Paper 1 Flashcards
- German Challenges to the Post-War Settlement
Q: What were Hitler’s main objectives in challenging the post-war settlement?
A: Hitler aimed to dismantle the Treaty of Versailles, rearm Germany, and expand territory. He used diplomacy, alliances, and strategic withdrawal from multilateral agreements, enabling Germany to bypass restrictions and increase its power.
Q: How effective was Hitler in challenging the Treaty of Versailles?
A: Very effective. By withdrawing from the League of Nations and rearming Germany, Hitler capitalized on Britain and France’s appeasement and international tensions, successfully undoing many Treaty constraints by 1938.
Q: Why did Hitler break the Non-Aggression Pact with Poland?
A: By 1939, Hitler aimed to invade Poland to expand eastward and strengthen Germany’s strategic position. Breaking the pact led directly to Britain and France declaring war, sparking WWII.
- The Meetings – Berchtesgaden, Godesberg, and Munich
Q: What was decided at the Berchtesgaden and Godesberg meetings?
A: At Berchtesgaden (September 1938), British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed to let Hitler annex the Sudetenland if a peaceful solution could be reached. At Godesberg, Hitler demanded immediate occupation, intensifying the crisis.
Q: How did Hitler’s approach to Czechoslovakia differ from Austria?
A: Austria was central to Hitler’s goal of Anschluss (unification). His support for the Austrian Nazi Party led to violence and intimidation but initially failed when Mussolini opposed him in 1934. Hitler succeeded in 1938, exploiting the appeasement policy.
- Key Examples: Austria and Czechoslovakia
Q: What was the significance of Austria in Hitler’s foreign policy?
A: Austria was central to Hitler’s goal of Anschluss (unification). His support for the Austrian Nazi Party led to violence and intimidation but initially failed when Mussolini opposed him in 1934. Hitler succeeded in 1938, exploiting the appeasement policy.
- Pact of Steel and Nazi-Soviet Pact
Q: What was the Pact of Steel?
A: The Pact of Steel was a 1939 alliance between Germany and Italy, solidifying the Rome-Berlin Axis. It committed each to support the other in war, bringing Italy into Hitler’s expansionist plans.
Q: What was the outcome of the Munich Agreement?
A: The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland. Britain and France hoped this would secure “peace for our time,” but it emboldened Hitler, showing him that they would not strongly oppose his expansionist aims.
- Poland
Q: What was the 1934 Non-Aggression Pact with Poland?
A: Hitler signed a 10-year Non-Aggression Pact with Poland, securing his eastern frontier temporarily and undermining France’s alliances in Eastern Europe. However, he had no intention of honoring it long-term and later invaded Poland in 1939.
Q: Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact shocking to the world?
A: The Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939 was unexpected because Germany and the USSR were ideological enemies. It allowed Hitler to invade Poland without Soviet interference and divided Eastern Europe between them.
- Important Figures: Haile Selassie
Q: Who was Haile Selassie, and what role did he play in the context of the Abyssinian Crisis?
A: Haile Selassie was the Emperor of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) who resisted Mussolini’s invasion in 1935. He appealed to the League of Nations, highlighting its failure to protect smaller nations and revealing the weaknesses in collective security.
Q: How did Haile Selassie’s appeal impact global perceptions of the League?
A: His speech highlighted the League’s inability to protect member states, especially against powerful aggressors, contributing to its decline and the disillusionment with collective security.
- Failures of Collective Security
Q: How did the League of Nations fail to maintain collective security?
A: The League failed to respond effectively to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931) and the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (1935). Lack of military power, slow decision-making, and member countries’ conflicting interests limited its effectiveness.
Q: Why did Britain and France pursue appeasement?
A: Both countries were weakened by WWI and the Great Depression. Many leaders saw Hitler as a buffer against communism, and public opinion favored peace. This policy ultimately emboldened Hitler to pursue further aggression.
- The Outbreak of War
Q: What events led directly to the outbreak of World War II?
A: Key events included Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, after signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, marking the beginning of WWII.
