacekeeping measures

Question 4

Germans were not allowed national self-determination (form their own state and choose their own government) as a result of TOV.

What happened to many Germans as a result of this. Provide 2 examples.

Answer 4

(1) There were Germans in the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia.
(2) Many Germans were forced to live in Poland because of the loss of Polish Corridor.
(3) Germany was divided with 12.5% of its population in other countries.

Question 5

What words are associated with the content concept of ‘Outbreak of War’.

List as many as you can.

Answer 5

(1) Increase aggressiveness
(2) Increase tensions
(3) Increase size of military / armed forces / military strength to wage war (militarism)
(4) Increase invasions by aggressors = capture more territories = more resources to wage war
(5) Increasingly view Britain and France as weak - therefore, Increase confidence to wage war

Question 6

The League of Nations failed to get countries in Europe to disarm. The failure of LON’s World Disarmament Conference (1932-34) led to WWII because Hitler started to increase the military strength of Germany, his increased aggressiveness led to increase tensions with countries in Europe.

Why did the World Disarmament Conference fail? Provide 2 reasons.

Answer 6

(1) Germany demanded Britain and France to have equal military strength with Germany or it will leave the LON
(2) France refused to limit their own armaments
(3) Britain not prepared to guarantee France’s security if France limit its armaments
(4) Hitler withdrew from both the conference and the LON

Question 7

The LON failed to stop aggressors with their peacekeeping measures and collective security. This led to WWII because aggressors became increasingly more aggressive, increased their invasion of other countries and increasingly more confident to wage war.

What peacekeeping measures were used to stop Mussolini when he invaded Abyssinia and failed?

Answer 7

(1) LON imposed ban on arms sales, loans and exports of rubber, tin and metals to Italy while allowing arms to be sold to Abyssinia.
(2) Although they ban sale of oil to Italy, this was delayed.

In 1936, sanctions against Italy were abandoned.

Question 8

Why did collective security (Countries coming together to stop Mussolini) failed in the case study of Abyssinia?

Provide 2 reasons.

Answer 8

(1) Britain & France, who owned the Suez Canal, did not close it to Italian ships. Italy continued to ship war supplies to Abyssinia.
(2) France and Britain negotiated with Italy and made a secret deal to offer half of Abyssinia if Italy stop - Hoare-Laval Pact. Almost immediately details were leaked to the press, causing a public outcry. The plan was abandoned.
(3) Countries who were not members of the LON such as USA and Germany continued to trade with Italy.

Question 9

Define Appeasement.

Answer 9

The policy of negotiating or giving in to aggressors’ (Hitler) demands to avoid war.
A policy adopted by Britain and France in the 1930s

Question 10

Hitler’s policy was aggressive expansionism. What was included in his expansionist policy?

Provide 3 examples.

Answer 10

(1) Lebensraum (Living space)
To expand to exercise its superiority

(2) Annexation
To take over or annex other countries and incorporate that territory into their nation

(3) Militarization
To expand, Hitler prioritized the build-up of his size of his military

(4) Aggressive
Only sign treaties/agreement that will help Hitler win the war

Question 11

Hitler’s mililtarisation of Germany from 1934 led to WWII because it gave him increased military strength and confidence to wage war.

What did Hitler do from 1934-36 to militarise Germany? Provide 2 examples.

Answer 11

(1) From 1933 to 1934, Nazis stepped up their secret rearmament and conscription program
(2) By 1935, Germany possessed a 2500 plane Luftwaffe and 300, 000 strong army. There were plans for the army to be expanded to 500, 000.
(3) 1936: Germans spent a great amount on military production

Question 12

In 1935, Britain & France failed to take action to stop Hitler from rearmament & instead allowed Hitler to rearm through the Anglo-German Naval Treaty. This led to WWII because Hitler had a larger navy, military strength and confidence to wage war.

What was the Anglo-German Naval Treaty?

Answer 12

Britain and France allowed German naval rearmament up to 35% of British strength.

Question 13

Why did Britain and France not stop Hitler from rearming Germany?

Answer 13

Britain and France were still in a Pacifist mood (do not want to start war and still recovering from impact of Great Depression) – they only made verbal protests instead of imposing sanctions on Germany.

Question 14

In March 1936, Hitler remilitarised of the Rhineland. Why was Rhineland important for Hitler?

Provide 2 reasons.

Answer 14

(1) Rhineland was important for coal, steel, and iron production.
(2) Rhineland was demilitarised as part of TOV as it was supposed to act as a buffer between Germany and France. Remilitarising Rhineland will make it easier to attack France.

Question 15

In March 1936, Hitler ordered German troops to remilitarise the Rhineland, saying that Germany was now under threat from France and the USSR and should be allowed to defend its borders.

How did remilitarisation of Rhineland lead to WWII? (hint: content concept)

Answer 15

Remilitarisation of Rhineland led to WWII as it INCREASED Hitler’s resources to wage war, INCREASED his aggressiveness and confidence.

Question 16

Britain and France appeasing Hitler and allowing him to remilitarised Rhineland led to WWII because it INCREASED the confidence of Hitler who increasingly viewed Britain and France as weak.

Why did Britain and France (as major members of the LON) appease Hitler when he remilitarised Rhineland? Provide 2 reasons.

Answer 16

‘It is his own backyard’

(1) French did not want to be seen starting a war. France unwilling to fight Germany without Britain’s backing.
(2) Britain was in a pacifist mood and sympathised with Germany (thought the TOV was too harsh) – saw it as Hitler returning ‘to his own backyard’.
(3) LON also did nothing. It was busy with Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia.

Question 17

In 1937, Hitler was involved in the Spanish Civil War.

Hitler sent soldiers, equipment and warplanes to support the Spanish Nationalist Forces (who was fighting against forces supported by communist USSR).

German planes made raids on several Spanish cities, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.

This gave him an opportunity to test his army and air force

How did this lead to WWII? (Hint: content concept)

Answer 17

Hitler’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War led to WWII because it increased the his confidence to wage war knowing how powerful his army and air force were.

Question 18

The lack of response from the League of Nations to Hitler’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War led to WWII because Hitler increasingly viewed Britain and France as weak. Why did LON fail to take action against Hitler for his intervention in Spain?

Provide 1 reason.

Answer 18

(1) In Spain, Hitler supported the Spanish Nationalist Forces who were fighting against forces supported by USSR/Communism. Hitler presented himself as a defender of civilisation from Communism.
(2) Western powers saw Hitler as a potential ally against Communism

Question 19

In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Hitler and unite with Germany without any conflict.

Hitler sends in troops to Austria, supposedly to keep order during the voting. 99.75% of people voted for political union.

Hitler now had access to Austria’s resources of gold and iron ore and its army and weapons.

How did Hitler’s annexation of Austria lead to WWII? (hint: content concept)

Answer 19

Hitler’s annexation of Austria led to WWII because Hitler now had access to Austria’s resources of gold and iron ore and its army and weapons. This increased the military strength of Germany, increased Germany resources to wage war and made Hitler increasingly aggressive.

Question 20

Britain and France appeasement of Hitler when Hitler annexed Austria led to WWII because Hitler increasingly viewed Britain and France as weak. This increased his confidence to wage war.

Provide 2 reasons why Britain and France appeased Hitler when he annexed Austria.

Answer 20

(1) Austria had German speaking people who were not denied self-determination in TOV. Britain and France saw the annexation as self-determination for the people.
(2) Hitler promised that union with Austria would be the last of his demands.
(3) Britain’s PM Chamberlain thought the TOV had serious flaws. He sympathised with Hitler.

Question 21

Where is Sudetenland?

Answer 21

West of Czechoslovakia.

Question 22

Sudetenland of great importance to Hitler. His annexation of Sudetenland led to WWII because it increased his resources and thus confidence to wage war. It also made it easier for him to occupy the whole of Czechoslovakia.

Provide 2 specific examples why Sudetenland was important (what was in Sudetenland?).

Answer 22

(1) There were ethnic Germans in Sudetenland. Hitler wanted the Sudetenland to be part of his ‘Greater Germany’.
(2) Weapons and barriers that protected Czechoslovakia from attack were in the Sudetenland.
(3) Sudetenland also contained all the heavy industries of Czechoslovakia.

Question 23

Britain and France appeased Hitler by signing the Munich Agreement with Germany in September 1938. Munich Agreement made increased Hitler’s aggressiveness and he increasingly viewed Britain and France as weak and not willing to take actions to stop him.

Appeasement means to give in to Hitler as long as his demands were reasonable. What was given to Hitler in the Munich Agreement?

Answer 23

Germany would gain control of Sudetenland in exchange for the promise of not expanding any more (this promise sounds reasonable to Britain and France so they gave in to Hitler’s demands for Sudetenland).

Question 24

Which event in March 1939 made the Allies realised Hitler cannot be trusted? They warned that they would go to war if Germany invaded Poland.

Answer 24

Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia

Question 25

The Nazi-Soviet Pact led to WWII because it allowed Hitler to invade Poland unopposed on 1 September 1939. This started WWII.

What was Britain and France reaction when Hitler invaded Poland?

Answer 25

When Hitler invaded Poland, Britain and France kept their promise to Poland (Poland and Britain sign a mutual defence treaty), and declared on war on Germany on 3 September 1939.

Question 26

After Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, Hitler and Stalin entered into an alliance - The Nazi-Soviet non-aggression Pact. Hitler was determined to avoid a war on two fronts (with the Allies in Western Europe, and with Stalin in the East).

Provide 3 areas of agreement between Stalin and Hitler under this Pact.

Answer 26

(1) It was agreed that the USSR would not object if Germany invaded Poland.
(2) Poland was to be divided between Germany and the USSR
(3) The pact divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet sphere of influence.
(4) Germany and the USSR would not attack each other for at least ten years, or aid any third party that attacks either Germany or the USSR

Question 27

Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Hitler? (Stalin’s reasons must give him positive outcomes)

Provide 2 reasons.

Answer 27

(1) to stall for time - Stalin had purged USSR including the army. There was lack of Generals to lead the war. He needed to reorganise his armed forces.
(2) Stalin knew that Hitler’s ultimate aim was to attack Russia. In 1939, Britain refused to form an alliance with Russia against Germany. (The British feared Russian Communism, and they believed that the Russian army was too weak to be of any use against Hitler.)

Question 28

Why did Britain follow the policy of Appeasement when dealing with Hitler? List as many reasons as you can.

Answer 28

(1) Fear of another major war (memories of losses during WWI meant greater losses during WWII because WWII was a mechanised war)
(2) Weaknesses of the League of Nations
(3) Buying time to rearm (In 1930s, priority was to rebuild the economy after the impact of Great Depression and not on increasing military size, thus Britain needed time to build up its military)
(4) Genuine sympathy for Germany over the Treaty of Versailles (They thought the TOV was too harsh and it was reasonable for Hitler to demand for some of these losses)
(5) Chamberlain’s misjudgement of Hitler
(6) Fear of Communism (Stalin’s atrocities were seen by the world by 1930s, Hitler’s brutality, on the other hand, was not obvious then)

Question 29

One of Hitler’s goals was to get rid of all international agreements.

Name 2 international agreements that he destroyed and disregarded.

Answer 29

(1) TOV (started rearmament and conscription in 1934)
(2) Left the League of Nations in 1933
(3) Destroyed the Locarno Pact which promised the security of Eastern Europe (Hitler annexed Austria, Sudetenland and invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland)

Question 30

Hitler only signed treaties that protects the interests of Germany & helped him win the war.

Name 2 of such treaties that he signed.

Answer 30

(1) Anglo-German Naval Treaty 1935 with Britain (which allowed him to increase the size of German navy - increased military strength for him to wage war)
(2) Axis Pact with Italy and Japan - gave him allies and thus more resources to wage war.
(3) Nazi-Soviet Pact - allowed him to invade Poland unopposed and move closer to USSR.