why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

Question 1

collapse of international order in the 1930s

Answer 1

disarmament: unable to agree on how to make countries disarm-all countries refusing to limit arms- failure to achieve disarmament in germany 1930s-Germany was upset at the lack of equality between them and other countries- Hitler had his own ambitions-1937: italy left the league in 1937. few other countries left the league, but they had all realised it had failed- began to re-arm as fast as possible

Question 2

german rearmament

Answer 2

• helped hitler combat unemployment- in secret first- withdrew from the league- 1936- reintroduced conscription- got away with breaking terms of the treaty of versailles- Britain had sympathy- many other countries used rearmament to combat unemployment - helped germany become a good buffer against communism- 1935- germany and britain signed an agreement which allowed germany to increase its navy up to 35% of the british navy

Question 3

the saar- 1935

Answer 3

-plebiscite after 15 years- nazis wanted the saarland; threatened and beat up opposition- stormtroopers gathered on border- 90% of saarlanders voted in favour of returning to germany;encouraged hitler

Question 4

the rhineland- 1936

Answer 4

• demilitarised but part of germany- 32,000 troops marched into he rhineland- France and britain did nothing- had orders to retreat if french attacked- Britain believed the T of V was unfair- offered to make a peace treaty which would last 25 year

Question 5

anschluss with austria- 1938

Answer 5

• 2nd time hitler had tried; failed in 1934- german troops march into austria- schuschnig sought a meeting with with hitler- ban on nazi party was lifted - referendum called on 13 march- herman goering had been pushing hitler to force the issue

Question 6

consequences of anschluss

Answer 6

• marked the start of germany’s terratorial expansion- put the seal on hitler and mussolini’s relationship- hitler realised he could do as he pleased- led to kristallnacht- start of descent of europe into continental war

Question 7

spanish civil war

Answer 7

• germany supported the nationalists led by franco- bombed guernica; 1937- brought germany closer to italy- saved europe from communism- interested in obtaining iron, copper, mercury and pyrites- tested his commanders, weapons and tactics

Question 8

appeasement

Answer 8

• letting hitler undo the terms of the t of v
  against– bought germany time to boost defence
• morally wrong
• based on the principle that hitler was trustworthy
• takes land away from other countries
• increased hitler’s confidence- army gains trength- germany not keeping to armament restrictions

Question 9

for appeasement

Answer 9

• brought britain time to boost defences- britain couldn’t afford war at this time- t of v was unfair- british public don’t want to go to war with czechoslovakia- go to war with Czechoslovakia would go against self determination- western politicians feared communism more than nazism

Question 10

munich agreement

Answer 10

• the sudetenland would be transferred to germany over a 10 day period- plebiscites wold be held in areas where there was a doubt over the dominant nationality- areas of the Sudetenland which were mainly german should be handed over to Germany

Question 11

why did hitler want the sudetenland

Answer 11

• 3 and a half million Germans living there- on the border with germany while still in czechosslovakia

Question 12

why was the munich agreement a success for britain?

Answer 12

• prevents war- britain weren’t ready for war- many believed he would stop at the sudetenland as it seemed he was just undoing the t of v-communism percieved as a greater threat- no desire for war amongst the british public; british dominions not united behind the prospect of war-

Question 13

why was the munich agreement a failure for britain?

Answer 13

• hitler has more powr- larger army- gives him confience- czecholovakian defences are weak; hitler may get away with more- potentially losing an ally in russia- britain might have had the help or neutrality of russia- abandoning czechoslovakia -

Question 14

why did britain and france declare war on germany in 1939

Answer 14

• hitler ignored a request from britain and france to withdraw from the invaded areas in Poland- if they hadn’t declared war then it would have been an acceptance of the takeover of europe- hitler showed this when invading czechoslovakia- the invasion of poland was seen as a continuation of this process eventhough Germany had a legitimate claim to danzig- Hitler thought that it wouldn’t be right for britain and france to go to war because of how they had reacted previously- none of Britain’s and france’s behaviour looked like the sort of behaviour a country trying to stop germany would do