Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? Flashcards
The peace settlements left a lot of countries unhappy. Which ones and why?
Japan - as its idea for a racial equality clause had been rejected at the Paris Peace Conference. They also expected to receive a greater share of Germany’s former trading rights in China.
Italy - they hoped to receive the Adriatic port of Fiume and a greater share of the former colonies of Germany and Turkey.
Germany objected to every single clause in the ToV including reparations, war guilt, disarmament and territorial punishment.
Hitler’s foreign policy - his objectives
Hitler wanting to destroy the Treaty of Versailles, how did it increase his popularity.
Hitler wanted to destroy the ToV and the Treaty of Saint Germain which provided him with a list of objectives:
- German rearmament and the remilitarisation of Rhineland
- The union with Austria
- The transfer of the Sudetenland (a new place in Czechoslovakia following the new territorial placement populated by many Germans) from Czechoslovakia.
- The occupation of Prague
- The seizure of Memel
- Claims made over Danzig and the Polish Corridor
The Treaty of Versailles was detested by the German public which ensured Hitler’s popularity if he dismantled the treaty.
What was the French and British’s opinion on the harsh aspect of the treaty? What did they do according to their opinion?
To begin with, the British was happy with the harsh aspect of the treaty. But by early 1930’s, a common view in British government were saying it was too harsh. The emergence of Hitler and the Nazis was an understandable response to the excessive punishment given to Germany. Many British politicians assisted Germany in achieving peace.
The French reaction to the treaty was that it was not harsh enough. By mid 1930’s, it was clear that Hitler was seeking to overturn the settlement. The French felt they were not strong enough to stand up to them, so they acted in partnership with the British.
How did Manchuria event affect the actions of Japan, Germany and Italy?
When the League failed to take any effective action, Japan must have realised without the support of US and Soviet Russia, there was little the League could do to prevent them from further invading China.
While Soviet Russia joined in 1934, it was clear that Stalin was not focused on the League but agricultural and industrial reform. This meant that nothing could stop Japan from doing whatever they wanted to.
For both Italy and Germany, the lessons of Manchuria were encouraging, making them think they could also do whatever they wanted to including their territorial ambitions.
How did Abyssinia affect the actions of Japan, Germany and Italy?
At first, it appeared that the Italian invasion made them take firm action as they imposed economic sanctions on them. It became clear that these sanctions excluded certain key items such as coal and oil, and the League was exposed as guilty of double dealing. The Hoare Laval Pact confirmed this.
Both Hitler and Mussolini were delighted with this and appeared to them that the League were incapable of taking effective action. It meant that there would be more aggressive behaviour from Italy and Germany would soon be furthering his policy of destroying the Treaty of Versailles.
Why hadn’t rearmament happened for Britain and France? Why did they need to rearm?
This meant both countries needed to rearm to stop Germany and Italy from taking further action. Rearmament had not happened before for a number of reasons:
Money had been scarce and neither Britain nor France had spent what they should have on their defences.
Both countries had used collective security as an excuse for underspending on their security.
Public opinion was firmly against any major security spending because they placed more faith in the League than politicians did.
Rearmament was a top priority but it was unlikely it would preserve world peace on its own. Why was this and what actions did they take?
By the summer of 1936, it was clear that rearmament was a top priority, but it was unlikely it would preserve world peace on its own. This is partly because it would take several years for Britain and France to get rearmament programmes fully underway. Therefore, while defences were being repaired, a policy of appeasement was adopted towards the rulers, Mussolini, and Hitler.
What’s appeasement? An example? Who opposed it? Was it mainly supported?
Appeasement was the name given to the foreign policy adopted towards Mussolini and Hitler by Britain and France during the mid to late 1930’s. It involved making pacts and deals with them in order to satisfy their demands without going to war. Although it was opposed by many people, including Churchill, appeasement was supported by a majority of British and French politicians between 1935 to 1939. The most famous example of appeasement was the Munich Agreement of September 1938.
What were Hitler’s foreign policy aims?
When Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, he had one objective, he wanted to make Germany great again. Hitler was a man with grand vision for Germany. This could be achieved by pursuing a number of secondary objectives:
Destroy the ToV
He wanted to break the disarmament clauses by introducing conscription (a military service) and by building up the army, navy, and air force.
Remilitarising Rhineland as then Germany’s western frontier would be secured.
Lost territory would be regained.
Create a Greater Germany
All German speaking people would be brought into the Reich (empire)
The frontiers of Germany would be extended to cover those areas where the population was mainly Germans, including Austria, parts of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
Destroy communism
Germany would be drawn into conflict with Soviet Russia.
Acquire lebensraum (living space)
Hitler thought that all the Germans should have ‘living space’
This meant more land for their recreation
It implied expansion eastwards at the expense of Poland and Soviet Russia
Build up a central European empire
Once Hitler has achieved all above, he would be the master of a new central European empire, the most powerful state in Europe or even the world.
France
He possibly wanted to have France as a client state (a state that is in control of another state) and so extend German domination to the Atlantic
It was not clear to begin with if Hitler was heading towards war. Much of what he did was trying to achieve equality with Britain and France, not war/ What did he do for the following dates:
1933 Jan 1934 July 1934 Jan 1939 March 1935 June 1935
1933
Germany refused to pay anymore reparations, left the League of Nations..
These were Hitler’s first strikes against the Versailles Settlement. Germany also began to rearm in secret.
January 1934
Ten-year non-aggression pact with Poland agreed
This would remove the prospect of war with Poland if Hitler decided to make a move against Austria or Czechoslovakia.
July 1934
Attempted union with Austria
This followed the murder of the Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis. Hitler wanted to attack but Mussolini did not approve and moved Italian troops to the Brenner Pass (between Italy and Austria). Hitler backed down and denied any responsibility for the murder of the Chancellor.
January 1939
Saar Basin plebiscite
This was legal according to the Treaty of Versailles. The people of Saar took a vote and results showed that over 90% were in favour for returning to Germany.
March 1935
Reintroduction of conscription (military service)
This was a direct challenge to the Allied powers. Hitler announced his intention of building up the army to 550,000 men with the creation of an air force. The Allies responded with the formation of the Stresa Front. Hitler got away with it, although his action promoted France and Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia to sign mutual assistance pacts. This creates more jobs.
June 1935
Anglo- German Naval Agreement (England and Germany)
The pact allowed Germany to have a fleet that was 35% the size of Britain’s, with submarines at 45%. This pact legalised German naval rearmament and was made without obtaining the agreement of France or Italy. This gave the impression that it was quite in order for countries to pursue their interests regardless of others. Mussolini felt encouraged to apply the same principle by extending Italy’s colonies.
What is Stresa Front?
a united stand made by Britain, France and Italy against Hitler’s violations of the disarmament clauses of the Treaty of Versailles. It was a worded protest and was soon undermined when Britain negotiated the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of June 1935.
What are mutual assistance pacts?
agreement between two or more countries whereby one country promises to help another in return for a promise of a similar kind.
The remilitarisation of the Rhineland, 1936. What did they do to achieve this? Why didn’t Britain and France stop them? What did he suggest after he remiltarised Rhineland?
From a German’s viewpoint, the Rhineland was a constant reminder of how they lost the war and so they invaded, with a good amount of troops against a possible massive army, German forces marched into the Rhineland in 1936. Both Britain and France realised that it was bold and reckless to risk European peace over whether or not German troops should be allowed to occupy part of their country. The French were not that concerned as they were in the middle of a financial crisis and facing elections in six weeks time.
Hitler followed his Rhineland triumph with peaceful intentions and suggested a 25 year non – aggression pact with the western powers.
The Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Who was on who’s side? Who won?
In July 1936, General Franco (general of Spain) started the Spanish Civil War when he led a right-wing attack (people who do not support communism) against the republican government of the Popular Front (a mixture of socialists, communists, anarchists and syndicalists). Alongside Franco, was Falange, Spain’s fascist party.
Hitler and Mussolini decided to support Franco while Stalin, leader of Soviet Russia supported the republicans. Britain and France decided not to get involved.
After thirty months, in which three quarters of a million lives were lost, Franco emerged victorious and Franco established a fascist style government.
From Hitler’s point of view, the war offered a series of opportunities. What did he hope to achieve and what did he actually achieve?
What Hitler hoped to achieve:
If Franco was successful, then Spain would become their ally. This would provide Spanish naval bases for the German navy.
Germany’s armed forces would get practice for when they invade.
Since Mussolini was helping out, Hitler hoped that this would provide the occasion to detach the Italina leader from. the allies and draw him into an alliance with them.
Hitler hoped that a civil war would distract western officials from the affairs of central Europe.
What Hitler actually achieved:
Following the surrender of Madrid to the Nationalists in March 1939, Spain failed to become an ally and opted for neutrality allowing them to concentrate on their domestic problems
They were able to practice and perfect dive-bombing techniques in the assault.
Hitler succeeded in persuading him to abandon them.
This happened to an extent, the war lasted for 3 years and during this time, Hitler was able to take successful action over Austria and Czechoslovakia in central Europe.
