the contribution of other nations to the outbreak of war Flashcards
LO: Soviet Union, Britain, France, Italy
why were some historians critical of the Western Allies’ role in the outbreak of WW2?
some historians argue that Britain and France were partly responsible due to their appeasement policies toward Hitler, which encouraged his aggression
what as the British policy of appeasement, and how did it affect Hitler’s actions?
the policy of appeasement aimed to avoid war by conceding to Hitler’s demands. However, it made Hitler more confident and aggressive, as he saw the Western Allies as weak and unwilling to resist his territorial expansion
how did Mussolini’s actions contribute to Hitler’s rise in power?
Mussolini’s attack on Abyssinia (1935-6) distracted Britain and France from Hitler’s expansion and allowed Hitler to strengthen his position, further cemented by the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936) and the Pact of Steel (1939)
why was a Soviet alliance with Britain and France not achieved before WW2?
negotiations were slow, and the British and French were hesitant to commit to a formal alliance with the USSR due to mistrust and concerns over the USSR’s military capabilities and ideological differences
what was the British view of a potential alliance with the Soviet Union?
British leaders feared that such an alliance would provoke Japan and disrupt the security of the British Empire.
They also lacked confidence in Soviet military strength and did not want to risk a complex system of treaties leading to war
why did Stalin become disillusioned with the Western Allies during negotiations for an alliance?
Stalin believed that Britain and France were trying to weaken the Soviet Union and lured him into a deal that would not benefit the USSR
this led to the eventual decision to sign the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
how did Britain’s policy of ‘collective security’ relate to appeasement?
Britain supported a system of collective security, hoping to maintain peace through the League of Nations
appeasement was seen as a way to preserve peace and avoid the devastation of another war, esp given the memory of WW1
what were the two different historical views of the British PM Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement?
some historians see Chamberlain as weak and cowardly, while others argue that appeasement was a rational policy to protect British interests and avoid war at all costs
why did Britain sympathise with Germany’s territorial demands in the 1930s?
many in Britain believed that the TofV had been too harsh on Germany, and they felt sympathy for Germany’s desire to regain lost territories
how did the ‘Ten-Year Rule’ affect Britain’s military preparedness in the 1930s?
the Ten-Year Rule assumed there would be no war for at least 10 years, leading to reduced military spending
By the time Nazi expansionism became a threat, Britain needed to quickly catch up on military preparations
how did the Great Depression impact Britain’s ability to prepare for war?
the economic strain of the GD left Britain in a weak financial position, making it difficult to allocate the necessary resources for military readiness
what role did Britain’s empire play in its policy of appeasement?
Britain’s vast empire made it more concerned with protecting its global interests, esp in India and Africa
Reducing the threat in Europe through appeasement allowed Britain to focus on defending its empire
how did Chamberlain misunderstand Hitler’s expansionist aims?
Chamberlain underestimated Hitler’s long-term intentions and believed he could negotiate with Hitler as he had with previous leaders.
He failed to realise that Hitler was committed to racial annihilation and full European domination
how did the differing attitudes of Britain and France toward enforcing the TofV affect France’s position?
French PM wanted a punitive peace to prevent German aggression, but Britain preferred rebuilding Germany’s economy for trade. France was then left without strong support, leading to the need for alliances with countries like Belgium (1920) and Poland.
how did political divisions within France weaken its ability to respond to German aggression?
France was politically polarised, with left-wing politicians wanting a tough policy against Germany and right-wing politicians focusing on the threat from communist Russia. This division, along with public opposition to rearmament, hindered effective preparation for war.
what was the flaw in France’s defense strategy before WW2?
France built the Maginot Line, a series of fortifications along its border with Germany, assuming that the next war would mirror WW1. However, gaps in the defenses and over-reliance on stationary defenses left France vulnerable
how did Mussolini’s actions contribute to Hitler’s expansionist goals?
Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 diverted international attention, allowing Hitler to remilitarise the Rhineland. Mussolini also failed to resist Germany’s Anschluss with Austria in 1938, further strengthening the relationship between Italy and Germany
how did Mussolini’s relationship with Germany evolve?
by 1938, Mussolini aligned closely with Hitler, sharing expansionist ideologies. In 1939, Italy and Germany signed the Pact of Steel, pledging military support in case of war
what role did Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia play in the lead up to WW2?
the invasion in 1935 shocked the Western democracies, but Britain and France’s condemnation of it backfired, rallying more suport for Mussolini in Italy and increasing tensions with the West
how did France’s internal chaos and the Maginot Line contribute to its failure to counter Nazi aggression?
domestic instability in France, along with a false sense of secutiry from the Maginot Line, prevented effective action against Nazi aggression, contributing to France’s eventual defeat in 1940
how did the Soviet Union’s actions contribute to the outbreak of WW2?
Stalin signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact to delay war and gain territorial advantage, allowing Hitler to invade Poland without fearing Soviet intervention. This helped trigger the start of WW2 in Sept. 1939
how did Britain’s appeasement policy contribute to the outbreak of WW2?
Chamberlain’s appeasement policy towards Hitler convinced the Nazi regime that the Western democracies were weak and could be bullied into submission, emboldening Hitler’s expansionism
how did the combination of policies from the Soviet Union, Britain, France and Italy enable the outbreak of WW2?
Hitler’s desire for war, combined with Italy destabilising the political environment, French domestic chaos, and Soviet territorial ambitions, all contributed to the conditions that led to the outbreak of WW2. Britain’s appeasement policy further enabled Hitler’s aggression
what was the ultimate outcome of the miscalculations by France, the Soviet Union, Mussolini, and Britain?
France was overrun in 1940, the Soviet Union invaded in 1941, Mussolini’s alignment with Germany led to his downfall, and Chamberlain’s appeasement policy proved ineffective, ultimately leading to war
