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IB HL History Paper 3 > P3. Option 15: Diplomacy in Europe (1919–1945) > Flashcards

P3. Option 15: Diplomacy in Europe (1919–1945) Flashcards

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1
Q

Hitler was an opportunist (School of thought)

A
  • Took advantage of events until he failed to perceive change in public opinion after Czechoslovakia
  • He occupied the Rhineland as it was technically German territory (so Fr didn’t oppose- however, they were occupied with Abyssinia)
  • Saw opportunity consider the sensitive border issues between Polnad, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary (consider Teschen 1938)
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2
Q

Hitler was an intentionalist (School of thought)

A
  • Planned for war via manipulation
  • Lebensraum policy
  • Anti-TOV (speeches/mein kampf); However, his foreign policy was similar to non-Nazi gov’ts
  • Hugh Trevor Roper (1962): Believed Hitler was fully responsible and that his goal was domination of Europe)
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3
Q

Little Entente 1921 (FP)

A
  • An alliance of France with Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia against Hungary.
  • France was isolated, and thus formed these alliances.
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4
Q

Effect of ToV on Germany

A

Left Germany “diplomatically isolated”, vulnerable (surrounded by hostile nations with little protection - Poland had 300K active/700k reserve troops), and bred grounds for vengeance

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5
Q

1921 France-Poland Alliance (FP)

A

Support in case the other was attacked (France’s attempt to gain many allies as they feared a German attack- continuity as France was always being invaded by Germany; Consider 1971 invasion of Alsace-Lorraine)

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6
Q

1922 Rapallo Treaty (FP)

A
  • Aim: Co-operation between Germany and Russia.
  • They agreed to establish friendly relations, to denounce reparations, to co-operate economically, on secret military co-operation.
  • Germany was able to build planes, tanks and develop gas and train personnel
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7
Q

1923 Ruhr Crisis (FP)

A
  • Fr+Belg occupied the Ruhr Valley (industrial) since Germany couldn’t repay reparations, causing economic, diplomatic/political crisis.
  • Germany was then helped by the 1924 US Dawes Plan that granted them a new currency, resolving the issue (economically stable by 1924).
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8
Q

1925 Locarno Treaties (FP)

A
  • Germany accepted it Western Borders as set out in the Treaty of Versailles (but not East- these could be altered via negotiation).
  • Germany accepted that the Rhineland would remain de-militarised.
  • France and Germany agreed to settle any further disputes through the LN
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9
Q

1935 Saar Plebiscite (FP)

A

Iron/coal-rich region under mandate of LN, but 90% wanted to re-join Germany

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10
Q

May 1935 Franco-Russian Treaty of Mutual Assistance (FP)

A
  • Work with LN for peace/help each other if attacked
  • Ineffective due to fear of communism and lack of military talks
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11
Q

1935 Stresa Front (FP)

A

Br/Fr/I diplomatic front to further isolate Germany/prevent German expansion

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12
Q

1935 Abyssinian Crisis (FP)

A

Italy took over Abyssinia with little response from LN. Essentially gave the “green light” for more powerful nations to ignore the League’s covenant/pursue their own imperialistic plans

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13
Q

May 1935 Czech-Soviet Treaty of Alliance (FP)

A

USSR aid to Czech only if Fr helped first (assumed Fr wouldn’t, so this agreement was essentially null)

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14
Q

1938 Treaties b/n Czechoslovakia/France/USSR (FP)

A
  • Franco-Czechoslovak military alliance (EEU alliances to put pressure on Germany not to attack Fr)
  • USSR-Czechoslovak mutual defense treaty (Hollow as they would only help if Fr agreed)
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15
Q

March 1938 Annexation of Austria (FP)

A
  • Welcomed by people (Hitler was Austrian!)
  • Sketchy 99% support plebiscite
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16
Q

1939 Non-Aggression Pact (FP)

A
  • Publicly, this agreement stated that the two countries - Germany and the Soviet Union - would not attack each other.
  • If there were ever a problem between the two countries, it was to be handled amicably.
  • The pact was supposed to last for ten years; it lasted for less than two.
  • Divided Poland for themselves
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17
Q

Sept 1939 Invasion of Poland (FP)

A

Start of the war! (But followed by the phoney war…)

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18
Q

Self-determination (Concept)

A

Concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves (not new - it was in Wilson’s 14 Points at Paris Peace Talks)

-Hitler used this as his argument against Czechoslovakia concerning the Sudeten Germans

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19
Q

1919 Treaty of Versailles (Germany) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • 10% land removed; no colonies
  • A-L to Fr; West-Prussia, Posen, Silesia to Poland; Danzig, Saar to LN (mandates)
  • 132B Gold marks
  • No air force, tanks, artillery; reduced army to 100k; demilitarization of the Rhine
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20
Q

1919 Treaty of St Germain (Austria) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • Lost Bohemia, Moravia to Cezch; Lost Bosnia-Herzegovina, Coratia to Yugoslavia; Galicia to Poland; The Tyrol to Italy
  • Bankrupt before reparations set up
  • No air force/navy; Army reduced to 30K men
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21
Q

1919 Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • Lost land to Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia; Lost access to Mediterranean Sea
  • 100M euros
  • No air force/submarines, navy reduced to 4 torpedo boats, 6 motor boats; army reduced to 20k men
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22
Q

1920 Treaty of Trianon (Hungrary) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • Lost more than 2/3 of territory; Slovakia and Ruthenia to Czech; Slovenia and Croatia to Yugoslavia
  • 200M gold crowns (suspended due to financial difficulties)
  • No air force/tanks/subs; Army reduced to 35k men
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23
Q

1920 Treaty of Sevres (Turkey) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • Lost South-Western Anatolia to Italy’ Western Anatolia created into Kurdish/Armenian states; Smyrna and Eastern Thrace to Greece; Middle Eastern possession became Br/Fr mandates
  • No reparations
  • No air force/tanks/subs; Army reduced to 50k
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24
Q

Issues and responses of Post-WWI treaties (WWI Settlements)

A
  • High reparations = political instability/econ crisis (contribute to causes of WWII)
  • Debated German diplomatic isolation (not allowed to join LN… but joined in 1926)
  • Divisions of empires/reduction of territories = discontent among ethnic groups due to separation
  • Germany forbidden to merge with Austria
  • Many Germans in Poland/Czech were minorities (and treated poorly)
  • Dissatisfaction with Germany’s eastern borders
  • New states lacked industrialisation, infrastructure, and national unity as they were mostly agricultural/source of materials used by Germany in the 1930s
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25
Q

John Maynard Keynes on the ToV (1920) (WWI Settlements)

A
  • ToV was too harsh for Germany, and would thus harm Germany’s short-term econ recovery and limit long-term.
  • Allied econ interests (limiting trade, breeding grounds for German vengeance).
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26
Q

Jan 1920 Formation of LN, members, and policies (WWI Settlements)

A
  • US never joined (it aligned with Wilson’s points, but gov’t believed that only Senat/Congress had the ability to send US soldiers to war + isolationist mindset)
  • Japan denied clause for racial equality (US very against in attempts to limit aggressive expansion in China)
  • Received clause for religious equality to prevent religious wars
  • 1926: Germany joined
  • BR, Fr, I, J permanent members
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27
Q

Covenant of LN (WWI Settlements)

A

Aim: Promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security

  • Met in response to emergencies; Needed majority vote to reach decision
  • Respect and preserve against external agression
  • All states required to submit complaints for arbitration before going to war
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28
Q

LN success in the 1920s (WWI Settlements)

A
  • Stopped border disputes from escalating into wars, helped Turkish reguees, attacked slave traders/drugs
  • 1920: Took 1/2M POWs home from war
  • 1922: LN set up camps/fed Turkish refugees post Turkish-Greece Conflict (1919-23)
  • 1925: Greco-Bulgraian Crisis: Greece obeyed LN orders to pull out of Bulgaria (Bulgaria appealed after shooting incident at border; Greece in no position to disagree due to econ/political unrest)
  • 1926: Slavery Convention where LN freed 200K slaves
  • 1936: 26 League nations signed International Convention to Combat the Durg Trade
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29
Q

LN failures in the 1930s (WWI Settlements)

A

They ultimately failed bc when a powerful national ignored the LN, they couldn’t do anything (they also had no army to enforce military punishment). Later, even the major powers began pursuing their own FP aims.

  • 1923 Corfu Crisis, Italy ignored LN’s ordes to pull out of Greece (Italy also forced Greece to pay an indemnity)
  • 1923/32 failure of disarmament talks because France refused to disarm/Germany would only disarm if others followed suit
  • 1933 Germany left LN
  • 1931 invasion of Manchuria by Japan resulted in the creation of the 1932 Lytton Commission that demanded Japan pull back to the South Machurian Railway, but they refused and simply lef tthe league with no consequences. There was little opposition (USSR preoccupied with starving citizens, US attempted to protest with Stimson Doctrine to no effect)
  • 1935 Stresa Front: Formation of alliamnces
  • 1935 Abyssinia Crisis: Disregard for the league, collapse of Strsa Front
  • 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis
  • 1937 Sino-Japanses War: Limited aid/global response (countries pre-occupied with GD, LN viewed China as corrupt and wouldn’t fight for them - against the convenant as they shouldn’t be selective)
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30
Q

New nations (Successor States)

A

Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Turkey

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31
Q

Reduced nations (Successor States)

A

Germany, Bulgaria, Russia

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32
Q

Expanded nations (Successor States)

A

Romania, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia (former Serbia)

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33
Q

Br/Fr perspective (Successor States)

A
  • Not concerned with wars in the east/defending successor states; However, there was a strong anti-war sentiment due to WWI
  • Tech advancements that Europe could be reduced to ruin in weeks
  • Br attempted to maintain GP status and adhere to Br public opinion (anti-Hitler)
  • Fr war weart after being invaded by Germany so many times (1870, 1914) and would thus make almost any alliance to prevent Germany from getting stronger.
  • In general, successor states would govern themselve; Br/Fr didn;t want to be involved
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34
Q

Br responsibility towards Poland (Successor States)

A

-Did not show willingness to support Poland/Czech

Br
-“Abandonment” of Poland due to Teschen conflict that forced Poland tp cede Teschen to Czechoslovakia
Urged Czecho to promise TEschen in return for Neutrality against Germany, but Czech refused
-Br/Fr considered meeting German demands against Poland
-Opposed Fr military action against Germany (and Poland couldn’t move alone)
-1939 Polish-British defence pact: To prevent German expansion/threaten Germany

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35
Q

Fr responsibility towards Poland (Successor States)

A
  • Little Entente + alliance w/ Poland (1921); 1935/38 agreements w/ USSR to come to Czech aid
  • Wouldn’t move w/o Br support
  • No intention to go to war over Czech
36
Q

Polish Diplomacy - 1918 Teschen dispute (Successor States)

A
  • Border issues with Czechoslovakia
  • East had Polish majority, West had Czech majority (and more materials; access to rails) -Agreed to 1919 Paris Plebiscite after a war over border
  • Poland was forced to accept allied decision to give East to Czech, generating resentment (but maintained good relations w/ Czech)

-Taylor: “Part of Poland’s reaction to Munich and the Franco-British abandonment of Eastern Europe, which that Bavarian town symbolised”

37
Q

Polish Diplomacy - Initial Concerns/Relations (Successor States)

A
  • Revision of Western frontier in favor of Germany
  • Mistrusted USSR (no more than 1932 non-aggression pact in terms of relations)
  • Tradition of friendly relations with Hungary
  • Defensive alliance with Romania against USSR
  • Czech/Poland could have had a common front against Germany in 1933 should the West have supported them
  • Semi-authoritarian gov’t after 1926
  • Benes rejected Polish offer for alliance against Germany (Czech didn’t want to be on Poland’s side regarding the Danzig)
38
Q

Polish Diplomacy - Aims (Successor States)

A

Josef Beck, the Polish Foreign Minister, thought that the west would either abandon Czech or would stand up to Hitler (risking war)

Aims:

  1. Get Germany to recognize free state of Danzig + Polish-German Frontier
  2. Regain Teschen Silesia
  3. Create Polish-Hungarian frontier (with Italian support)
39
Q

The rise of Fascism (Italy’s Move to War)

A
  • Italy was very weak + politically divided after WWI; Not granted territories promised in the 1915 Treaty of London
  • Benito Mussolini became PM in 1922, advocating nationalist ideology + militaristic focus (fascism) = created authoritative gov’t with strong leader/ no opposition
  • enforced by Black Shirts paramilitary group
  • Corfu Crisis with Greece in 1923 (shelled Corfu island after military officers assassinated) = gave indemnity to I, ignored LoN
  • Italy took Fiume from Yugoslavia (dispute, given w/o attack)
  • therefore, opportunistic b/c took advantage of small incidents (success with few military actions)
40
Q

Effects of the GD (Italy’s Move to War)

A
  • focus on trade with non-western states
  • deficit spending by gov’t + cooperation with industries to generate employment = “corporate state”
  • 1933 reorganized gov’t with Mussolini becoming minister of war and foreign affairs
  • intimidated Germany by moving troops to the Austrian border after Austria’s dictator Dollfus assassinated in 1934 (Hitler weak at the time) → shown to be a significant military power
  • wanted increased $ control in Albania → loans/proposed trade agreements in 1931
41
Q

Expansion of the Italian Empire (Italy’s Move to War)

A

-Creation of Empire was Italian policy for decades → Libya in WWI, Eritrea, Somaliland (but poor/didn’t add glory) = desired SE France and Corsica, as well as Albania

- Abyssinian Crisis developed from Mussolini's desire for empire at any cost (even though unprepared to finance war) → Wal-Wal Incident in Dec34 (2 I dead, \>100 Abyssinian troops dead) led Abyssinia to appeal to LoN, but Mussolini dictated I army to prepare to invade = League Arbitration Committee states in Sept35 that the incident was minor
 Italian Empire (Italy's Move to War)

→ invaded Abyssinia in Oct35 and took quickly (merged with other colonies into Italian East Africa)
- League condemned but did least it could, Br/Fr couldn’t afford war (made Hoare-Laval Pact which failed Dec35), USA blocked trade/wouldn’t recognize the annexation, Soviets condemned + embargo (but own upheaval to deal with)

  • involved in Spanish Civil War 1936-39 b/c hoped Fr would get involved so could take SE Fr/Corsica = wasted I supplies
42
Q

Recognition as a GP (Italy’s Move to War)

A
  • Worked with Br/Fr to create Stresa Front in 1935, a diplomatic front against G (I included by Br/Fr to keep G diplomatically isolated) = made after G moved to annex Austria in 1934, but didn’t last b/c Br/G signed a navy treaty 6 months later = collapsed after increased G relations
  • Sent troops to Austrian border to intimidate Germany (1934) + show Br/Fr its power
  • refused to participate in London Naval Conference in Dec35
  • Left League in Dec37 = isolated
  • Formed Rome-Berlin Axis in Oct36 → Stresa Front collapsed
  • Ultimatum to Albania on Mar 18, 1939, to demonstrate strength to G
  • Annexed Albania April 10, 1939 (few responses b/c other nations occupied G)
  • Pact of Steel (G/I military alliance) in May 39 → I was not prepared for war in Aug39, but allowed to remain G ally
  • war with Allies on June 10 1940 (invaded Corsica, Fr almost taken)
43
Q

Rise of Nazism (Germany’s Move to War)

A
  • turned to extreme parties in GD
  • gov’t couldn’t get a majority → coalition formed in Jan33
  • Enabling Act Mar33 allowed Hitler to issue policy by decree (after becoming chancellor on Jan 30, 1933) → banning other parties + banning labour unions (regional opp)
  • Night of the Long Knives on June 30 1934 eliminated internal opp (high ranking SA)
  • a helped economy with New Plan 1934 and Four Year Plan 1936 → employment, inflation
  • replaced top commanders in army in 1938 → total state control (SS, Gestapo, military)
  • also controlled church, curriculum, propaganda
44
Q

Effects of GD (Germany’s Move to War)

A
  • 26% unemployment in 1932 (6M ppl)
  • began to trade more with eastern states → became a dominant $ nation (1934 New Economic Plan); Export more than import + only buy essentials
  • began rearmament in Mar35 to stimulate $ (fewer consumer goods = Four Year Plan Sept36)
  • not part of World Disarmament Conference in 1932 (Fr wouldn’t reduce)
45
Q

Effects of ToV (Germany’s Move to War)

A
  • Ruhr Crisis in 1923 due to hyperinflation
  • Locarno Treaties 1925 with Br/Fr recognized permanent western borders with negotiation
  • Lausanne Conference of 1932 suspended reparations indefinitely due to GD
  • much humiliation in G due to reduced army + blame for WWI → made Nazy anti-ToV sentiments very appealing
  • Nazi Party had 2.6% seats in Reichstag in 1928 and 37.3% in July 32
  • wanted Anschluss to reunite G-speaking ppl (Austria, Danzig, Polish Corridor)
  • G diplomatically isolated = Stresa Front April35
  • Remilitarized the Rhineland in Mar36 (no longer follow ToV)
46
Q

Lebernsraum + Anschluss (Germany’s Move to War)

A
  • Saar Plebiscite in Jan35 (>90% voted to rejoin G)
  • Failed to annex Austria in July 34 (Italy didn’t support)
  • Rome-Berlin Axis Oct36 meant no more Italian objections → annexed Austria on Mar 13 1938 with a plebiscite to confirm in April
  • Munich Agreement in Sept38 grants G the Sudetenland (occupies rest of Czech in Mar39)
  • Pact of Steel in May 39 and Nazi-Soviet Pact on Aug 23, reduce intervention when invaded Poland → invade Poland Sept 1 1939
47
Q

Recognition as a GP (Germany’s Move to War)

A
  • “diplomatically isolated” after WWI
  • established Nazi parties in other areas (Austria, Danzig)
  • increased $ relations during GD
  • made pacts for security: Polish-G Non-Aggression Pact in Jan34, Anglo-G Naval Treaty in June35, Rome-Berlin Axis in Oct36, Anti-Comintern Pact in Nov36
48
Q

Polish diplomacy- movements (successor states)

A
  • 1934 Polish-German Non-Aggression Pact: Better relations, not responsible for German re-armament/expansion
  • 1938 Occupation of Teschen: German sympathy from the West since 1934 created a dangerous situation for Poland. Thus, after Munich, Poland demanded that Prague cede Eastern Teschen. Benes only promised negotiations, however, Poland knew of the dangers; In Teschen, Germn leaders wanted a union with Germany + German interest in their coal mines. Thus, they occupied Teschen.
49
Q

Polish diplomacy- results (successor states)

A
  • Failed to obtain German recognition of Polish-German Frontier as Hitler desired concessions
  • Failed to obtain Polish-Hungarian Front due to German/Italian opposition (Mussolini gave up support in Balkans)
  • Although, Teschen didn’t fall to Germany = good
  • Policies make sense as they couldn’t trust USSR (thus didn’t allow Soviet passage); insecure position/cooperation with Br/Fr wouldn’t have saved Czech or prevented war
50
Q

Collective Security (Concept)

A

Aims:

  1. End arms races, alliances, secret diplomacy, a war for own benefit
  2. Employ disarmament, open diplomacy (communication), international co-operation (everyone gang up on problem state), restrict right to wage wars (not for stupid reasons like WWI ultimatum), sanctions
  3. Enforce anti-war sentiment (8.5M+ dead from WWI)
  4. Don’t let one country get too powerful

The realism of goals would dictate the success of such diplomacy + this was not a new concept in 1919 (ex. 1815 Balance of power from Vienna Congress)

51
Q

Issues with Collective Security

A
  • Forceful disarmament in some nations (Germany) = shame and resentment (grounds for vengeance)
  • Hierarchy of nations = LN couldn’t do anything if more powerful nations chose to ignore the league; Br/Fr dominated talks + were selective about aid
  • LN had no army and had to rely on persuasion to dissuade others from starting war
52
Q

Success of Collective Security

A
  • Unsuccessful from 1919-41
  • LN was successful in the 1920s by stopping border conflicts/helping Turkish refugees
  • After Corfu (1923) and Abyssinia (1935), it became obvious to other nations that they didn’t need to uphold the principles of collective security
  • 1933 German expansion, Br/Fr started employing own FP aims in actions of LN, formation of Alliances (1935 Stresa Front, Anglo-German Naval Treaty; 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis; 1939 Pact of Steel), re-armament (Germany started in 1935)
53
Q

Causes of WWII (Development of EU Conflict 1939-41)

A
  • Imperialism
  • Militarism
  • Nationalism
  • Treaties
  • Post-war economic problems
  • Great Depression
  • Rise of Nazis
  • Short term causes
54
Q

Imperialism as a cause of WW2

A
  • Not a direct cause (more of a by-product)
  • Anschluss, Lebensraum
  • Ex. 1938 Annexation of Austria, 1939 Czechoslovakia (political tensions w/ this was a ST cause)
55
Q

Militarism as a cause of WW2

A
  • Re-arm due to surrounding hostile countries
  • Not a direct cause (more of a by-product)
  • Ex. By 1936, G could craft 5000 aircraft annually
56
Q

Nationalism as a cause of WW2

A
  • Not a direct cause (more of a by-product)
  • Master Race policies
  • Ex. 1935 Nuremberg Laws (“protection” of Germans - prohibited marriage b/n Jews/G)
57
Q

Treaties as a cause of WW2

A
  • ToV, in the short term, caused much economic strife, but it was resolved before the GD
  • Caused a long-term sense of bitterness once economic problems returned
  • Attempted to undo ToV
58
Q

Post-war economic problems as a cause of WW2

A
  • 132B GM in reparations (resulting in the Ruhr Crisis 1923)
  • 1924 US employed Dawes plan which got G a new currency and relieved them of econ hardship
59
Q

The Great Depression as a cause of WW2

A
  • Global economic downturn (6M unemployed in G)
  • Re-ignite frustrations, ppl turned towards extremist parties in search for solutions
60
Q

Rise of Nazis as a cause of WW2

A
  • GD sparked the popularity
  • Fear of communism due to Purges in the USSR
  • Ultra-nationalist, anti-communist
  • Lebensraum, Anschluss, Master Race
  • 1933 Hitler named chancellor via enabling act (and then he banned all other parties)
61
Q

Short-term causes of WW2

A
  • G rearmament + 1933 withdrawal from the LN (and its failure), creation and collapse of the Stresa Front (Abyssinia, 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis), G’s FP (Czechoslovakia + appeasement, sought self-determination, propaganda against Czechoslovakia)
  • Political tension that got out of control w/ the invasion of P
62
Q

Reasons for Axis Defeat

A
  • Weak allies
  • Unprepared economy
  • Failed German Strategy
  • Hitler’s military decisions
  • Failed management of resources
63
Q

Weak allies as a reason for axis defeat

A
  • Italy was a liability; Italy couldn’t succeed in capturing N. Africa even w/ G aid. Italy also didn’t declare war until June 1940, when G had already occupied F
  • Japan never declared war on USSR
  • Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary provided 1M+ troops, but they were poorly trained
  • Rom/Bulg left Axis in 1944 (taking their oil reserves with them)
64
Q

The unprepared economy as a reason for axis defeat

A
  • Disorganized production until 1942 when centralized planning implemented
  • G had substantial production, but the amt not conducted by its allies affected Axis success
  • Ex. During WWII, USSR + US produced 105 000 and 88 500 tanks respectively, while G and Italy produced 67 000 and 2500
65
Q

Failed German strategy as a reason for axis defeat

A
  • Invasion of USSR, while initially successful, overextended G supplies, thus slowing invasion
  • This gave time for the Soviets to recover and for resistance guerrillas to target supply lines
  • G had not planned for a long-term winter invasion
  • G had to divert 900 000 troops to contain AK resistance
66
Q

Hitler’s military decisions as a reason for axis defeat

A
  • Overconfident due to his success with capturing F via Ardennes Forest. Thus, he refused to retreat, even when it was the best course of action.
  • Resulted in significant losses in tanks at Stalingrad/Kursk (which affected them greatly as their production capacity was not as great as the USSR’s)
  • Frequent replacement of milit generals
67
Q

Failed management of resources as a reason for axis defeat

A
  • No oil/few resources
  • Overextended limited supplies
  • Limited supplies unable to be transported due to collapse of rails (bombing/guerilla)
  • Women discouraged from joining the war effort
68
Q

Reasons for allied victory

A
  • Helpful allies
  • Efficient production
  • Successful strategy
  • Superior management of resources
69
Q

Helpful allies as a reason for allied victory

A
  • USSR’s huge population
  • US G bombing by 1944
70
Q

Efficient production as a reason for allied victory

A
  • USSR reorganized econ via 5-year plans, the creation of factories, increased mining, and the movement of the industry further into central Asia (closer to resources like oil/minerals)
  • GREATER ACCESS TO RESOURCES
  • Strict gov’t control allow increased productivity
  • US was the largest supplier of oil + great manufacturing capability
  • Full mobilisation of industry: 66M ppl
71
Q

Successful strategy as a reason for allied victory

A
  • Geography of the USSR made it hard to conquer
  • 80% of G killed/wounded by USSR
  • Soviets participated fully in the war out of fear of their own gov’t
72
Q

Superior management of resources as a reason for allied victory

A
  • USSR 700 kcal for kids/elderly
  • Production not inhibited by bombing/the war
  • Ex. produced the most tanks out of the US, B, G, and I (105 000)
  • USSR only gov’t to allow women to serve in armed forces
  • Ex. 800 000 women served during WWII
73
Q

Impact of WWII on Civilian Populations - Poland (1939-45)

A
  • Completely occupied by Germany at the beginning of the war
  • Humiliation, starvation, violence towards the Polish Jewish Community. They were also forced to live in walled-in areas of East P

Resistance movements: Polish Home Army (AK), ZOB +ZZW
The AK was allied with the Polish government. Their spies provided the allies with secret info on Germany and their operations. They disrupted German convoys on the way to the USSR, attacked/delayed railroads (which prevented needed supplies being transported to the east). They led the Warsaw Uprising Aug 1944 w/o the help of Soviet troops, but were forced to surrender by Oct. There were over 15 000 AK soldiers deaths and 225 000 civilian deaths. Over the course of the war, the AK killed up to 150 000 Axis soldiers and forced 900 000 German soldiers to stay behind to counter them (preventing their use elsewhere against the allies).
ZOB (formed by Jewish youths in Warsaw) and ZZW (Jewish ex-milit officials). They partook in guerilla warfare to remove the remaining Jewish pop’ns from the Warsaw Ghetto. In Apr 1943, there was a clash b/n the resistors (joined by civilians) and German troops. By May, 13 000 were killed in the ghetto, and over 50 000 Jews captured and sent to the Treblinka death camp.

  • 6M dead. Many died in work camps/death camps (not just Polish civilians, but a significant portion of Polish civilians were Jewish)
  • Warsaw reduced to ruin
  • Poland restored, but lost much territory + independence
  • “Poland was guaranteed by the Western powers, who went to war for her sake” (AJP Taylor)
74
Q

Impact of WWII on Civilian Populations - USSR (1939-45)

A

Pre-war, the USSR had already been dealing with cycles of famine (especially in 1927-28). There was much terror due to the forced requisitioning of grain, show trials, and the Great Purge (which initially inhibited the USSR’s success in the war, as they had gotten rid of their milit officials, such as all 8 of their generals by 1938). The economy was already in shambles due to the bureaucracy/purge that enabled less productivity (it was slowly improving after the 2nd Five-Year plan, but its benefits had been wiped out by WWII). In a sense, the war merely amplified the existing living conditions in the USSR. People continued to starve. However, WWII did kill many civilians, and granted greater equality b/n men and women due to total war. There was also forced migration by the end of the war, but that was not uncommon for the USSR; during 1930, there was a deportation of 2.5M to the Gulags. For a short period of time, the USSR was even able to maximize their production. The relatively low standard of living continued (there were not many consumer goods being produced before or during the war), with only the added terror of death.

  • Tens of millions of men were conscripted, however women also participated in combat troops (800 00 women. They were the only nation who allowed women in the armed forces)—They employed total war.
  • Extreme rationing as a result of German capture of agricultural land by 1941. Furthermore, farmers were conscripted to war or milt factories. The allocation of food was based on one’s role; the kids and elderly only allowed 700 kcals per day. The pop’n was essential constantly on the verge of starvation. Food remained scarce by 1944, even after evident emerging Soviet victory. 1kg of illegally purchased bread cost one week’s wages.
  • Mass conscription of kids in factories increased production. The USSR produced 105 000 tanks over the course of the war, compared to the US’ 88 500 (and they were an economic powerhouse)

Resistance Movements: Partisans, UNO
Partisans attempted to slow the German advance in 1941 via sniper attacks, sabotage of machinery/infrastructure (by 1943, they bombed railways which disrupted the flow of supplies and destroyed 65 000 trucks). These resistors were Jewish or members of the CP, whom of which the German army would execute automatically if captured.
UNO was a Ukranian partisan group. They battled Germans and Soviet Partisans in attempt to establish an independent Ukraninan state. They essentially created a civil war b/n German troops, Ukraninan nationalists, and pro-Soviet communist partisans—the UNO was captured and executed by Soviet milit by 1944.

-16.9M dead; Population transfer of nationalities who supported Germany into Central Asia or Siberia. 40% of these ppl died during the move or within the next year.

75
Q

The perspectives of Chamberlain, Churchill, and the British public in regards to Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

Chamberlain attempted to uphold Britain’s GP status/supported negotiation and diplomacy; He wanted to “restore tranquility in Europe”. For the most part, he saw German demands as reasonable. Germans living in Germany was not an outlandish request (consider plebiscites, like the 90% Saar one, and the dismemberment of A-H/Ottoman empires). He maintained the “Desperated effort to avert a war which the wastern powers dreaded”.

Churchill was an anti-communist with a military background who was against German aggression at ALL costs; He saw appeasement as a surrender to fear.

The majority of the British public, did not see an issue with Germans living in Germany, however, communists/trade unions/labour party were alarmedby Hitler’s aggression and wanted actions against Germany.

76
Q

British aims with Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

Diplomacy fell in Chamberlain’s favor, thus they attempted to negotiate with Hitler (about Sudenten). During this time, Britain mostly tried to convince France not to support Czechoslovakia and persuade Czech to yield to German demands.

77
Q

Czechoslovakia’s treatments during Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

Essentially, Czechoslovakia was a sacrifice by the Western Powers to Germany in the name of “diplomacy”. While she aimed to protect herself from facsim/Habsburg revanchism (reclaiming lost territory), she was ultimately abandoned (Br/Fr claimed that if she didn’t agree to German demands, she would have to fight Germany alone, and all the blame would fall on her shoulders).

Czechoslovakia armed herself by becoming a member of the LN, the Little Entente (1921), and via her Treaty with USSR (May 1935), however due to the conditional nature of both France and USSR’s agreements, they were pretty much null. France never really had any intention to go to war over Czechoslovakia and was much more fearful of German expansion/focused on fortifying the Maginot line. Their treaty was intentionally to eliminate any sense of French obligation.

While she was mostly a victim, she did treat Germans as a “tolerated minority”. Thus, Heinlein, the head of the Sudeten German Party, was able to manipulate public opinion against Czechoslovakia (who was initially seen as a vctory over Hitler) by claiming that Czech had committed atrocities towards the minorities.

78
Q

France’s aims with Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

France, while they did support Czechoslovakia through treaties such as the Little Entente (1921) and the military alliance b/n USSR/Czech/Fr, had no intention to go to war over EEU. She was mostly focused on security; She didn’t feel safe regarding Germany, even with the 1925 Locarno Treaties assuring her borders. Fr refused to disarm despite the 1919 TOV and despite the attempts made at the 1932 World Disarmament conference (on the basis of fear, despite German’s offers to diasarm so long as the rest of the GP do as well, and for “employment” reasons).

Thus, the French worked on strengthening the Maginot line and attempted to persuade Czech to give up the Sudeten to relieve herself of any obligation.

79
Q

Germany’s aims with Appeasement and Hitler’s Perspective(Aims & Responses)

A

While the historians debate the amount of planning done on Hitler’s part, they do acknowledge Germany’s desire for Czechoslovakia is linked to Germany’s domestic policies of Anschluss and Lebesraum. And for good reason: Czech was a good source of raw materials and its population included 3M+ Germans.

Heinlein, under Hitler’s orders was to prevent any agreement in the gov’t, as it would allow the German ary to occupy the Sudenten to “quell disturbances”. Intentionalist?

It could be argued that Appeasement actually ruined Germany’s plans bc it increased the scale of Hitler’s aggression and generated war. Hitler viewd Appeasement as weak, and actually prefered a war with Czech (1938 Case Green - planned invasion+war with Czech).

When Hitler’s Karlsbad agreements were met at Bad Godesberg, he escalated his demands. While Chamberlain thought they were “unnacceptable” he and Fr eventually conceded and convinced Czech to agree or face abandonment in the face of German agression (1/5 territory, 1/3 pop’n, border defenses).

However, by 1939, Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, undoing all the work done in the name of appeasement.

80
Q

KH Janssen’s perspective on Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

“Great Powers arrogantly and cruelly determining the fate of smaller nations”

“Formalizing of an already fully negotiated and legally binding agreement”

He believes Hitler yielded and acutally wanted all of Czechoslovakia (to be fair, Czech had ignored minority rights since 1918). Janssen believed that Hitler yieleded as he thought the “Home Fleet might open fire”.

81
Q

M. Baumont perspective on Appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

“To Hitler, the Munich Agreement was no more than a scrap of Paper”

82
Q

The USSR’s attempted to uphold collective security (Aims & Responses)

A
  • Seen as weak/traitorous after WWI (1918 Treaty of Brest-litovsk) and were thus excluded from the 1919 Paris Peace Talks/vicitms of trade/econ embargoes (restricted USSR’s attempt to re-build their econ, and forced them to turn to other outcast nations).
  • The USSR, who struggled with issues surrounding food shortages, political instability/divisions, and a weak economy (1921 NEP), feared their safety in the aftermath of their treaty with Germany in WWI and with the rise of Western Powers in decision-making (TOV). Furthermore, as the majorproponent for communism (to which the oter states feared), they turned towards making alliances and collective security to resolve the question of security.
  • Joined LN (1934), Franco-Russian Treaty of Mutual Assistance (1935): this was pretty useless, despite agreement to protect each other if attacked, as there were no military talks/FR feared communism
  • The only one to put sanctions on Italy after Abyssinia
83
Q

The USSR’s actions surrounding appeasement (Aims & Responses)

A

-Not represented at Munich (didn’t count on USSR aid as West didn’t think USSR would fight for democracy or had the econ capability to)

  • Chubaryan: USSR felt Br/Fr “wanted to direct German agression towards the east”
  • Taylor: USSR saw as a deliberate attempt to “promote a German hegemony” (dominance), allowing German to attack USSR
84
Q

Why were nations distrustful of communism? (Concept)

A
  • Clashes of ideology (but USSR did grow economically with 5 year plans)
  • “Tyranny, starvation, inefficiency” (much starvation in 1928 due to food shortages from crop failure)
  • Horror due to show trials and purges by Stalin (1936-38).
  • Taylor: So many high military killed so it was “hard to believe that Soviet Russia could conduct a successful offensive”
  • By the end of 1938, 50% of the Red Army was either kiled or imprisoned.
85
Q

The results and weakness of Munich Agreement Sept 1938 (Aims & Responses)

A
  • Public opnion: As a result, Hitler wouldn’t ask for more
  • Concessions perpetuated Britain’s status as a GP (failure of Collctive Security)
  • Led to a formal
  • It was essentially a delaying policy
  • Br/Fr not ready for war in 1938 and appeasing Germany would give them more time to re-arm/prevent further German expansion (in their minds, at least)
  • Critics: It made Br/Fr look weak to Hitler (causing him to believe that they would do anything to avoid war as they wouldn’t fight for EEU/couldn’t afford it)
  • Supports the intentionalist perpective
  • 1939 takeover of rest of Czechoslovakia was the failure of Appeasement

IB HL History Paper 3 (11 decks)

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