League of Nations success and failures Flashcards
When was the crisis in Vilna (1st)?
1920
What was the crisis in Vilna?
New countries were formed post-WW1, e.g Lithuania. Vilna was to be the capital, but inhabitants wanted to stay Polish. So a polish army took control of Vilna, and Lithuania asked for help from the League
Was Vilna a success?
No. The League did nothing, as France did not want to lose Poland as an ally, and the British wouldn’t send troops without supporting countries.
Where was Upper Silesia?
On the border of Germany and Poland
Who was living in Upper Silesia?
Both Poles and Germans.
Why was there a plebiscite called in Upper Silesia in 1921?
So the Germans and the Poles could decide who owned Upper Silesia.
What was the outcome of the plebiscite in Upper Silesia?
Germany won 60% of votes. But, the League was called as Poles thought the outcome was unfair. So Upper Silesia was split.
Were the Germans and Poles satisfied with Upper Silesia being split.
No, both were dissatisfied.
Why were the Germans dissatisfied with their share of Upper Silesia?
Germany lost 75% of their coal mines. But the League ratified this by allowing them to import coal at a discounted rate in 1922.
Why were the Poles dissatisfied with their share of Upper Silesia?
They had half of the population but a third of the land.
How did the League ensure that the partition of Upper Silesia ran smoothly?
They ensured that rail links, water and electricity were supplied to both sides.
How did the partition of Upper Silesia lead to future German-Polish conflict?
When the agreement ended in 1925, relations worsened.
Which countries claimed the Aaland islands?
Sweden and Finland.
Which country was granted the Aaland islands, and under what terms?
Finland in 1921, but they were not allowed to build forts on them to attack Sweden.
Was the League successful when dealing with the Aaland islands?
Yes, they successfully stopped war between Finland and Sweden.
What year was the Corfu incident?
1923
Who was given the job of surveying Greek and Albanian borders (Corfu), and what happened to him?
An Italian general named Tellini, who was murdered with his team.
What was Mussolini’s reaction to Tellini being killed?
He was furious and demanded execution of the murderers, and for the Greek government to pay compensation. Italian troops then invaded Corfu.
How many people did Mussolini kill in his occupation of Corfu
15
What did the League do when Greece appealed?
They condemned Italy, but still agreed at that Greece should pay compensation
What group did Mussolini complain to after the League condemned him?
The Conference of Ambassadors - powerful countries (britian, france and japan)
What did the Conference of Ambassadors do with Greece?
They forced Greece to apologise and pay compensation to Italy
So, was Corfu a success for the League?
No. They proved that they could be undermined and ignored by a more powerful group
What year was the Bulgaria incident?
1925
Why did Greek troops invade Bulgaria?
Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border