Chapter 4 - Outbreak of WWII in Europe Flashcards
(42 cards)
What are the 5 reasons for the outbreak of WWII?
Ineffectiveness of the league, Nazi Germany’s aggressive foreign policy, policy of appeasement, The nazi-soviet aggression pact, invasion of Poland
Explain the success of the Washington naval conference in 1921 at disarmament
Negotiated outside the league to limit the size and number of warships held by British, France, Japan and the US. Organised by the US which was not a league member. Ratio of tonnage of capital ships of Britain, US, Japan France, Italy- 5: 5: 3: 1.67: 1.67
Explain the failure of the Kellogg - Briand pact in 1928 at disarmament
Negotiated outside the league between 15 countries
Agreement that come should not be used to settle disputes but there was no way to enforce the pact this the effort to disarm was unsuccessful
What was the main issue at the world disarmament conference?
To limit offensive weapons that are destructive
Forbade bombing of civilian population, use of chemical warfare and limit size and tonnage of tanks
What were the problems faced at the world disarmament conference?
Disagreement an what constitutes offensive and defensive weapons
Issue of how limitations of weapons should be achieved
Countries used the conference as a way to raise their own issues
Disagreements over terms of TOV limitations the size of Germany’s military
What were the solutions to Germany’s disarmament issues?
Evens country to disarm to a level Germany had been forced to other powers
How did the failure of disarmament make the League of Nations seem ineffective?
It highlighted the importance of the US in international affairs as its economic and militant strength commanded more influence than the weakened European nations in the league that were impacted by WWI and the great depression and chose to focus on national interests
Unwillingness to disarm meant that no meaningful progress was made by the league to disarm which led tan atmosphere of distrust and tension that would lead to WWII
Why was there an atmosphere of distrust amongst countries after the world disarmament conference reconvened in February 1933?
Hitter agreed agreed to attend the conference after it reconvened and seemed genuinely interested when he actually was not interested in disarmament and had secretly started a rearmament programme for Germany
How did the Abyssinian crisis make the league seem ineffective?
The emperor of Abyssinia haile selasie appealed to the league for heIp but was unsuccessful
Both Britain and France could send troops to help Abyssinia but they did not
How did Mussolini take the opportunity to made Abyssinia?
In 1934, Mussolini used a dispute between Italian and Abyssinian soldiers at the wal-wal basis in Abyssinia to invade
When did Italy invade Abyssinia?
May 1936
What were hitler’s 4 aims and beliefs?
Abolishment of TOV, destroy communism, get Lebensraum for Aryans and create an empire to rule inferior races and enforce militarism
Why did Germany withdraw from the Geneva disarmament conference and Lon?
At the GDC, Hitler proposed to France to disarm to the same level of armaments that TOV allowed Germany
France refused
Germany used the French objections as an excuse use to withdraw
What did Hitler do to rearm Germany?
Prepared generals to treble the size of the army to 300 000 men and planned to build 1 000 war planes, stepped up secret rearmament and conscription which were against the terms of TOV
How did Germany’s rearmament lead to the outbreak of WWII?
To allay the Allies’ (France included) fears Hitler insisted that he was committed to peace
They only made verbal protests instead of imposing sanctions on Germany
This allowed Germany to rearm and prepare to fight in war
How did Hitler signing the anglo-german naval agreement with Britain limit him and what did he ad about it?
Allowed Germany a limited build up of its navy
From 1936, Hitler increased Germany’s build up of military capabilities and machinery to achieve expansionist policy
When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
7 March 1936
How did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
Used the franco-soviet alliance as an excuse saying that Germany was under the threat of encirclement by France and the USSR and had to defend herself
How did the remilitarisation of the Rhineland lead to the outbreak of WWII?
France was preoccupied with elections and no French politicians wanted to seem as wanting to start a war
The Lon condemned hitler’s actions but did nothing else as they were distracted by Abyssinian crisis
This allowed Hitler to expand his military in preparation to fight in wars.
What were the 4 factors affecting Britain and France’s decision making in the 1930’s
Us isolationism, sympathy for Germany, national interest, misjudgment of Hitler
Why did the US adopt a policy of isolation in the 1920s and 1930s?
It did not want to get involved in European affairs because of the loss of human lives it had suffered as a result of WWI this resulted in Britain and France not asking for help from the US against Hitler
Why did Britain and France have sympathy for Germany?
There was much criticism of TOV in Europe as people felt that it was fair for Hitler to argue that Germany was unfairly treated and had to disarm when other countries were unwilling
Give an example of Britain and France having sympathy for Germany
When hitter reclaimed the Saar and the Rhineland few spoke up against his actions and politicians were aware of the sympathy that the people of Europe had for Germany
In terms of national interest what was Britain worried about?
More worried about Stalin and the USSR than Hitler and saw Germany as a barrier against the USSR
