The Interwar Period Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the Interwar Period?
The time between the end of WWI (1919) and the start of WWII (1939).
What major themes defined the Interwar Period?
Rise of nationalism, military expansion by Germany/Italy/Japan, and failure of Allied peacekeeping.
What happened in June 1919?
The Treaty of Versailles was signed, punishing Germany.
What was the Weimar Republic?
A fragile democratic government in Germany (1919–1933) that was replaced by Hitler’s regime.
What was the League of Nations?
An international peacekeeping organization created in 1920, weakened by U.S. absence and lack of enforcement.
Why did France occupy the Ruhr in 1923?
Germany defaulted on war reparations, so France sent troops as compensation.
What was the Beer Hall Putsch?
Hitler’s failed attempt to overthrow the Weimar government in November 1923.
What was the Dawes Plan (1924)?
U.S. loans to Germany to rebuild its economy and help pay reparations; it later failed due to the Great Depression.
Who became dictator of Italy in 1925?
Benito Mussolini, establishing the first fascist regime.
What were the Locarno Treaties (1925)?
Agreements to normalize relations with Germany and prevent future wars.
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)?
An agreement among nations to not use war to resolve conflicts.
What triggered the Great Depression in 1929?
The U.S. stock market crash, which led to global economic collapse.
Why did Japan invade Manchuria in 1931?
To acquire resources like coal and iron due to economic crisis.
What happened in January 1933?
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany.
What did Italy do in October 1935?
Invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to expand its empire.
What happened in March 1936?
Germany reoccupied the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
What was the Rome-Berlin Axis (Oct 1936)?
A military alliance between fascist Germany and Italy.
What was the Anti-Comintern Pact (Nov 1936)?
An anti-communist pact signed by Germany and Japan (later joined by Italy).
What was the Anschluss (1938)?
Union of Germany and Austria, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
What was the Munich Agreement (Sept 1938)?
Allowed Hitler to occupy the Sudetenland in exchange for a promise to stop expansion.
What happened in March 1939?
Germany broke the Munich Agreement by occupying all of Czechoslovakia.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (Aug 1939)?
An agreement between Hitler and Stalin to not fight and to divide Poland.
What happened on Sept 1, 1939?
Germany invaded Poland, beginning WWII.
What happened on Sept 3, 1939?
Britain declared war on Germany, officially starting World War II.
