Causes of WW2 Flashcards
(32 cards)
What were the four causes of WW2?
WW1, League of nations, Hitler’s aims and actions and appeasement.
When was WW1?
August 4, 1914 - November 11, 1918.
Who were the main powers in powers in WW1?
Allied powers: Britain, France, Russia, USA and ANZACS.
Central powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
Who won WW1 and what were the consequences?
Allied victory with 8 million people dead - “war to end all wars”.
What is an armistice?
It is a ceasefire - an agreement between two sides to put their weapons down until a peace treaty.
Why did Germany agree to sign the armistice?
Their army was depleted and had lost the war.
What was the Treaty of Versailles and when was it signed?
The T of V was a peace treaty with Germany and signed on the 28th of June 1919.
Features of the T of V?
It was dominated by the big 3, Germany had no choice but to sign the “diktat”, Germany regarded it as being very harsh and felt betrayed by Woodrow Wilson’s 14 point speech.
Who were the big 3?
PM George Clemenceau, PM Lloyd George and President Woodrow Wilson. They were known as the bog 3 as they heavily influenced the outcome of WW1.
What were the agreements and disagreements between the big 3?
They all wanted to punish Germany. However, France wanted to make Germany suffer so badly that they would never be able to attack France again whereas the USA and Britain wanted to punish Germany but not to the point where they would be aggravated and attack again.
What were the military terms of treaty?
Military losses · Germany's army reduced to 100,000 · No tanks allowed · Mo air-force allowed · Navy limited to 6 ships and no submarines · Demilitarised Rhineland
Germany reaction the treaty?
- The territorial losses. Germans complained that the loss of seven million subjects and 13.5% of her territory was too harsh. In particular they resented the losses to Poland in the east. Germany was now split in two by the polish corridor.
- The Germans claimed that the allies were trying to bankrupt Germany with their high reparation claims.
- The terms were worked out in secret and forced upon the Germans.
- All of Germany’s colonies were taken away but the allies kept theirs
- The Germans hated having to accept full blame for the war.
- Above all, Germans hated having to disarm because this left the country defenceless against neighbouring states.
What is a quote for Germany’s reactions?
Herr Schneiderman stated that “The allies are driving the knife into the living body of the German people”.
What were the main points of Woodrow Wilsons 14 point speech?
On January 8, 1918 President Wilson made a speech on war aims and proposed peace terms, to the US congress.
He wanted all countries to:
· Secret treaties
· Reduce their armaments
· Adjust colonial claims in the interests of both native people and colonists (reduce the size of empires
· Instigate the freedom of seas – all countries can use the seas to trade
What was the purpose of the League of Nations?
Its purpose was to promote and maintain peace by having a neutral body to settle disputes around the world through negotiations, trading restrictions and a last resort armed force.
Did the League of Nations fails:
Idea-logically it was a great idea but in reality it failed.
What were the weaknesses of the league?
- Not all countries joined the league such as USA, Germany due to WW1 and Russia due to the rise of communism.
- Trade embargo concept wasn’t adhered to and the depression made things hard enough without losing trading partners.
- No army to enforce its wishes (toothless tiger) - the league did not have one army to many seperate ones.
- The league was slow to act – Council of the league only met 4 times a year. Hard to convene emergency meetings to swiftly stop aggressive actions.
- Example of failures- Japan into Manchuria (1931), Italy invaded Abyssinia (Oct 1935).
What were Hitler’s aims and actions?
- Destroy/defy/ignore the Treaty of Versailles (wherever, whenever and however it suited the aspirations for Germany).
- Unite all German speaking people – create a “Greater Germany”.
- Lebensraum (living space) conquers land for Germany in eastern Europe or German citizens to live.
- Defeat communism.
How did Hitler get to power
· Economic and political instability enabled Hitler to come to power (legally) in 1933 when he was appointed chancellor.
· Following president Hindenburg’s death in 1934 he combined the two roles of chancellor and president and appointed himself Fuhrer (supreme leader).
· Immediately began increasing the size of the army, re-building the navy and air-force, introduced compulsory military service and acquired land: Rhineland, Anschluss with Austria, Czechoslovakia. All these actions were in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles.
How did hitlers fulfil his aim from 1933 - 1935?
He spent this time rebuilding his army and defying the T of V.
How did Hitler fulfil his aim in 1936?
He remilitarised the Rhineland area as well as defying the T of V.
How did Hitler fulfil his aim in 1938?
He invaded Austria which is also known as Anschluss in order to unite all German speaking people.
How did Hitler fulfil his aim in 1939?
In March of 1939 he was given the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia only if he stop expanding his land. He then went on to invade Poland which forced Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Hitler did this as he wanted to conquer more living space in the east for is ever expanding greater Germany.
What is an appeasement?
It is a negotiation to in order to avoid conflict.
