Conflict and Tension Flashcards
When was the armistice of WW1 signed?
11th Nov 1918
What where the main terms of the armistice
(RoAR) Reparations; Alsace(-Lorraine); Rhineland
Did the germans know how much to pay after the ARMISTICE?
No, that was decided later at the paris peace conference
wtf was the paris peace conference
PPC was discussions between 32 countries to decide the terms of the final peace treaties
Who were the three main players at the PPC
David Lloyd George; Georges Clemenceau; Woodrow Wilson
Who was David Lloyd George
The PM of britain
Who was Georges Clemenceau
the PM of france
Who was Woodrow Wilson
the President of the US
What were Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Wilson called?
The Big Three
Why were the Big Three under pressure
Had to make a treaty to please everyone QUICKLY
Aims of Clemenceau
- reparations to rebuild
- revenge
- cripple Germany so they couldn’t attack
- Push German border back to Rhine for safety
Aims of Lloyd George
- the public wanted punishment
- didn’t want to provoke “revenge”
- wanted a strong trade partner
- wanted a strong buffer to communism
- wanted German colonies for the Empire
- wanted naval supremacy
Aims of Wilson
- Wanted fair peace
- didn’t want to provoke “revenge”
- wanted the League of Nations and the fourteen points
- USA didn’t want to get involved again
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed
28 June 1919
Was Germany allowed to negotiate ToV terms?
No; it was a DIKTAT
wtf is a diktat
“Forced peace” (in german)
Were the Big Three satisfied by the ToV
No
Was Germany satisfied by the ToV
No
was Germany salty about the ToV
yes
How did the ToV match Clemenceau’s aims?
France got Alsace-Lorraine, the Rhineland was demilitarised
How did the ToV go against Clemenceau’s aims?
He wanted more reparations, he wanted NO army, he was the Rhineland taken away completely
How did the ToV match Lloyd George’s aims?
Britain got naval supremacy, the empire gained more colonies
How did the ToV go against Lloyd George’s aims?
the harsh reparations impacted trade, Germans were unhappy- a threat of retaliation was present
How did the ToV match Wilson’s aims?
The League of Nations was created
How did the ToV go against Wilson’s aims?
The fourteen points were ignored, the treaty was too harsh
Were the British happy with the ToV?
Yes, they saw Lloyd George as a hero and thought the treaty was fair.
Were the French happy with the Tov?
No, they wanted revenge and voted Clemenceau out. However they did like having the Saar coalfields.
Were Americans happy with the ToV?
They thought it was too harsh, but opted to follow a policy of isolationism anyway. US did not join the LofN or approve the treaty.
How much of Germany was lost to the ToV?
13% / 6 million Germans
Why did Germans call politicians “November Criminals”
Because they felt betrayed by the signing of the Armistice
When was the Kapp Putsch
1920
What was the Kapp Putsch
An attempted revolution in Germany after the ToV
When was the Ruhr crisis?
January 1923
What was the Ruhr crisis?
Germany couldn’t pay reparations -> France invaded -> German workers strike
What was the Munich Putsch?
November 1923
What was the Munich Putsch?
An attempted revolution by Hitler as he and other Germans were desperate for change
When was the Dawes Plan?
1924
How much money was given in the Dawes Plan?
800 million gold marks
What does the Dawes Plan signify?
Germany needed outside help to survive after the criplling ToV
What do the two 1920s Putsches signify?
Germans were left unhappy and desperate after the ToV
What does the Ruhr crisis signify?
Germany couldn’t keep up with the high reparations
Were Germany’s allies punished after the war?
Yes
Who were Germany’s allies in the war?
Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey
Did Germany’s allies lose land?
Yes; all of them
Did Germany’s allies have to pay reparations?
Only Bulgaria ended up paying them
Which allies’ economies collapsed due to the treaties?
Austria and Hugary
When did Austria and Hungary’s economies collapse?
1921
Why did Austria and Hungary’s economies collapse?
Because they lost so much land
What happened in Turkey after the treaty was signed?
A revolt happened, and Britain replaced it with a kinder treaty
What was the original Turkish treaty called?
The Treaty of Sèvres
What was the new Turkish treaty called?
The Treaty of Lausanne
When was the new Turkish treaty signed?
July 1923
What was the significance of a new turkish treaty?
Showed that Britain was willing to undermine past treaties
What were the struggles faced by Poland as a new country?
Russia and Germany contested their borders; people in the Corridor didn’t want to be polish, Poland had not natural defensive borders like mountains
What was the effect of Germany being split in two?
It was weakened; Germans resented Poland
What were the League of Nations four main aims?
Get countries to collaborate to prevent war; encourage disarmament; improve living/working conditions; tackle deadly diseases
How many countries initially joined the league?
42
Which three main countries did not join the League at first?
Germany, Russia, USA
Why didn’t Germany join the League?
Countries that lost WW1 were not allowed to join
Why didn’t Russia join the League?
Communists were not allowed to join
Why didn’t the USA join the League?
The US Senate refused to join; they practised isolationism
After signing which treaty did Germany join the League?
The Locarno Treaty
When was the Locarno Treaty?
1925
When did Russia join the LofN?
1934
Who were the permanent members of the council in the LofN?
Britain; France; Italy; Japan
How did the League implement sanctions? (4)
Mitigation; Moral Condemnation; Economic Sanctions; Military Force
3 Strengths of ToV
1) Reparations ensured rebuilding, 2) Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, 3) Poland and Czechoslovakia given independance
3 Weaknesses of ToV
Austria n Hungary lost so much land that their economies collapsed, Britain undermined Treaty with Lausanne and gave Hitler confidence; Treaty was too harsh causing revolts in Germany
Who were the LofN Assembly
An international parliament with a representative from every member
How often did the LofN Assembly vote on issues?
Once a year
What was the catch to the LofN Assembly vote on issues?
Had to be unanimous
Who were the LofN Council?
The four permanent members; +four other countries which were elected every three years
What was the LofN Council’s special power?
It could veto Assembly decisions
What was the Permanent Court of International Justice
An international law court that could give hearings and advise parties involved in an argument
Why were Permanent Court of International Justice rulings often ignored?
They were not compulsory
Who were the LofN Secretariat?
The admin for the League who arranged the action the League decided to take
Who were the LofN Special Commissions?
Special groups/organisations set up to tackle specific issues
Examples of LofN Special Commisions
ILO, Commission for Refugees, Slavery Commission etc.
Aim of International Labour Organisation (ILO)?
To improve working conditions
Success of ILO?
Worker deaths on Tanganyika Railway reduced from 50% to 4% in 1920s
How much were worker deaths on Tanganyika Railway reduced in the 1920s?
From 50% to 4%
Failures of ILO?
In 1919, most members refused to stop under 14s from working to save money
Aim of the Commission for Refugees?
Find homes for refugees, improve camps and return refugees to their countries
Successes of Commission for Refugees?
Helped free 85% of POWs from left after WW1
How many POWs were left still imprisoned after WW1?
500,000
What % of remaining POWs did the LofN free?
85%
Failures Commission for Refugees?
Failed to help Jews fleeing Nazi Germany in the 1930s
What was the aim of the Economic and Financial Commitee
To improve living conditions
Successes of the Economic and Financial Commitee?
Sent financial advisers to Austria and Hungary to rebuild economies after they went bankrupt in 1921
Failures of the Economic and Financial Commitee?
Unable to cope with global depression after 1929
Two successes of the LofN in the 20s?
Aaland Islands dispute; Upper Silesia dispute
Two failures of the LofN in the 20s?
Corfu crisis; Invasion of Vilna
Aaland Islands summary?
Sweden and Finland both wanted the islands. LofN made them an demilitarised autonomous region of Finland, exempt from conscription. Neither Finland or Sweden can have military bases there. Both countries were happy with the decision.
Upper Silesia summary
A plebiscite was held to see if it should be Polish or German and divided it up by the vote. Germany complained the Poland got industrial areas, Poland complained that the only got one third of the land yet 40% of the people.
Corfu Summary
A team of Italian military were killed, Mussolini wanted compensation and vengeance. Greece couldn’t find the murderers, so Italy invaded. The league condemned his actions but he complained to the Conference of Ambassadors, undermining the LofN. Greece was forced to pay. STRONG COUNTRIES CAN BULLY LOFN
Vilna Summary
Vilna (capital of Lithuania) was invaded by Poland as many Poles lived there. Lithuania asked the LofN for help, but they did nothing as Poland was a strong ally against Germany.
Bulgaria Summary
Greek soldiers were killed on the border, Greece invaded. The League forced Greece to pay compensation, but seemed hypocritical due to Corfu
When was the Corfu Crisis
1923
When was the Aaland Islands dispute
1921
When was Vilna
1920-21
When was Upper Silesia plebiscite
March 1921
When was the Bulgaria Invasion
1925
What date was the Mukden Incident?
18 September 1931
When did Japan invade Manchuria?
Feb 1932
When did China appeal to the League
March 1932
When was Lytton sent to Manchuria
April 1932
When was the Lytton report published
October 1932 (nearly a year later)
Why was the League unwilling to impose economic sanctions
The Depression
Why was the Lytton report considered too slow
By the time it was published, Japan had already taken over Manchuria
Why was Mussolini given confidence for Abyssinia
The Corfu Crisis
When did Italian troops first clash in Wal Wal
December 1934
When did Haile Selassie appeal to the LofN for help?
June 1935
What did the League do after Selassie’s appeal?
Banned weapons trades to both sides
What did the League suggest in Otober 1935
Italy should have a little land in Abyssinia
What did Italy do in October 1935
Invade with 100,000 and use chemical weapons
When was the Hoare-Laval Pact leaked?
December 1935
When did Italy leave the LofN
May 1936
Why didn’t the LofN impose trade sanctions to ban Steel, Oil and Coal to Italy?
Because they wanted to protect their own economies
Why didn’t Britain and France close the Suez Canal?
It would upset Mussolini
Why did economic sanctions not work?
USA was Japan’s main trade partner, Members of LofN did not want to harm trading relations
How do Manchuria and Abyssinia prove the League was weak due to not containing Germany or the USA
USA was Japan’s main trade partner; Hoare-Laval Pact made because Mussolini was an ally against Hitler
When did Hitler storm out of the disarmament conference?
1933
Why did Hitler storm out of the disarmament conference?
Because France refused to disarm, and Hitler would only disarm if everyone else did
When was the Dollfuss Affair?
1934
Dollfuss Summary?
Fearing anschluss, chancellor Dollfuss bans the Nazis. Nazis are ordered to wreak havoc and murder Dollfuss
How did Mussolini react to the Dollfuss affair?
Moved his army to the border; Hitler backed down
When was the Saar plebiscite
1935
How many Saar people voted to join Germany?
90%, Hitler used this as propaganda
Why was the Saar plebiscite important?
Hitler gained the valuable resources and coalfields
When was the rearmament rally
March 1935
What did Hitler announce at the 1935 rally?
He had been rebuilding army, would reintroduce conscription, would build Luftwaffe
How did Britain, France and Italy react to the 1935 rally?
Agreed to work against Hitler as Stresa Front in April 1935
When was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement/
June 1935
What was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement
Britain allowed Germany to have navy 35% the size of Britain’s
What did the Anglo-German Naval Agreement prove?
Britain was willing to let Hitler break the ToV
When did Hitler remilitarize the Rhineland
7th March 1936
Why did Hitler rearm the Rhineland?
He wanted defensive border against powerful France so he could invade other countries for Lebensraum without fear
Why did Britain and France start rearming
Because Hitler rearmed and remilitarised the Rhineland
When did Hitler plan to get rid of Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg
1938
What did Schuschnigg do after finding out Hitler’s plot to get rid of him
Gave key Austrian government positions to Nazis to win Hitler’s support
Who was Hitler’s austrian puppet
Seyss-Inquart
What did Seyss-Inquart do with police
Have them turn a blind eye to Nazi terrorism to the government
Why did Schuschnigg want a plebiscite
To prove austrians didn’t want anschluss
What did Hitler do after schuschnigg wanted a plebiscite
Demanded it be delayed and for Schuschnigg to resign
Who replaced Schuschnigg as chancellor
Seyss-Inquart
What did Seyss-Inquart do as chancellor
Ask Hitler to send troops as Austria was in a state of chaos
When did German forces enter Austria
12 March 1939
When was the Austrian plebiscite held
10 April 1939
How many people voted for anschluss
99%
How was the anschluss plebsicite rigged
Threatening stormtroopers policed it, the ‘yes’ box was far bigger than the ‘no’ box
How did Czechoslovakia react to anschluss
They feared that they would be next for lebensraum
What was Hitler’s excuse to attack the Sudetenland?
The 20% population of Germans was being persecuted
Why did Chamberlain agree to let Hitler take the Sudetenland
He was following appeasement
When did Chamberlain meet with Hitler
15th September 1938
What were Hitler’s demands at Bad Godsberg
He wanted Sudetenland by 1 October, and for other Czech land to be given to Hungary and Poland
When did Hitler and Chamberlain meet at Bad Godsberg
22nd September 1938
What happened at the Munich Conference
Britain, France and Italy accepted Hitler’s demands
Did the Czechs ever consent to Hitler’s changed demands
No, they were never consulted
When did Hitler invade the Sudetenland
10 October 1938
When did Hitler invade the rest of Czechoslovakia
1939
Why did Hitler want the Sudetenland
It contained Czech’s defences; disproportionate amount of Czech weapons factories were there
When was the Nazi-Soviet pact?
23rd August 1939
What was the Nazi-Soviet pact?
Russia allowed Hitler to invade Poland without retaliation from the USSR, in return Russia got some polish territories
Why was the Nazi-Soviet pact good for Germany
They got Poland, had no threat from Russia
Why was the Nazi-Soviet pact good for Russia
Britain and France had proven bad allies; they got territory without even sending troops, being allies would give them more time to prepare to fight Germany
When was Poland invaded
1 September 1939
When did Britain send its ultimatum of war
3 September 1939
