CONFLICT + TENSION Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the membership of the league and how it changed over the years

A
  • 42 members upon founding
  • Rose to 58 by 1934
  • Four permanent members - Britain, France, Italy and Japan
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who’s idea was the league of nations

A

Woodrow Wilson

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Main aims of the league

A
  • Stop war from breaking out again
  • Encourage disarmament
  • Improve working conditions
  • Tackle deadly diseases
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why wasn’t America part of the league

A
  • The senate refused to agree even though WIlson tried to convince the people it was a good idea
  • Too many young Americans had died in Europe during the war
  • Pursued the policy of isolation to keep themselves distant from Europe
  • WIlson was devestated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who was originally denied entry to the league, and how did this change

A
  • Britain and France were suspicious of Communist Russia and so they were forbidden from joining
  • Countries who had lost the war weren’t allowed (like Germany)
  • The Locarno Treaty of 1926 was signed and Germany was allowed into the league
  • Hitler took Germany out of the league in Nov 1933 and Japan and Italy also left
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What responsibility did the league have over Germany’s colonies

A

They would run as mandates (The league would run as colonies until they were ready to be independent)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How did the league plan to keep peace

A
  • Collective security - If all countries worked together there would be the threat of the masses
  • Mitigation - Countries would talk through their problems
  • Moral condemnation - Countries would reprimand the aggressor
  • Economic sanctions - Members wouldn’t trade with the aggressor
  • THe league didn’t have it’s own army, so if absolutely needed they would ask embers to lend their armed forces
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What was the assembly of the league

A
  • Every countries representatives were sent which met once a year to discuss and vote on matters
  • Every country had an equal vote and the results had to be unanimous for the motion to be passed
  • In charge of decided when a new country could join, election of judges to Court of international justice, and deciding how the money was spent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How was the council of the league set up

A
  • There were 4 permanent members : Britain, France, Italy and Japan
  • Four other countries would be chosen to sit on the council each for a three-year term
  • It was later increased to 9 non-permanent members
  • If the assembly made a unanimous vote then the council had the power of VETO on it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was the Permanent COurt of International Justice

A
  • A court of law that would settle international arguments
  • Any country could bring an issue and 11 judges and 4 deputy-judges would give a verdict
  • The court would give advice on what they thought, but couldn’t make decisions
  • Elected by the assembly and the council, and judges would fill that role for 11 years
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Responsibilities of the Secretariat in the league

A

The civil service that would be in charge of dealing with any decisions the league made, except military ones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Were the punishments the league threatened severe enoguh

A

There were so many members, so economic sanctions and moral condemnation were daunting punishments for many countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Membership problem of the league

A

Many important countries didn’t join the league like the USA

THhs undermined the league as a ‘global’ organisation and meant that if a country faced economic sanctions, it could still trade with some of the most powerful countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Other structural weaknesses of the league

A
  • No standing army which meant they could not force people to obey it
  • The structure was very complicated which confused people and slowed down action
  • Decisions had to be unanimous which slowed down decision making
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

International Labour organisation aims, successes and failures

A
  • Bring workers, employers and government together to improve conditions that people worked in
  • Set up minimum wage in 77 countries
  • Tried to stop children under the age of 14 working, however was not adopted by most countries
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Commission for Refugees aims, successes and faliures

A
  • Return prisoners of war home and support refugees by improving camps or finding new homes
  • Helped free 427,000 out of 500,000 refugees from WW1 and helped 1.5mil Russians find new homes after their civil war
  • In 1933, tried to appoint a high commissioner for refugees (who were mainly Jews fleeing Germany), but Germany VETO it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Economic and financial committee successes and failures

A
  • Sent financial experts to Austria and Hungary to prevent them going bankrupt
  • Unable to cope after the depression hit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Health committee successes

A
  • Started an international campaign to kill mosquitoes that spread deadly diseases
  • Sent officials to Russia to educate on how typhus was spread
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Explain the Corfu incident of 1923, and how the league dealt with it

A
  • Greece and Albania were having border disputes so Italian general Tellini was given the job
  • He was murdered and the Italians blamed the Greeks
  • Mussolini invaded and occupied Corfu
  • Greece appealed to the league
  • They deemed that Greece should pay compensation but also morally condemned Italy
  • Greece paid compensation directly to Italy and apologized in the end
  • A large country had threatened a smaller country, the league proved that they could be ignored
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Explain the Bulgaria incident of 1925 and how the league reacted

A
  • Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border so Greece invaded
  • Bulgaria appealed to the league and the league condemned the Greeks and ordered them to withdraw
  • Greece thought the league was hypocritical as Italy managed to get away with it in Corfu 1923
  • Greece was too small of a country and didn’t want to risk poor relations with the league so obeyed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How did the league react to the Wall Street Crash

A
  • America traded with lots of countries globally and now couldn’t, so lots of economies collapsed
  • People lost faith in their governments and turned to extremist groups like the Nazis
  • The league was powerless to do anything to help people or to control these new party leaders who were willing to resort to violence
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What international agreements happened without the league and why

A
  • Locarno Treaties 1925 - France and Germany signed border treaties and agreed to settle disputes peacefully, it represented the end of German resentment to Versailles and a voluntarily signing rather than the Diktat in 1919. Germany. asn’t a member so the league was uninvolved
  • Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 - 65 countries met in Paris to agree not to use war to solve disputes, and the USA was involved.USA wasn’t a member and so didn’t go through the league
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How did the Great Depression affect the League of Nations

A
  • Extremist groups came into power as people became desperate and liked their radical solutions
  • Hitler and Mussolini weren’t threatened by moral condemnation or collective security
  • The league didn’t have it’s own army to fight the aggressive dictatorships and countries didn’t want to provide their troops as they were affected as well
  • Economic sanctions wouldn’t work either as no one was willing to stop trading with others as it would create more unemployment and hurt their own people
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why did Japan want Manchuria

A

Much of their exports were based on luxury goods like silk to countries like America, so when the depression hit, no one wanted to buy these luxury products. Manchuria was rich in natural resources like coal and iron ore

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Why was Manchuria an ideal place to invade

A
  • Geographically close to Japan
  • Japan already had the South Manchurian railway and troops stationed there
  • There was confusion of who owned the area - China, Russia and Japan all claimed it in the past, and now it was owned by a weakening warlord
  • Japan was scared China might kick out Japanese industry
  • It would distract the Japanese people from their domestic issues
  • The Japanese army was getting stronger and the people started to support them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How did the Mukden incident lead to an invasion of Manchuria

A
  • 18 September 1931, there was an explosion on the South Manchurian railway and the Japanese army claimed that it was attacked by the Chinese
  • The Chinese denied this
  • The Kwantung army stationed in Japan invaded and took control of Manchuria
  • The Japanese people were delighted, but the government wasn’t happy but went along with it
  • In 1932, Japan renamed it Manchukuo and put a puppet ruler in charge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Why was the league reluctant to react to Manchuria

A
  • Many thought that Japan had entitlement to the area
  • China and Japan was far away from Britain and France, so thought it was too far away to be a real concern
  • The Japanese claimed that China had attacked them first
  • China’s politics were disorganised and some thought that it was a good thing Japan was trying to introduce order
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

After moral condemnation and ordering Japan to withdraw was ineffective - why weren’t other measures taken

A
  • Members of the league couldn’t afford to send troops so far away to fight someone else’s battles
  • Japan’s main trading partner was the USA and so economic sanctions would be ineffective
  • The USSR was the closest to Japan, but weren’t in the league so couldn’t be called upon for help
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What did the league do in reaction to Manchuria

A
  • Put together a commission of inquiry led by British politician Lord Lytton
  • He was sent over to the area to investigate
  • His report took over a year to come back and in Oct 1932, it concluded Japan was in the wrong and even if there was an attack, Japan overreacted and shouldn’t have invaded
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

How did Japan react to the Lytton report

A

Japan ignored them, leaving the league and invading Jehol another region. These areas were used as a base to launch a full scale invasion of China in 1937, and by 1938, most major cities were Japanese

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Why was the Stresa Front significant

A

Between Italy, Britain and France, it united them against Hitler, and prevented also fascist Mussolini from allying with him

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Why did Mussolini want Abyssinia

A
  • Wanted to expand his empire and Abyssinia was one of the only independent countries in Africa
  • He didn’t think Britain and France could stop him as they had colonies in this region as well
  • Italy owned small colonies bordering it (Eritrea and Somaliland), so he could attack from there
  • Abyssinia could be good for the economy as it has natural resources and flood land for grazing animals
  • In 1896, Italy had failed to invade and Mussolini wanted revenge
  • He felt confident the league wouldn’t react like in Manchuria and Corfu
  • Felt confident that Britain and France wouldn’t stop him, as it would break up the Stresa Front
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Why did the league fail to stop the invasion of Abyssinia

A
  • Failure to close Suez Canal - Owned by Britain and France and they failed to close this as they didn’t want to upset Mussolini. It would’ve prevented him getting munitions from Italy to Abyssinia quickly
  • Trade sanctions against Italy - Members were forbidden from importing Italian goods and from selling weapons to Italy, but it took 2 months to decide what else to ban so oil, steel, iron and coal weren’t banned.
  • Trade sanctions against Abyssinia - Arms were banned to Abyssinia and Italy leaving them with nothing to defend themselves with
  • Hoare-Laval Pact - In December 1935, they met in secret to give Abyssinia a third of the land and Italy ⅔ with the industry. This was done outside the league and proved that Britain and France were willing to undermine the league for their own self-interest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

How did Italy respond to the league’s actions at Abyssinia and what impact did this have on the leave

A

In May 1936, they left the league leaving Britain France and the USSR to run the league, however it proved that they were more interested with their own welfare than protecting the covenant of the league. Small countries knew they wouldn’t be protected against permanent members

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

When was the USSR allowed to join the league

A

1934

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Why were coal, iron, steel and oil not included in trade bans

A

British were worried it would cause unemployment of miners and Italy could buy oil from America

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Reasons why the league failed

A
  • Structure - No army, met only once a year, power of Veto, order was complex (makes decisions slow). Powerful countries weren’t scared of the punishments
  • Membership - America refused to join, and USSR and Germany weren’t allowed in (trade sanctions were ineffective)
  • Depression - countries were concerned with their own problems and people tuned to extremists
  • League were slow to act to Manchuria and Abyssinia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Hitler’s main foreign policy goals when coming to power to make Germany a world power again

A
  • Overturn the treaty of Versailles
  • Rearm Germany to become strong again - creating jobs in factories
  • Take lebensraum in the east - enough land to live and farm
  • Unite Volksdeutsche - Create a greater Germany uniting all German blood
  • Anschluss
  • Destroy communism before it ‘destroyed Germany’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

How would lebensraum lead to war

A

He would have to invade Eastern European countries and so would be considered an act of war and other countries may try to join int

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

How would rearmament lead to war

A

Hitler wanted to introduce conscription and build the Luftwaffe to help reduce unemployment and make Germany strong again, but this broke international law (Treaty of Versailles) and other countries would become suspicious why Germany needed a large army

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

How would Volksdeutsche lead to war

A

He would have to reclaim all land lost in the treaty of Versailles and gain control of land where there were Germans living. Hitler would be breaking international law and it was unlikely they would give up without a fight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

How would destroying communism lead to war for Hitler

A

USSR had a massive army and had begun to develop better relations with Britain and France. THey were also allies with eastern european countries. Hitler was provoking a strong enemy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

When did Chamberlain come to power

A

1937

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Why didn’t Britain react to Hitler’s foreign policy

A
  • Many British politicians were satisfied that Hitler didn’t want war after he signed the 10-year non -aggression pact with Poland in 1934
  • Fear of a repeat of the war
  • Appeasement was used to give Hitler a little of what he wanted in return for not having a full blown war
  • Some thought that the treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany
  • Germany acted as a good buffer between the Communist expansion
  • The Stresa Front was signed in 1935 to unite against allying with Hitler
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Why didn’t France react to Hitler’s foreign policy

A
  • Daladier faced rebellions from the people due to the depression
  • The government found it hard to focus on Hitler when they had their own problems
  • France couldn’t have acted without the help of Britain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Why didn’t the USSR react to Hitler’s foreign policy

A
  • Stalin was cautious of Hitler, but also cautious about Britain and France
  • However in 1935, he signed a treaty with France saying they would work together
  • He felt working with capitalist states was worth it to prevent Hitler invading east
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Why didn’t the USA react to Hitler’s foreign policy

A
  • America followed a policy of isolationism in the 1920’s and this continued through the 30’s
  • In the 1936 election, Roosevelt promised to keep America out of any war in Europe
  • There was little they could do, apart from start preparing their own armed forces
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

When and why did Hitler leave the League of Nations Disarmament Conference

A
  • Hitler said he would diarm if everyone else agreed also
  • He demanded an equal size army of France
  • They refused to cooperate
  • He stormed out claiming the French were unreasonable
  • Germany left the league as a whole
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

When was the Dollfuss Affair and what were the impacts

A
  • Many Austrians and Germans thought it should be one country
  • Austrian chancellor Dollfuss banned the Nazi party in Austria and Hitler responded by telling Austrian Nazi’s to assasinate him
  • The Austrian army supported the government and Italy also backed Austria
  • Hitler realized he wasn’t strong enough and blamed it all on the Austrian Nazis
50
Q

When did Hitler rearm publically

A

In March 1935, he showed off the weapons he had been building secretly and introduced conscription in 1936, expanding his army to 1mil and building a Luftwaffe. Hitler could openly defy the treaty

51
Q

When was the Saar plebiscite and what were the impacts

A
  • January 1935
  • 90% voted to be part of Germany rather than France, and Hitler took this opportunity to use this as propaganda
  • He now had an area of heavy industry for his war effort
52
Q

When was the Anglo-German Naval agreement and what were the impacts

A
  • June 1935
  • Britain felt the treaty was too harsh and so signed an agreement with Germany saying that Hitler could build his Navy to 35% the size of the British one and 45% of submarines
  • Britain hadn’t consulted France or Italy before signing
  • Military terms of the treaty were pretty much dead
53
Q

When was the reoccupation of the Rhineland

A

7 March 1936

54
Q

How many soldiers were marched into the Rhineland

A

22,000

55
Q

Why did Hitler want the Rhineland

A

Hitler had to defend Germany’s borders in the west before he could advance east and it was also a good test to see if France would react

56
Q

What did Hitler use as his excuse to remilitarise the Rhineland

A

The Franco-Soviet Pact of 1935. He said he felt threatened and so marched in, being greeted with flowers and no resistance

57
Q

Why didn’t Britain react to the Rhineland

A
  • Britons felt Germany had the right to protect their borders and some thought it was naturally his
  • British troops were dealing with Abyssinia
  • The depression meant they couldn’t afford to get into foreign affairs
58
Q

Why didn’t France react to the Rhineland

A
  • Politicians were busy fighting a general election, and no one wanted to be responsible for going to war
  • Much of the French army had been moved to Tunisia in case Abyssinia needed intervention
  • French generals believed the Germans invading Rhineland were a lot better equipped than they actually were and didn’t want to risk their own men
59
Q

Why didn’t the league do anything about the Rhineland

A

They were dealing with Abyssinia

60
Q

Why was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland so significant

A
  • Hitler grew confident that he could do as he pleased
  • Hitler turned his attention to considering how to break the treaty in other ways
  • Britain and France started rearming
  • France had treaties with several Eastern European countries saying that they would protect, but now they turned attention to their own defence
  • France felt that they couldn’t rely on Britain if they were invaded
  • Mussolini saw Hitler as a force to be reckoned with and so signed the Rome-Berlin Axis
  • Hitler was ready to defend his western borders for an eastern invasion
61
Q

What was Hitler’s response to the Spanish civil war

A

He sent troops with Mussolini to help Franco (the fascist upriser). He was able to try his new weaponry, troops could get experience, Hitler would gain an ally if Franco won, and USSR was backing Franco’s enemies so saw it as a good way to destroy communism

62
Q

What was Hitler’s alignment with Japan and Italy like

A
  • Japan had previously fought against the USSR and there was still rivalry between them
  • Hitler signed the Anti-Comintern pact that opposed communism and Mussolini later joined
  • Together they couldn’t agree a total focus (Japan wanted to destroy USSR however Italy wanted to destroy Britain and France)
  • With all 3, the Pact of Steel was signed in 1940
63
Q

How were the Nazi’s able to achive Anschluss

A
  • Dollfuss was replaced by Schuschnigg and was worried so made a deal with the Nazi’s and in return would give them key positions in the government
  • In Jan 1938, police raided Austrian Nazi headquarters and discovered plans to overthrow Schuschnigg, followed by demonstrations against the government
  • Schuschnigg met with Hitler in Berchtesgaden (his mountain retreat), and appointed Seyss-Inquart as minister fot he interior.
  • Nazi’s were now given high ranking poisitions, and released from prison as Hitler only gave Schuschnigg a couple of days to do this or be invaded
  • Schuschnigg held a plebiscite to see if the people had the support of Hitler (he wouldn’t invade if not)
  • on 11th March 1938 Hitler demanded the plebiscite be postponed and agreed fearing lack of support
  • Seyss-Inquart was given the role of chancellor on the same day and he declared that Austria required German help
  • The next day, troops invaded, however was badly planned but there was zero resistance, including Italy
  • Hitler held the plebiscite on the 10th April, with heavy presence of stormtroopers - 99% voted in favour of Anschluss
64
Q

What happened socially in Austria after Anschluss

A

Anti-semitism attacks took place on the streets and Jews were shamed

65
Q

British reaction to Anschulss

A
  • Britons felt it was essentially the same country so should be allowed to unite
  • Opposition from some including Churchill who believed if Austria wanted Anschluss then Germany should’ve negotiated it
  • Anti war and anti Versaille still help the majority of the population so there was little appetite to get involved
66
Q

French reaction to Anschluss

A

They had their own political problems and 2 days before the invasion, the whole government resigned

67
Q

How did Czechoslovakia react to Anschluss

A
  • They knew Hitler wanted lebensraum and they would be next
  • France agreed to support their ally, so Britain agreed as well
  • Hitler gave Chamberlin his word that he wouldn’t invade
68
Q

Why did Hitler target the Sudetenland

A
  • Czechoslovakia had been set up under the Treaty of Versailles and he saw the Sudetenland as the first step to invading it. It was righting another wrong of the treaty.
  • It was home to forts, railways, and industries that would benefit Hitler’s war effort as well as all the factories including the Skoda factory
  • Home to around 3mil German-speaking people (20% of population), so as a minority group they claimed that they had been persecuted by them and that Hitler had to save them
  • It was a good base to attack the rest of czechoslovakia
69
Q

How was appeasement used in the Sudeten crisis, and why

A
  • Having seen devastating bombing campaigns in Spain, and fearing that civilians would be the target of the Luftwaffe, people were desperate to avoid a full invasion
  • On 15 November 1938, Chamberlain flew to Berchtesgaden and Hitler told him that the crisis could only be resolved if he was allowed the Sudetenland
  • Chamberlain met with the Czechs and forced them into agreeing to the conditions
70
Q

What did Hitler do on 22 September 1938 when meeting with Chamberlain for the 2nd time

A
  • In Bad Godsberg, Hitler changed his demands
  • He now insisted that the Sudetenland be handed over by the 1 October and insisted Hungary and Poland also receive Czech land
  • This is not what Chamberlin had agreed to
71
Q

What happened at the Munich conference

A
  • Hitler insisted that the Czechoslovakian army leave the Sudetenland and the area be handed to Hitler
  • Hungary and Poland wanted to claim land on the borders and so Hitler demanded that this happened
  • Hitler promised peace in Europe for the return of the Sudetenland
72
Q

What were the reactions to the Munich Conference

A
  • Chamberlain and Daladier were eager to accept Hitler’s demands - they could claim war had been prevented and Czechoslovakia’s borders were safe and they upheld their promise to defend Czechoslovakia
  • Hitler had got everything he wanted - On 10 October 1938 he marched his troops into the Sudetenland with not opposition
  • The Czech government hasn’t been consulted and now the people found themselves under German occupation
  • USSR was also not consulted which made Stalin feel betrayed and so looked to closer relations with Hitler
73
Q

When was the Munich conference

A

29 September 1938

74
Q

Who was and wasn’t invited to the Munich conference

A

WAS - Germany, Britain, France, Italy

WASN’T - USSR, Czechoslovakia

75
Q

Explain the peace lasting after the Munich Conference

A
  • Chamberlain claimed it was a great victory for Britain
  • The day after the conference he met Hitler along and they signed the Anglo-German declaration that they would never go to war again
  • As Chamberlin stepped off his private plane on his return to Britain he waved a copy of the declaration whilst Hitler declared there would be a peaceful christmas
76
Q

Why was the invasion of Czechoslovakia significant

A
  • The first time Hitler had invaded a country where he had no claim (No German speakers and not German pre-Versailles)
  • With support, Czechoslovakia could’ve held back the Nazi invasion but the opportunity was missed
  • Britain and France had alienated the USSR and lost a valuable ally
  • Hitler had to admit the policy of appeasement had failed and so promised Poland that would be the next victim they would protect them
77
Q

When did Hitler invade the rest of Czechoslovakia

A

15 March 1939

78
Q

Why did Britain sign the anglo-German naval agreement

A

Britain knew Hitler was building up his navy, so if they made an agreement with him, at least there would still be some control over the naval supremecy

79
Q

How did Hitler get away with leaving the World Disarmament conference

A

France refused to disarm as well

80
Q

How was Hitler able to leave the World disarmament conference

A

France refused to disarm as well

81
Q

Why didn’t the allies stop Hitler and Mussolini getting involved with the Spanish civil war

A

They weren’t the ones who started the war, they were just supporting Franco

82
Q

Arguments for appeasement

A
  • People felt the treaty was too harsh on Germany and so it was only fair to allow Hitler to overturn parts of it
  • Chamberlin’s own son was killed in WW1 and so knows the importance of not going to war
  • Hitler kept telling the British that he was a man of peace
  • Many of Hitler’s actions gave the people what they wanted (99% in Anschluss)
  • The depression meant that Britain and France could not afford to fight and had their own problems to worry about
  • Communism was a greater threat than Hitler and a strong Germany could be a buffer between the USSR and Europe
  • Britain wasn’t ready for war and rearmament did start till 1936 - Britain needed time
  • The USA signed 2 neutrality acts in the 1930’s saying that they would not get involved if Europe went to war, so without support from a powerful country or the league, Britain and France were the only ones left
83
Q

Arguments against appeasment

A
  • People misjudged Hitler - they should’ve known better than to trust him
  • People missed opportunities to stop Hitler
  • Hitler grew more confident with the more he took
  • Appeasement was morally wrong, as it left countries like Czechoslovakia occupied by the Nazis
  • Appeasers forced Czechoslovakia to back down to Hitler as they didn’t want to fight, but they were strong and with little support could’ve stopped Hitler
  • Appeasement alienated the USSR, and Stalin didn’t rely on Britain and France
84
Q

Why did Germany want Poland

A

It was the next place on his lebensraum quest and many Germans had been rehomed after the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler had also grown confident that he could take Poland without any opposition

85
Q

Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed

A

Poland got land from both Germany and USSR, and Hitler couldn’t risk invasion with Soviet backlash, so they agreed to both invade

86
Q

Why did Stalin not trust his old allies

A
  • Joined the league in 1934, but witnessed how weak it was dealing with crisis, so lost faith in the ability to protect Russia from Hitler’s threats
  • When Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland, and France did nothing, Stalin grew skeptical of their commitment to the Franco-Soviet pact
  • An argument for appeasement was that it would form a communist buffer, so why would he trust them if they didn’t trust him
  • The allies signed the Munich agreement without him
  • Lord Halifax, the foreign minister declined Russian talks sow hen they did need USSR support, Drax was sent (very low and had no power) - Hitler however sent Ribbentrop a senior Nazi which Stalin valued much more
87
Q

Why did USSR sign the Nazi-Soviet pact

A
  • Hitler and Stalin secretly spilt Poland, so he would be reclaiming what had been taken from him
  • Stalin didn’t trust Hitler and suspected he would turn on him, but this gave him time and a buffer to rearm and defend
  • Could see the France and Britain wouldn’t do anything if he got invaded
88
Q

Why did Germany sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact

A

Not having to fight with USSR meant that Hitler wouldn’t have to fight a war on 2 fronts

89
Q

Significance of the pact

A

It made the war inevitable - Hitler would now invade Poland and Britain and France would declare war and without the support of the Russians

90
Q

When was the Nazi-Soviet pact signed

A

23 August 1939

91
Q

When did Nazi and Soviet troops enter Poland

A

1 September 1939

92
Q

When did Britain declare war and why

A

On 3 September 1939, Chamberlin sent an ultimatum to Germany stating Germany were to send their assurances to Britain that they would withdraw troops from Poland by 11AM or troops would be send troops to Europe. With no word past this deadline, war was declared…

93
Q

5 factors for the outbreak of WW2

A
  • Hitler’s foreign policy made it inevitable that land would have to be fought over
  • Appeasement - opportunities were missed to stop Hitler and trusting Hitler was a mistake
  • Nazi Soviet-Pact - Hitler didn’t have to fight on 2 fronts, and allowed Hitler to invade Poland triggering the war
  • Treaty of Versailles - Too harsh and so made Hitler dedicated to overturn it
  • Depression - Desperate people turned to Hitler and Mussolini and countries were too occupied with their own problems and needs to react
  • Failure of league - No cooperation to stop Hitler
94
Q

When was the Paris Peace Conference

A

January 1919

95
Q

How many countries were at the Paris Peace Conference

A

32

96
Q

Aims of Clemenceau at Versailles

A
  • Punish Germany harshly - lots of infrastructure had been destoryed and many soilders died - the people put pressure on for harsh punishment
  • Ensure Germany could never attack France again - reduce military and have Rhineland for security
  • £16bn in compensation
97
Q

Aims of Lloyd George at Versailles

A
  • Public wanted harsh punishment of Germany as many soilders had died but he was concerned Germany would want revenge and start another war if they were too harsh
  • Keep Germany strong as a trading partner for Britain and a buffer for communism
  • Wanted German colonies
  • Weaken German navy - Britain wanted to maintain naval superiority
98
Q

Aims of Wilson at Versailles

A
  • Not too harsh on Germany - made lots of money selling munitions and no fighting on American soil (+worried Germany wanted revenge)
  • League of Nations - he was an idealist
  • Self-determination - allow countries freedom to rule as they please
  • 14 Point implemented
99
Q

When was the armistace

A

11th Novemeber 1918

100
Q

What terms were agreed upon in the armistace that Clemenceu thought should be included in the final treaty

A
  • Germany pay reparations
  • Alsace-Lorraine reigon to France
  • Move army out of Rhineland
101
Q

What prior agreements did the allies make to other countries that they had to fufil at Versailles

A
  • Italy promised land to the Austro-Hungarian empire
  • Japan would be allowed land in China
102
Q

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed

A

28th June 1919

103
Q

What is diktat

A

Dictated Peace

104
Q

What was Germany told would happen if they didn’t sign the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

A

They would resume that war

105
Q

What were the territorial punishments Germany faced in the Treaty of Versailles

A
  • Germany lost 13% of it’s land - 6mil Germans left outside Germany, facing persucution
  • Germany’s colonies in Africa were given as mandates to the League (Britain and France controlled them)
  • Alsace-Lorraine to France
  • Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium
  • North Schleswig to Denmark
  • Saar given to the league for 15years
  • Port of Danzig given to league
  • Germany split in 2 by the Polish Corridor (so they had access to the sea)
  • Anschluss with Austria was forbidden
106
Q

What military punishments did Germany face after Versailles

A
  • Army was limited to 100,000
  • Conscription was forbidden
  • No tanks, submarines or air force
  • Navy limited to 15,000men , 1,500 officers and 6 battlehsips (of limited size)
  • Rhineland demilitarised
107
Q

What economic punishment did Germany face in the Treaty of Versailles

A

£6.6bn in reperations (Article 232) - it would estimated to take until 1988 to pay back

108
Q

What was Germany’s punishment regarding the League of Nations

A

It was forbidden to join

109
Q

British feeling towards the Germans after WW1

A
  • Propoganda that Germans were barbarians left them with little sympathy
  • Barely a family that had not lost a brother, son, or husband
110
Q

How satisfied were the British people with Versailles

A
  • They thought it could and should have been harsher
  • Lloyd George was considered a hero
  • They thought they were safe from Germany
111
Q

How pleased was Lloyd George about the treaty of Versailles

A
  • British Empire gained colonies and ow covered a third of the globe
  • German navy restricted so Britain had naval superiority
  • Concerned about heavy loss of German land as people would want to be part of Germany again
  • Reparations too harsh - needed Germany to be strong for trading
112
Q

How satisfied were the French people with the Treaty of Versailles

A
  • No longer threatened by army as Rhineland was demilitarized
  • Receive reparations
  • Germany deserved much harsher punishment
  • Clemenceau was voted out in the next election
113
Q

How satisfied was Clemenceau people after Versailles

A
  • Should have no army
  • Should own Rhineland
  • Given Saar permenantly
114
Q

What are examples of colonies Germany lost after Versailles

A

Togoland and German East Africa

115
Q

How happy were the American people with the Treaty of Versailles

A
  • Treaty was too harsh
  • Favoured isolationsim and felt the US shouldn’t get involved with European affaris
  • Did not want America to joing the League of Nations
116
Q

How happy was Wilson after the Treaty of Versailles

A
  • Thought America would be dragged into another war as it was too harsh
  • Happy League created, but sad America not in it
  • Most countries would have self determination
  • The rest of his 14 points were ignored
117
Q

Who were the November Criminals

A

Those politicians who signed the Treaty

118
Q

What did the British blockade from Germany in the First World War

A

Food - 763,000 died from starvation

119
Q

Why did the Germans hate Article 231: The War Guilt Clause so much

A
  • They had to accept full responsibility for starting the war
  • Had to pay reparations
  • Vulnerable to the communist threat
120
Q

When did Lloyd George predict the next war would be

A

25years time

121
Q

What did Germans feel they were under Diktat

A

They weren’t allowed to send representatives to the conference and had to accept whatever terms were given

122
Q

What treaty did Austria suffer from

A

Treaty of St Germain