PAPER 1 Flashcards
When did WW1 begin?
August, 1914.
Who were the Germans and Austrians against in WW1?
Britain, France, Russia, Serbia and Belgium.
What did young patriotic Germans believe about WW1?
That it would end quickly.
By 1918, what was Germany close to?
Collapse.
Who told German politicians that they could never win WW1?
General Ludendorff.
Give two qualities of General Ludendorff.
He was a leading German army general and a war hero.
Give two lacks caused by WW1 in Germany.
Lack of food and fuel.
What percentage of total trade was organised illegally on the Black Market?
35%.
What was the main British public view due to the events of WW1?
Anti-German.
What was one of Lloyd-George’s main concerns?
“Disease from the East” - communism.
What did Lloyd-George realise in private?
Britain needed Germany to recover as she was an important trading partner.
What three things did France want from the Treaty?
Security, Revenge and Reparations.
What did Clemenceau aim to make sure of?
That Germany could not invade France in the future.
Give WW1 death stats for Germany, France, Britain and the USA.
Germany: 1,750,00
France: 1,500,000
Britain: 900,000
USA; 114,000
What did the Treaty of Versailles say?
How Germany, Hungary and Austria would be punished.
Who were the ‘Big Four’?
Woodrow Wilson - USA
David Lloyd-George - Britain
Georges Clemenceau - France
Vittorio Orlando - Italy
What were Wilson’s three principles covered in his fourteen points?
Democracy, self determination and reduced armaments.
What did Wilson want the TOV to be based upon?
His 14 points.
What did Wilson wish to set up?
An international organisation to be known as the League of Nations - to settle disputes.
What did America want from the Treaty?
Germany to be punished but not so harshly that it would be left feeling resentful.
Why did the American public not support Wilson’s ‘LON’?
They were fed up with involvement in European affairs.
What were the contents of the TOV? (LAMB)
Land
Army
Money
Blame
Give some factual points from the TOV.
> Army reduced to 100,000 - no tanks & no airforce > Rhineland was demilitarised > No submarines or large-battle ships > Loss of all overseas colonies >Alsace-Lorraine given back to France
What was Article 231?
The war guilt clause.
How did Germans refer to the people who signed Article 231?
The November Criminals.
What were German reparations originally set at?
£6.6billion.
What did the Germans think of the Treaty?
It was a ‘diktat’ - dictated peace.
What did many Germans believe about the War Guilt Clause?
It was unjustified.
What two losses were most Germans angry over?
Loss of territory and population.
When was the TOV signed?
28th June 1919.
Give German stats of loss from WW1.
10% of coal
12% of people
13% of land
48% of iron
Roughly how many German speaking people were placed under Polish control as a result of WW1?
1.5million.
What two reasons angered Germans the most about their army reduction?
It was their pride and defence system used to keep order.
What did the Allies want Czechoslovakia to be?
A strong independent country to keep Germany weak.
Give three strengths of the new Czechoslovakia.
It had good economy, industry and a mixed population.
Give the main difference between aims of Clemenceau and Lloyd-George.
One looked for a harsh peace and the other a compromised.
What were the four main aims of the LON?
To act as a ‘world parliament’
Improve peoples social lives
Encourage countries to disarm
Encourages self-deermination
When Wilson arrived back home to America, who refused to join the League?
The American Senate.
What was the American policy from the 1920s-1930s?
Isolationism - to not become involved in other countries
Which three main countries were not in the LON?
USA, Russia and Germany.
What four powers did the League possess? (SACC)
Covenant - promise of peace
Condemnation - telling others of wrongdoing
Attribution - could offer advise/ decisions
Sanctions - prohibiting trade
Give a brief description of the dispute of Corfu in 1923.
An Italian General was killed whilst doing work for the League in Greece. Mussolini became angry with the Greeks and invaded the Greek island of Corfu.
What did the League do in reaction to Corfu?
The council met and condemned Mussolini - telling him to leave Corfu. They then ordered Greeks to give money to the League.
What actually happened in response to the League’s orders? (Corfu)
Mussolini refused the decision. The League re-evaluated the situation and finally told Greece to apologise and give money to Italy. Mussolini was satisfied and left Corfu.
Were the League successful at the events in Corfu?
In long term, yes. However, they allowed Mussolini to bully them into an unfair decision.
Give a brief description of the events in Bulgaria in 1925.
Some Greek soldiers were killed in a small fight on the border between Greece and Bulgaria - the Greeks were angry. They invaded Bulgaria - who then asked the League for assistance.
What did the LON do in reaction the Bulgaria?
The council met and condemned the Greeks and ordered them to leave Bulgaria.
What actually happened in response to the League’s orders? (Bulgaria)
The Bulgarian government sent orders to its army to not fight back. The Greeks did as the League said and left Bulgaria.
In what ways did the lack of America weaken the LON? (FITNES)
Image was damaged due to idea originating from an American
Many did not trust Britain and France to act with honour without America to hold them back
Finance was not provided
Naval power not provided
Power of economic sanction meant nothing as many countries received goods from America
What were the two impacts of Britain and France being present in the LON?
Both wished to protect their economies meaning no expensive decisions were made
Both had revenge/ protection agendas after WW1 which impacted decisions
Give three main achievements of the League.
Freed 427,000 of 500,000 prisoners of war
200,000 slaves freed form Sierra Leone - slavery there later abolished
77 countries agreed to set up minimum wage
Give a brief description of when Poland took Vilna in 1920.
Countries that had been in Austria-Hungary’s empire were given independence and Vilna was to become the capital of Lithuania. Many living in Vilna wished to be Polish. A Polish army invaded and asked the League for help who later refused and asked the Polish to leave.
What the League do in response to the Poland and Vilna incident?
This was the first time the League was asked to settle dispute yet they did nothing.
Was the League successful with the dispute between the people of Poland and Vilna?
No.
Give a brief description of when Sweden and Finland wanted control over the Aland Island.
Both Sweden and Finland claimed the Aland Island and threatened war on one another. The League investigated and ended up giving it to Finland so long as they did not use it for bases to harm Sweden - who agreed to the terms.
Was the League successful with the fight over the Aland Island?
Yes, they avoided war.
Give a brief description of when Germany and Poland wanted Upper Silesia.
Both Germans and Poles lived in the Upper Silesia and both countries wanted full claim of the area. They had a vote coming to 60%;40% in favour of the Germans. The Polish complained to the LON who split the land in two.
Why were the Polish unhappy with the League’s response in 1921-25?
They received roughly half of the population but only a third of the land.
Why were the Germans unhappy with the League’s response in 1921-25?
They lost 3/4 of coal mines owned prior to the settlement.
Was the League successful with the events between Poland and Germany over the Upper Silesia?
Both Germany and Poland agreed to the conditions but in the end the retaliation between the two worsened. The LON were not successful.
Who invited the French Foreign Minister to have a meeting with and sign a treaty which would help improve relations?
The German Foreign Minister, Gustav Stresemann.
How many treaties were signed in in Locarno, Switzerland?
7.
Who signed the Locarno Treaty?
Britain, Italy, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France and Germany.
Why was the Locarno Treaty significant?
It made countries agree that they would not go to war with each other.
What is a bad factor concerning the signing of the Locarno Treaty?
It was organised independently and not by the League of Nations - as it should have been.
When was the Locarno Treaty signed?
1925.
When and where was the Kellogg-Briand Pact signed?
1928 in Paris.
What did the Kellogg-Briand Pact make the 65 countries promise?
Not to use war as a way of solving disputes.
Which two countries signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, making it significant for the wrong reasons?
Germany and the USA, both countries not in the League - meaning it was organised outside of it.
What caused The Great Depression?
The Wall Street Crash in the USA, which led to high unemployment as businesses and people went bankrupt.
What impacts did the Great Depression have on the LON?
Reduced it’s powers and effectiveness
Governments became much more focused on their own economies
They became less likely to apply trading sanctions
When did The Wall Street Crash take place?
From the 1920s-30s.
Why did Japan invade Manchuria?
The Wall Street Crash destroyed Japan’s rice and silk trades. Manchuria was rich in raw materials and had access to greater trading opportunities. Invading would therefore give Japan access to the resources she needed to help recover her economy.
Who asked the LON to investigate Japan’s sudden control over the new “Manchukou”?
China.
Why did the League have a very lacked response to the concern over Manchuria?
They could not place trading sanctions upon Japan as it’s main trading partner was America - who were not in the League, and refused to stop trading with Japan after the WSC.
They did not send peacekeeping soldiers as the League did not have its own army.
Japan said they were only defending themselves against Chinese aggression and therefore the League felt justified to not intervene.
When was the Japanese Prime Minister assassinated?
May 1932.
When did the League of Nations finally publish the Lytton report?
February 1933.
What did the publishing of the Lytton report cause Japan to do?
Leave the LON, stay in Manchuria and invade mainland China.
How did the invasion of Manchuria weaken the image of the League and discourage trust in it?
It proved that countries who were persistent with aggressive acts couldn’t be stopped.
What were the effects of Manchuria?
Japan left the League - Asia was no longer represented, Japan may also look for other allies
A ‘message’ was sent that if a country does not agree with the League they should just leave
Confidence in the League was lost
Britain and France were shown as self absorbed and not willing to act for countries further away
Give reasons as to why Italy would invade Abyssinia.
Italy had been defeated in 1896 and wanted revenge
Italy had expected to receive more after WW1
Italy’s population needed more space to live
Italy wanted to be seen as other countries - good colonies
Abyssinia offered resources and new materials
Abyssinia was one of few place yet to be colonised
Acted as a distraction to the Italian population from the current domestic problems it faced (eg. poverty).
Briefly describe the events at Abyssinia.
December 1934 - minor conflict between the two, loss of life
Dispute raised to the League - made clear Mussolini meant war
Peace Ballot of 1935 in Britain showed that people believed the League could keep peace
British Foreign Secretary made a statement saying Britain would support the idea of collective security in an act of aggression
Italian forces invaded Abyssinia, October 1935
Mussolini claimed he was brining civilisation
How did the Italian’s invade Abyssinia?
From surrounding territories.
Why was the Abyssinian army at a disadvantage?
Even though they had more soldiers, the Italian were better equipped and trained.
How many soldiers did De Bono have in comparison to the Italian?
100,000:25,000.
After how long was Adowa taken?
2 Days.
How many Italian casualties were there after the two days?
One.
What weapons did the Italians have?
Tanks, aeroplanes, flame throwers and most controversially, gas.
When was the key Abyssinian leader, Afework, killed?
November 1935.
In December 1935, Italians broke international law by using what in order to gain victory at the battle of Dolo?
Mustard gas.
What did the Geneva protocol state and when was it signed by the Italians?
Gas must never be used - 1925.
When did the Italians use mustard gas again?
In the battle of Tembien in January 1936 and against Red Cross workers.
How many soldiers did Emperor Selassie have in his Abyssinian army?
Around 500,000
What were most of Selassie’s soldiers armed with?
Nothing more than bows and spears. A few had modern weapons including old rifles, but many of these were from before 1900 - and were outdated.
Who did Emperor Selassie ask for help from?
The League of Nations.
What did the LON do in response to Selassie’s ask for help?
The League placed economic sanctions upon Italy and banned the sale of weapons to the country. No country was to buy goods from or trade with/ land money to Italy.
Who ignored the sanctions put against Italy?
USA, Hungary, Russia, Austria and Switzerland.
What was however, allowed to be traded with Italy?
Coal and oil.
Which canal were Italy still allowed to use, despite it being a main supply route to Abyssinia?
Suez Canal.
Who had ownership over Suez Canal?
The British.
Who did the majority of the British public support in the Abyssinia and Italy dispute?
Many favoured the behalf of Abyssinia and wished for actions to be taken.
Who did both the British and French population support during the Abyssinia and Italy dispute?
The League of Nations.
What did Britain and France take into account when deciding how to act to the Abyssinia crisis?
They wished to keep Italy an ally and therefore did not want to upset her over Abyssinia.
What were Britain and France in danger of if they punished Italy to harshly over the Abyssinia crisis?
Mussolini may join forces with other European dictators such as Germany.
What were neither Britain nor France prepared to use in the Abyssinian situation?
Force against Mussolini.
Order these : Italy , Abyssinia , British Public
into who Britain would least want to upset.
Italy
British Public
Abyssinia
What did Hoare and Laval do in attempt to resolve the crisis between Abyssinia and Italy?
They met in Paris - 1935- and secretly agreed to a plan to end the Italo-Abyssinian war with terms strongly favouring Italy.
What did Hoare and Laval’s plan suggest?
Italy were to have a ‘slice’ of northern and southeast Abyssinia with half the country handed to them for future exploitation and settlement. Selassie would get the poor, mountainous land. Abyssinia’s compensation would be only an outlet to the sea.
Why were Hoare and Laval eventually forced to resign?
Their plan was leaked to the newspapers. This showed that both Britain and France had put their interests over the League’s.
What did the Hoare-Laval plan allow the Italians to do?
Push ahead with their invasion.
When did Italy capture the capital city of Abyssinia?
May 1936.
What did Selassie do in June 1936?
He went to the League and asked them to reconsider their ‘terrible precedent’ of giving way to force.
What did the League lose after their failure to tackle the Italian invasion of Abyssinia?
All credibility.
What did Hitler do after seeing the League’s inability to act?
He invaded the Rhineland in breach of the Treaty of Versailles - nothing was done to stop him.
Give reasons for the League’s ‘destined’ failure. (GAAASOSS)
It had no army
Some of it’s original plans were too ambitious
The League only met once a year, decisions were anonymous and the council could veto decisions
There were not enough people in the League to carry out jobs
America refused to join
Germany and Austria were not allowed to join
Most countries were not scared of them
Trade/ economic sanctions had no effect without America
The League acted very slowly
When was Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor?
January 1933.
What were three of Hitler’s aims?
To break the TOV
Reunite German speaking people
To rearm Germany and make it great again
Define the term ‘Lebensraum’.
Living space.
Define the term ‘Volksdeutsche’.
People of German race.
Define the term ‘Anschluss’.
Uniting Germany and Austria.
Define the term ‘Bolshevism’.
Another name for communism - a system of governments in which everyone follows.
How did Britain react to Hitlers recent appointment?
They wished to appease him.
How did France react to Hitlers recent appointment?
They were wary of him but did not possess the money needed to stop him. They also had many problems more important, redirecting their focus.
How did the USSR react to Hitlers recent appointment?
They were concerned of Hitler but also the USA, Britain and France. Stalin decided that it was worth cooperating with capitalist states.
How did the USA react to Hitlers recent appointment?
They simply wished to keep out of European affairs.
When did Hitler draw Germany from the League?
1933.
Why may Hitler drawing Germany from the LON seem a little threatening to others?
He had no reason to do so - at least no reason that was made aware of in the public eye.
When did Hitler draw Germany from the Disarmament agreement?
1933.
Why may Hitler drawing Germany from the disarmament agreement appear threatening?
He claims to use it for ‘protection’, but why would one require protection against a mass of countries who do not have/ use weapons.
When did Hitler begin to rearm Germany?
1935.
When did Hitler sign the 10year non-agression pact?
1934.
How would signing the 10year non-aggression pact make Hitler seem?
Hitler would seem non-threatening as it seems as though he also wished for some kind of peace.
When did the failed Anschluss occur?
1934.
When did Germany sign the Anglo-German Naval agreement and rearmament?
1935.
Why did Germany leave the LON?
Hitler realised that it had no benefit to Germany whatsoever and many key members were already breaking the rules.
Why did Hitler leave the disarmament conference?
He realised that France was increasing its army and he was scared. He did however, state that he was prepared to disarm if other countries also agreed.
What were two key factors of the 10year non-aggression agreement?
It guaranteed the boundaries of Germany and Poland
Poles felt safe and satisfied that Hitler would not take the Polish Corridor.
Briefly outline the events of the failed Anschluss.
Hitler managed to encourage the Austrian Nazi Party to rebel
Austrian Chancellor was murdered
Seemed as though the Anschluss would succeed
All was prevented by Mussolini
Austrian independence was guaranteed
Hitler realised he wasn’t strong enough and backed down - later to deny involvement
Give some key details of the Anglo-German Naval agreement.
Hitler’s willingness to sign
Britain agreed to Germany rearming
Germany army reached around 800,000, 47 U-boats and over 2,000 aircraft by 1938.
When did Germany celebrate the Saar Plebiscite?
1938.
Up to 1936, what key successes did Hitler see to his foreign policy aims?
Leaving the LON, leaving the disarmament conference, beginning to rearm Germany and the Anglo-German Naval agreement.
What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims based upon?
His want for a strong and powerful Germany - and to eventually dominate Europe.
How did Hitler set out his foreign policy aims?
In a book he wrote in prison (1924) titled ‘Mein Kampf’ (My Struggle).
What tactics did Hitler use?
The treat of violence and often taking advantage of events for his own benefit.
Why were many British politicians concerned of Hitler’s actions to take back the Rhineland?
They were more focused on the Italo-Abyssinia war and also felt the TOV had been too harsh anyway.
What percentage of the vote held in 1936 agreed with hitler’s policies?
99%.
Define the term ‘appeasement’.
The exercise of friendliness and understanding to clear up all differences through discussion without armed conflict.
Give reasons as to why the British and many others appeased Hitler.
Britain hoped that a strong Germany would help prevent the growth of communism
Many felt that. the events in Europe were not Britains concern
Many wished for peace
Many agreed that the TOV was too harsh
Some had saw no wrong in Hitlers actions
Why did some people agree with Chamberlain’s method of appeasement?
Many saw that Germany’s problems could be solved peacefully
British wanted to avoid war at all costs - Spanish Civil war acted as a constant reminder
Britain could not afford to stop him
The LON failed at their methods to keep peace, Chamberlain felt his could
Why did some people disagree with Chamberlain’s method of appeasement?
Hitler had been breaking promises since early the 1930s
It made Britain appear weak
TOV was meant to protect European countries and appeasement was letting them down
Hitler was given time to increase his strength and power
In 1938 roughly how man German speakers were there in the Sudetenland?
3million.
When was Czechoslovakia created?
1919.
Give a brief description of the events concerning the Sudetenland.
Chamberlain wished to avoid war outbreak over Czechoslovakia
He met with Hitler at Berchtesgaden
Hitler told Chamberlain that he wanted control over the German-speaking parts of Czechoslovakia
Chamberlain and France forced the Czech President to accept and potentially give up the Sudetenland
Chamberlain returned to Germany to inform Hitler that France and Britain supported the idea of the plebiscite
Hitler surprised, then demanded the area without a plebiscite
Chamberlain returned home to prepare to war
He was then invited to Munich
When was it agreed that the Sudetenland would be returned to Germany?
September 30th, 1938.
Why was the agreement in Munich (1938) so significant?
Germany had gained population and resources
Hitler got the Sudetenland without fighting
Rearmament in Britain was sped up
Chamberlain had kept peace
Czechoslovakia now more vulnerable to invasion
USSR annoyed from being left out
How did Hitler take over the rest of Czechoslovakia?
Czechoslovakia was left defenceless due to losing almost all of its big industry and best defensive frontier
Both Poland and Hungary had gained pieces of Czechoslovakia
In 1939, Czech Nazis began to press for independence
Czech president was forced to hand over the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler marched in and established German rule - Britain and France did nothing
Give some impacts caused by the takeover of Czechoslovakia.
Appeasement proved ineffective
Conscription was introduced into Britain
Hitler and Mussolini signed a pact of steel
Lithuania was forced to give Memel to Germany
Britain and France signed an agreement stating that they would help Poland if ever invaded
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
The open agreement between Russia and Germany in which they agreed not to go to war with each other and in secret agreed to invade Poland and get half each.
Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact important?
It prevented Germany the danger of war from two fronts and Britain wouldn’t oppose his attack on Poland. Britain and France also lost a possible ally which helped Hitler.
When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
August 1939.
Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact a surprise?
There was a large difference between Russian and German political beliefs.
When did the France-Prussian war end and what was formed as a result?
In 1871, Germany was formed.
Give four tribes present at the time.
Goths
Vandals
Saxons
Angles
In the early 1800s, Germany was split into various kingdoms. What was the name of the biggest and most powerful?
Prussia.
Define the term ‘militarism’.
The belief that a country should have strong armed forces - which was very important to Prussia.
What did the King of Prussia become?
The new German Emperor (Kaiser).
What did the Kaiser rule over?
All states of Germany.
Define the term ‘Bundesrat’.
The collective group of representatives sent from states of Germany to consult the Kaiser over new laws.
Define the term ‘Reichstag’.
German equivalent to the House of Commons.
What was a problem faced by the Kaiser’s government?
He could choose to ignore their advise and make all the decisions he wanted to on his own.
What was the the Germany also known as?
The Second Reich.
