P3. Option 15: Diplomacy in Europe (1919–1945) Flashcards
Hitler was an opportunist (School of thought)
- 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)
Hitler was an intentionalist (School of thought)
- 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)
Little Entente 1921 (FP)
- An alliance of France with Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia against Hungary.
- France was isolated, and thus formed these alliances.
Effect of ToV on Germany
Left Germany “diplomatically isolated”, vulnerable (surrounded by hostile nations with little protection - Poland had 300K active/700k reserve troops), and bred grounds for vengeance
1921 France-Poland Alliance (FP)
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)
1922 Rapallo Treaty (FP)
- 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
1923 Ruhr Crisis (FP)
- 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).
1925 Locarno Treaties (FP)
- 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
1935 Saar Plebiscite (FP)
Iron/coal-rich region under mandate of LN, but 90% wanted to re-join Germany
May 1935 Franco-Russian Treaty of Mutual Assistance (FP)
- Work with LN for peace/help each other if attacked
- Ineffective due to fear of communism and lack of military talks
1935 Stresa Front (FP)
Br/Fr/I diplomatic front to further isolate Germany/prevent German expansion
1935 Abyssinian Crisis (FP)
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
May 1935 Czech-Soviet Treaty of Alliance (FP)
USSR aid to Czech only if Fr helped first (assumed Fr wouldn’t, so this agreement was essentially null)
1938 Treaties b/n Czechoslovakia/France/USSR (FP)
- 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)
March 1938 Annexation of Austria (FP)
- Welcomed by people (Hitler was Austrian!)
- Sketchy 99% support plebiscite
1939 Non-Aggression Pact (FP)
- 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
Sept 1939 Invasion of Poland (FP)
Start of the war! (But followed by the phoney war…)
Self-determination (Concept)
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
1919 Treaty of Versailles (Germany) (WWI Settlements)
- 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
1919 Treaty of St Germain (Austria) (WWI Settlements)
- 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
1919 Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria) (WWI Settlements)
- 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
1920 Treaty of Trianon (Hungrary) (WWI Settlements)
- 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
1920 Treaty of Sevres (Turkey) (WWI Settlements)
- 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
Issues and responses of Post-WWI treaties (WWI Settlements)
- 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