WWII Alliances

Question 1

Non-­Aggression Pact (1934)

Answer 1

Germany signed a ten­-year non­aggression pact with Poland to secure his eastern
border + directly counter the Franco­-Polish alliance of 1925 and France’s Little
Entente.

Question 2

Stresa Front (1935)

Answer 2

Agreement between Britain, France and Italy to counter German aggression.
(Really useless, didn’t really do anything.)

Question 3

Anglo-­German Naval Agreement (1935)

Answer 3

British agreement with Germany which violated the TOV by allowing Germany a much larger navy than permitted by the TOV→ indicated British acceptance of Germany revising the terms of the TOV + German rearmament.

Britain didn’t consult her allies, acted in self­interest to preserve her naval supremacy + felt that the TOV was too harsh + saw Communism as a much greater threat than Nazism→ far more willing to work with Germany than Russia

Question 4

Rome-­Berlin Axis (1936)

Answer 4

After the Abyssinian Crisis, Italy moved away from Britain + France and drew closer to Germany. Previously (1934), Italy had foiled Germany’s attempt at anschluss with Austria→ this paved the way for anschluss.

Question 5

Anti­-Comintern Pact (1936)

Answer 5

Germany+Japan (Italy joined in 1937)— to use Japan as a force to counter the British+Russians in Asia (use Japan to apply pressure in Asia so Hitler would
meet with less resistance in Europe)

Question 6

Nazi­-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

Answer 6

Hitler and Stalin both wanted Poland. Russia was willing to work with Britain and France, but Britain and France clearly didn’t want to work with them→ Russia turned to Germany.

USSR would remain neutral if Germany invaded Poland + they secretly agreed to
divide Poland between them.