Why Had International Peace Collapsed By 1939?

Question 1

Dissatisfied powers

Japan

Answer 1

Their ideas for racial equality clause had been rejected at the Paris Peace Conference and they had expected to receive a greater share of Germany’s former trading rights in China.

Question 2

Dissatisfied powers

Italy

Answer 2

They didn’t receive the Adriatic port of Fiume and they hoped for a greater share of Germany and Turkey’s former colonies.

Question 3

Dissatisfied powers

Germany

Answer 3

They disagreed with most aspects of the Treaty of Versailles - the territorial provisions, the disarmament clauses, war guilt, and reparations.

Question 4

Germany’s Potential

Answer 4

The Versailles Treaty failed to disable Germany and prevent her from growing into a powerful European State.
Germany had lost a significant amount of Territory, including all her colonies, she was still left with considerable resources.

Question 5

Hitler‘s foreign policy

Answer 5

Almost every foreign policy action and demand the Hitler made between 1933 and September 1939 violated the Versailles Treaty or the Treaty of Saint Germain. These were:
Rearmament and remilitarising the Rhineland.
Anschluss with Austria.
Transfer of Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
Occupation of Prague.
Seizure of Memel.
Claims made over Danzig and the Polish Corridor.

Question 6

Impact on British opinion - Treaty of Versailles

Answer 6

After a while, many believed that the terms punished Germany to harshly. It caused Germans to be receptive of Hitler and the Nazi party’s goal of restoring Germany. Hitler’s reaction was reasonable. It was Britain’s responsibility to help Germany.
It lead to Appeasement

Question 7

Impact on French Opinion - Treaty of Versailles

Answer 7

The French thought that the treaty was not hard enough and wanted a treaty that would permanently disable them in order to guarantee France‘s security. The French did not feel confident brought to stand up to Hitler by themselves, so they acted on partnership with Britain.

Question 8

Inconsistencies

Answer 8

Separation of East Prussia and West due to the Polish Corridor
The placing of Danzig, mostly populated by Germans, under the League’s control.
The placing of three and a half million Germans under Czech rule in the Sudetenland.

Question 9

Appeasement

Answer 9

Making pacts and deals with dictator in order to satisfy their demands with our going to war. It was supported by the majority of French and British Politicians, except for a few high profile figures (Churchill) between 1935 and 1939
E.g
Munich agreement of September 1938

Question 10

Hitler‘s Foreign Policy - Destroy the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 10

The disarmament clauses would be broken by building up their army, navy and Air Force.
Germany’s western frontier would be remilitarized and they would refortify the Rhineland.
Lost territory would be regained.

Question 11

Hitler’s foreign policy - Create a Greater Germany

Answer 11

All German_speaking people would be brought into the Reich.
Germany’s borders would be extended over the areas with predominantly German people. Such as Austria, Poland, or Czechoslovakia.

Question 12

Hitler’s foreign policy - Destroy communism

Answer 12

Germany would be drawn into conflict with Soviet Russia

Question 13

Acquire lebensraum

Answer 13

Hitler thought that Germans were entitled to have living space.
More land for recreation and cultivation.
Expansion eastwards at the expense of Poland and Soviet Russia.

Question 14

Build up a Central European Empire

Answer 14

Hitler would be the master of a new Central European Empire.

Question 15

Hitler’s policy actions - Germany refused to pay reparations, walked out of the World Disarmament Conference, and left the League of Nations

Answer 15

Hitler’s first strike against the Treaty.
Germany began to rearm in secret
1933

Question 16

Hitler’s policy actions - Ten-year non-aggression pact with Poland agreed

Answer 16

Remove the prospect of war with Poland if Hitler decided to move against Austria or Czechoslovakia.
January 1934

Question 17

Hitler’s policy actions - Attempted Union with Austria

Answer 17

After the murder of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis.
Hitler was ready to strike but Mussolini moves his troops to the Brenner Pass.
Hitler backed down and denied any responsibility for the murder of Dollfuss.
July 1934

Question 18

Hitler’s policy actions - Saar plebiscite

Answer 18

90% were in favor to return to Germany.
First piece of territory regained by Germany by legal and peaceful terms.
January 1935

Question 19

Hitler’s policy actions - Reintroduction of conscription

Answer 19

A direct challenge against the Allies. Hitler announced that he was rebuking his army of 550000 mean with creation of a military Air Force.
Allies formed the Stress Pact.
Hitler got away with this, but France and Soviet Russia, followed by Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia, signed the Mutual assistance pacts.
March 1935

Question 20

Hitler’s policy actions - Anglo-German Naval Agreement

Answer 20

Allowed Germany to have a fleet that was 35% the size of Britain’s, with submarines at 45%. Made without obtaining the prior agreement of France or Italy.
Mussolini felt encouraged to apply the same selfish principle to extending Italy’s colonies.
June 1935

Question 21

Stress Pact

Answer 21

A United stand made by Britain, France, and Italy against Hitler’s violations of the treaty of Versailles announced in March 1935.
The Front issued a strongly worded protest. It was soon undermined by the negotiation of the Anglo-German Naval agreement of June 1935.

Question 22

Mutual assistance pact

Answer 22

An agreement between two or more countries whereby one country promises to help another in return for a promise of a similar kind.

Question 23

Historians orthodox view

Answer 23

Up until the 1960s, historians believed that Hitler planned each event that lead up to the war.

Question 24

Historians - revisionist view

Answer 24

A.J.P Taylor came up with a new interpretation - Hitler was a gambler and not a planner. He simply took the logical next step. As countries let him get away with each gamble, he became bolder, and risked more.
It is Britain, the Allies and the League who are to blame because they didn’t stand up to Hitler. There are other factors, such as: the Economic depression, weaknesses of the post-war treaties, and the actions of the leading powers - Britain, France, the USA, and the USSR

Question 25

Rearmament

Answer 25

In Germany, thousands of unemployed workers were drafted into the army. This helped reduce unemployment, which was a big problem. It also helped make Germany strong again and to challenge the terms of the Treaty.
Rearmament was a secret as to not alarm other countries. He withdrew from the League.
In 1935 Hitler openly staged a massive military rally celebrating German armed forces. In 1936 he reintroduced conscription to the army. He broke the terms of the Treaty and got away with it. The failure of the disarmament conference in 1934 showed that other countries weren’t going to disarm.
Rearmament boosted Nazi support.
Britain helped dismantle the Treaty by signing a Naval agreement with Germany in 1935. Hitler spent more and more into armaments.

Question 26

German rearmament numbers

Answer 26

In 1932 - 30 warships, 36 aircrafts, and 100,000 soldiers.

In 1939 - 95 warships, 8,250 aircrafts, and 950,000 soldiers.

Question 27

Saar Plebiscite

Answer 27

The Saar region of Germany was run by the League since 1919.
In 1935 the League promised to hold a plebiscite for the people to vote on whether or not to return to German rule. Hitler was wary because many of his opponents had fled to the Saar.
The League was being firm and decisive towards Hitler and the vote was held. 90% of the people voted to return to Germany. His propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, created a massive campaign to persuade people to return to German rule.
After the vote, Hitler said he had no further territorial demands to make of France.

Question 28

Remilitarization of the Rhineland

Answer 28

The Rhineland was a demilitarized zone under the Treaty. The Allied troops left 5 years ahead of schedule. It was a constant reminder of Germany’s humiliation.
In March 1936 Hitler marched his troops into the Rhineland.
The army had orders to pull out if the French acted against them.
Neither France nor Britain wanted to go into war over this issue, so they did nothing.

Question 29

The Spanish Civil War 1936 - 1939

Answer 29

In July 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain when right-wing rebels under General Franco went against supporters of the Republican Gov. - a mixture of socialists, communists, anarchists and syndicalists
The USSR sent the Republicans weapons, aircrafts, and pilots. Germany and Italy supported Franco. Mussolini sent thousands of Italian troops. Germany sent aircrafts and pilots who took part in bombing raids on civilian population. Britain and France did not intervene, but France sent some weapons to the Republicans.
After 30 months, 750,000 people were killed, the Nationalists won and Franco established a fascist style gov.
This strengthened bonds between Italy and Germany. Hitler believed that the League wouldn’t do anything to intervene against his plans. Hitler’s actions alarmed Chamberlain, so he ordered massive increases on Britain’s armed forces, especially the Royal Air Force.

Question 30

The Munich Conference

Answer 30

4 Participants:

1. Neville Chamberlain - Britain
2. Adolf Hitler - Germany
3. Benito Mussolini - Italy
4. Eduardo Deladier - France

3 Matters decided / Decisions made:

1. The Sudetenland to be transferred to Germany over a 10 day period.
2. Plebiscites (votes) to be held in any area where there was doubt over the dominant nationality
3. The 4 powers would guarantee the remainder of Czechoslovakia once Polish and Hungarian claims had been met.

When the Munich agreement was presented to the Czech government, they had to agree to the break-up of their country as otherwise the alternative was to face the full force of the German army on their own.

After the Munich Agreement was signed, Chamberlain visited Hitler and asked him to sign a document that stated that Hitler and Chamberlain promised to do everything to promote peace in Europe and to use the “method of consultation” to resolve any differences. Hitler didn’t mind as the document contained vague promises while Chamberlain claimed he had brought “peace for our time” when he arrived back in London.

Question 31

Anschluss with Austria, 1938

Answer 31

Most Austrians supported union with Germany. Hitler tried to take over in 1934 but Mussolini stopped him. However, by 1938 Hitler and Mussolini were allies.
In February 1938, Hitler had a meeting with Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg, in which he was bullied by Hitler to appoint Seyss-Inquart, a leading Austrian Nazi, as minister of the Interior. Hitler told Schuschnigg that an Anschluss would be the only way to solve Austria’s Nazi problems. Schuschnigg decided to hold a plebiscite on March 13. When Hitler found out he sent his troops into Austria, 99.75% voted for union with Germany.
Chamberlain felt that Austria and Germany had a right to be united, but he also started building up his army.

Question 32

The invasion of Czechoslovakia

Answer 32

Once the Sudetenland was transferred to Germany, the rest of the state began to break up. Hitler wanted to take control over the whole of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939, President Hacha was bullied into giving Hitler Czechoslovakia and the German Army occupied the Prague on 15 March 1939.
Hitler took over for increase in power.

Question 33

The British-French guarantee to Poland

Answer 33

After Czechoslovakia, Poland was most likely Hitler’s next target for the following reasons:
Poland was made by the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler wanted the Polish Corridor back.
Poland had territory belonging to Germany prior to the War.
He wanted Danzig back.
Based on what happened in Czechoslovakia, appeasement was replaced by deterrence.
On March 31 British-French guarantee was given to Poland, to support them if attacked.
They wanted to form an Eastern alliance but needed Soviet Russia for it to be effective.
Soviet Russia said no because they feared war with Germany.
Poland was allies with Britain and France, who both weren’t in a position to provide help.

Question 34

Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact important?

Answer 34

Hitler wanted to ensure that he would not be attacked by Soviet Russia while he dealt with Britain and France.
Stalin hoped that an Anglo- French/German War would last many years and tried to buy time to strengthen his defenses and build up his military machine.
Stalin also feared a war on two fronts given the Japan’s hostility.

Question 35

Poland

Answer 35

In September 1939, the German army invaded Poland from the West, where they met little resistance. Britain and France demanded he withdrew or they would declare war. Hitler thought that they were bluffing, however they were not and declared war on Germany on September 3 1939.

Question 36

The Nazi-Soviet Pact, 1939

Answer 36

STALIN’S FEARS:
- He worried that Germany became a threat to the Soviet Union with Hitler in power.

1934 he entered the USSR into the League of Nations hoping this would protect him against the threat of Germany (he soon saw he league lacked action and Britain welcomed a stronger Germany to fight communism).

1935 he signed a treaty with France which promised to protect the ISSR should Germany invade them - but he didn’t trust France would keep their promise.

1938 Stalins fears increased as he was not consulted when the Munich Agreement was signed. He believed France and Britain didn’t have enough power to stop Hitler/ they would want Hitler to invade Eastern Europe and the USSR.

STALIN’S NEGOTIATIONS:

• In March 1939 he met with Britain and France to create an alliance against Hitler, but Chamberlain didn’t trust the USSR. However, Britain and France promised Poland they would defend it if it was invaded, Stalin thought this was supporting the USSR’s potential enemies.
• Negotiations continued until summer 1939.
• Stalin also met with Germany to discuss a Nazi-Soviet pact.

STALIN’S DECISION:
23. August 1939 Stalin and Hitler signed the Nazi-Soviet pact in which the two enemies agree not to attack each other and also decide Poland among themselves.