Core Content C: Why Had International Peace Collapsed by 1939? Flashcards
1
Q
What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties?
A
- Many power countries were left unhappy, Japan was not given a racial equality clause, Italy wanted greater share of former German and Ottoman colonies, Germany unhappy with every clause
- Versailles dealt with Germany in the worst way possible, punished severely enough to anger them but still leave them with considerable resources
- Discontentment from peace treaties, in combination with the great depression that fostered the rise of extremism and political violence, spurred aggression from Japan, Italy and Germany
- Destruction of Versailles gave Hitler a foreign policy agenda, he used discontent over TOV terms to rise to power.
- Made LON look less credible as it upheld a treaty that was seen unfair.
- Britain abandoned France when it came to enforce the terms.
- Impact on British opinion: many people quickly began to question the treaty and saw it as unfair, Hitler’s demands often seen as understandable and Britain had a duty to assist him
2
Q
What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s?
A
- Manchuria and Abyssinia, along with disarmament failure, led to LON losing all credibility and authority.
- Exposed League’s weaknesses
- Britain & France unprepared for war and wanted to avoid it as much as possible. Led to appeasement, which made Hitler more confident
- Led to the second world war
3
Q
What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims?
A
- Abolish the Treaty: Hitler shared the view of many Germans that the Treaty was unjust. He promised to reverse it if he became leader.
- Expand German territory: He wanted to regain all lost territory from the treaty and unite all German speaking peoples. Additionally believed in carving out an empire in eastern Europe to create ‘lebensraum’.
- Defeat Communism: Hitler was rabidly anti-Communist and believed they were actively plotting to take over Germany. He therefore sought to stamp out Communist nations, especially USSR.
4
Q
How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939?
A
Role of Hitler’s foreign policy: expansionism intent clearly outlined in Mein Kampf, Nazi Party gained support in Germany and he gambled (didn’t plan) his way to rearmament, Rhineland, Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Poland. Willingness to fight for his interest would ultimately lead to war.
5
Q
How were other factors to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939?
A
- Hitler’s foreign policy was more gambling* than planned; encouraged by appeasement
- Failure of the League meant there was no condemnation or collective security to impede him.
- Treaty of Versailles weaknesses were exploited, and this discontent largely shaped his foreign policy.
- aggressive nationalism in general to blame for war, not just Hitler’s nationalism.
6
Q
Describe the events comprising evidence of Hitler’s aggression
A
Really Stealthy, Rad Attacks Sometimes May Cause Problems
- Rearmament
- Saar plebiscite
- Rhineland
- Anschluss
- Spanish Civil War
- Munich Pact
- Czechoslovakia
- Poland invasion
7
Q
Explain the event of Rearmament (1935-1940)
A
- initially secret rearmament to reduce unemployment,
This boosted Nazi support as people wanted rearmament - Hitler began to slowly rearm at first, using the excuse of other countries failure to disarm.
- Signed Anglo-German naval treaty in 1935 which allowed German navy to be up to 35% of British.
- In 1936 he reintroduced conscription to the army, violation the Treaty.
- German military had 95 warships, 1 million soldiers and 8,000 aircrafts by 1939.
- Britain were sympathetic towards Germany as they felt Treaty had overly tight restrictions and a strong Germany was a good buffer against Communism.
8
Q
Explain the event of Saar plebiscite (1935)
A
- The Treaty of Versailles had put the Saar under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years. In 1935 the inhabitants of the Saar voted to return to Germany.
- Hitler was initially worried about the vote as he had many political enemies there. However Goebbels launch a huge propaganda campaign there. In the end 90% of people voted to return to Germany.
- The Saar plebiscite is cited by many historians as the first step to war despite being a fair vote which didn’t contradict the Treaty.
- The Saar plebiscite validated Nazi regime and future claims to try and unite other German speakers.
9
Q
Explain the events of Rhineland (1936)
A
- The Treaty declared the Rhineland had been made into a demilitarised zone. Germany were not allowed to put any troops into it.
- The remilitarisation of Rhineland was triggered by USSR-France mutual support treaty (1935), Hitler claimed ‘encirclement threat’
- In March 1936, Hitler took a huge gamble - he ordered that his troops should openly re-enter the Rhineland thus breaking the terms of Versailles once again.
- His generals were ordered to retreat out of the Rhineland if the French showed any hint of making a military stand against him. This did not occur.
- Over 32,000 soldiers and armed policemen crossed into the Rhineland unopposed.
- British public perceived it as reasonable to want to defend backyard. So they did nothing
- France was going through an election and leaders were not willing to take responsibility for plunging France into war. They would NOT risk acting without British support.
10
Q
Explain the events of Anschluss (1938)
A
- In 1934, Hitler makes initial attempt however Mussolini is in his way and prevents him. Hitler tried to use the murder of the chancellor as an excuse for invasion, Mussolini masses troops on the border to stop him.
- Germany and Italy become allies, by 1937 Mussolini informs the Austrian Chancellor Schussnigg he will no longer defend them from attack.
- In Feb 1938 - Hitler begins bullying Austria and Nazi party there begins stirring up trouble. Hitler persuaded Australian Chancellor Schuschnigg that Anschluss only way to solve crisis was union
- On being refused help from Britain and France Schuschnigg he called referendum (a vote)
- Hitler is opposed to this, threatens to invade Austria if they hold it. He sends in troops in in March 1938 to guarantee a trouble free vote. This was an Election of intimidation
- April 10 - A Plebiscite was held which gave a 99.75 % majority in favour of Anschluss. Austria was immediately incorporated into the German Reich.
11
Q
What were the reasons countries allowed the Anschluss union?
A
- Hitler had built up his armed forces rapidly both on land and in the air. Britain and France had not re-armed sufficiently to feel confident about defeating Hitler if war was declared.
- Britain again viewed Anschluss as a fair demand in overturning another overly harsh term of the treaty.
- Mussolini had stepped in and stopped the Anschluss in 1934, but Britain and France could not rely on this intervention in 1938 when Hitler and Mussolini had such a strong friendship
12
Q
Explain the events of Spanish Civil War 1936-1939
A
- Civil war broke out in Spain between the fascist army and republican/Communist government.
- Hitler and Mussolini both became blatantly involved despite agreeing not to intervene. They supported General Franco’s right-wing extremist rebels against communist supporter of the Republican government
- Germany sent aircrafts and pilots to help transport Franco’s forces from North Africa to Spain.
- They participated in major bombing raids on civilians, most famously in Guernica.
- Due to German and Italian help, Franco was able to win the war in 1939.
Dress rehearsal/testing ground for WW2.
13
Q
Why the Spanish Civil War significant to Hitler?
A
- Important test for Hitler of his new air force before a full-scale European war. Successful perfected dive-bombing techniques on Guernica.
- Succeeded in persuading Mussolini to abandon Britain and France. Instead form 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis, important step on road to formal alliance.
- A long and protracted war in Spain (three years) helped act as a smokescreen for his activities elsewhere.
- Helping Franco win the war would help fulfil his aims of eliminating Communism in Europe.
14
Q
Explain the events of Munich Pact 1938?
A
- With the takeover of Austria, Hitler was feeling bolder than ever and had his sights firmly on the Sudetenland, a few pieces of land in the north and west of Czechoslovakia.
- Hitler’s reasons were to continue to fulfil the aim of uniting the German speaking peoples and the Sudetenland was important fortified area to defend against German attacks
- Leader of Sudeten Nazis began stirring trouble and demanding unification.
- Hitler began to threaten Czechs with war if they did not agree to their demands.
- The British and French however had an agreement to defend the Czechs from Hitler.
- Czechoslovakia itself had modern army, therefore threat of war and tensions rose over the summer. Cities across Britain begun digging air raid shelters, people were buying gas masks. War seemed inevitable.
- Chamberlain flew to meet Hitler in 15th September, Hitler claimed he only wanted small parts of the Sudetenland, and only after a plebiscite. Chamberlain thought this reasonable.
- On the 19th Britain and France put their plan to the Czechs, however Hitler increases demands three days later, actually wanted all of the Sudetenland. Claimed that he simply wanted to reunite German speakers and that would be it.
- Chamberlain initially refuses, navy is mobilised and war is imminent.
- Mussolini helps arrange final meeting in Munich, 29th September. Britain, Germany, France and Italy all meet to decide their fate and decide to give in. The Czechs would lose the Sudetenland.
- The USSR or Czechs not consulted. Joint declaration published the following morning.
15
Q
Explain the events of Czechoslovakia, 1939
A
- The loss of the Sudetenland was followed by Poland and Hungary taking territory off of the Czechs, they were left severely weakened and Hitler sensed a further chance.
- Hitler marched into the rest of the country in March 1939 and took over it.
- The Czechs offered no resistance, neither did Britain or France.
- However this was the final straw for Chamberlain, Hitler had proven himself to be untrustworthy. This was an invasion.
- The next target was clearly Poland, so Britain and France informed Hitler they would declare war if he invaded Poland. Appeasement was officially over, however Hitler still believed they would not risk war.
