– the crisis of June–July 1914 and the outbreak of war.

6.2 Core Content: Option B

The 20th century: International Relations since 1919
Were the treaties of 1919-23
The Core Content in Option B focuses on seven Key Questions:
1 Were the peace treaties of 1919–23 fair?

Good Luck
2
3 fair?
To what extent was the League of Nations a success?
Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

studies ! I
4 Who was to blame for the Cold War?
5 How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism?
with your 6 How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?

1
7 Why did events in the Gulf matter, c.1970–2000?

1 Were the peace treaties of 1919–23 fair?

Focus Points

*(covered in Chapter 8)

Specified Content

– the roles of individuals such as Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George in the peacemaking
process
– the impact of the treaties on the defeated countries
– contemporary opinions about the treaties.
 ‘German army not
Diktat defeated’/ Stab in the back
Germany not
Vengeance Pragmatist invaded Kaiser’s abdication

Clemenceau Lloyd George Circumstances of armistice

Idealist

Wilson

Aims of Big Three Treaty of

14 points: Is it fair?
1. No more secret alliances Versailles Guilt
2. Free navigation of all seas
Article 231 - Germany accepts
3. No economic barriers between Economic
countries
responsibility for starting WWI
£6600 million in
4. Reduction of arms instalments.
5. All decisions regarding colonies should
be impartial
Terms League of Nations - 42
6. German army removed from Russia Restrictions: members joined but
7. Belgium to regain independence. • army 100,000 men Germany not allowed. • Yes: • No:
8. France liberated and gets Alsace • no submarines, • June 1918 • Economy
Loraine back. Territory:
• no air force, • Brest Livosk • League of Nations
9. All Italians are allowed to live in Italy. • Alsace-Lorraine to France
• 6 battleships, • Schliefen Plan • Self determination
Borders to recognise nationality. • Rhineland demilitarised
• no conscription • Germany loses empire - L of N mandate • Diktat • Alliance system
10. Self determination for those in Austria- no Anschluss Diktat
• • Danzig made free city •
Hugary.
11. Self determination for Balkan states. • Saarland made L of N mandate (until
12. Turkish people should govern Turkey; 1935)
self determination for old Ottoman • Malmedy to Belgium
empire. • Upper Silesia to Poland , and Polish
13. Independent Poland should have corridor
access to the sea. • Memel to Lithuania
14. League of Nations set up. • North Schleswig to Denmark.

4
 The Paris Peace Conference
Franco-
Prussian
war starts
Schliefen plan
launched-
start of WWI Armistice-
Schliefen
end of
plan made
WWI
Treaty of Treaty of
Versailles Versailles Treaty of
rejected by Sevres
Congress
Germany David Lloyd
rejects 14 George
points (re)elected

1870 1871 1898 1914 1918 1919 1920 1923

March June November December January June October November June August

Prussia wins Treaty of Treaty of St. Treaty of

Franco Brest- Germain Lausanne
Paris Peace
Prussian war- Litovsk conference
Germany begins Treaty of Treaty of Trianon
formed.
Neuilly

5
 Section 1

What were the aims Aims of the Big Three

and motives of the Lloyd George- Somewhere in the middle
between Wilson and Clemenceau. Wants
Germany’s navy and colonies- his interests are

big three at in preservation of the British Empire. Britain has

suffered badly in WWI, but also L.G is a
pragmatist- He realises compromise must be

Versailles? found, and still wants Germany as a trading

partner. The most cunning of the big three.

Clemenceau - France has suffered the

heaviest casualties and damage in WWI, and
been invaded by Germany for the second time
in 43 years (1871). Wants Germany crippled by
reparations and their armies and borders
limited, so they cannot threaten France again.
Public opinion in France demands this.

Wilson - wants Germany to be treated leniently.

The U.S.A have suffered very little compared to
Britain and France in WWI, and he believes if
Germany are treated too harshly, they will seek
revenge. Wants his 14 points (see next page)
implemented*
Above: From left to right, Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Wilson meet in
Paris to decide the fate of post war Europe.

6
President Wilson was determined that the Fourteen Points would serve
as a basis for the negotiations and he was determined that the Covenant
(or Constitution) of the League of Nations would be in each of the treaties.
The Fourteen Points were as follows:

1.No more secret alliances

2.Free navigation of all seas Freedom of the sea
3.No economic barriers between countries
4.Reduction of arms
5.All decisions regarding colonies should be impartial
6.German army removed from Russia
These two were taken by
7.Belgium to regain independence. - Germany has been
but now

8.France liberated and gets(Alsace Loraine↳back. returned to France .

9.All Italians are allowed to live in Italy. Borders to recognise nationality.

not
10.Self determination for those in Austria-Hugary. ->
Germany was

allowed to have an

11.Self determination for Balkan states. alliance with A H

. .

12.Turkish people should govern Turkey; self determination for old Otto
man empire. Danzig was a port
~
that given to Poland so
13.Independent Poland should have access to the sea.
they have acess to sea
14.League of Nations set up. which split Germany
into two .

However, Britain and France would certainly not like all of Wilson’s points,
as we shall see later. Right: an American cartoon shows the Fourteen
Points as a barrier to Imperialism. Such views would not sit well with Britain,
owner of the world’s largest empire.

7
Section 2

The most important terms of the Treaty

The Treaty of * Article 23/

Versailles 1. Guilt – clause 231: Germany accepted blame ‘for

causing all the loss and damage’ of the war.
men

2. Army – army: 100,000/ no submarines/ no airplanes/

6 battleships/ Rhineland de-militarised
3. Reparations – £6,600 million – in installments, until
132 billion gold
1984). [In the you could instead
exam
write

marks find
.
easier to remember)
(I it

4. Germany lost land – Alsace-Lorraine to France/

Saar to France (15 years)/ Malmedy to Belgium/
- North Schleswig to Denmark/ West Prussia and
have
Germany did'nt Danzig will
for Upper Silesia to Poland/ Danzig a ‘free city’/ Memel
enough money to pay e

they gure to Lithuania/ German colonies became ‘mandates’ of

be important
reparation so
Inter in your
for
the to
saar
France
the League of Nations.
was
studies
reparation The saar
.

filled with mines and 5. League of Nations set up - Germany not invited to
resources essential
for reparation .
join.
6. Anschluss forbidden - Germany could not unite
with Austria.
Above: the Treaty of Versailles. It was signed in the palace of
Versailles on June 28th 1919, exactly 5 years to the day since the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

8
European territory lost by Germany

9
 How Versailles changed the face of Europe

Above: Europe in 1914 (left) and 1919 (right) post - Versailles. What is noticeable is the huge change, bit tin the size of the central powers, and the num-
ber of new countries. This led to a dangerous situation in post war Europe - a number of new, vulnerable and ethnically mixed states, surrounding the
wounded Germany. By the end of 1939 Poland, Czechoslovakia, Danzig, the Saarland and Austria would be under German control.

10
 Section 3

Wanted
Why did the victors What is he happy about
Woodrow Wilson pence
What is he unhappy about

not get everything Self determination for

Czechoslovakia, Poland, Austria
Thinks reparations are too big,
and in general the treaty is too
and Hungary. Alsace given back to severe. Disarmament hasn’t

they wanted? the French, Belgium independent.

League of Nations set up.
happened (other than to
Germany).
Wanted *
George Clemenceau Revenge
What is he happy about What is he unhappy about

I Restrictions on Germany’s armed

forces, Rhineland de-militarised,
Reparations - wanted more. Some
in France wanted Germany split
Tbh I don't
Alsace Lorraine given back, Article
think this is true up into separate states (as had
I'm pretty sure this one 231. been pre 1870).
of the points he was unhappy
Wanted
about
should
.
He thinks the German army
b demilitarized more .
Lloyd George justice
What is he happy about What is he unhappy about

German colonies given to L of N,

(mostly as British mandates). Probably the happiest of the three. The UK sort of
~
- German Navy limited. Probably Possibly still thinks reparations too relied
for trade
Germany
on

The UK was
made sure reparations were lower high, and some at home would still so

for he didn't want

well known than Clemenceau wanted. Article say the treaty was too lenient.
their big powerful
231 pleased him too. Germany to be
Navy So Germany's punished to o
good thing for him
was a

Navy limitedAs we can see, no one was completely satisfied. A compromise was in-
.

Above: The treaty was largely met with euphoria in Europe and America, harshly .

evitable. Their aims and motives (page 4) meant everyone went away
but behind the scenes not everyone was happy.
with reason to be discontented.

11
 Congress fails to ratify the treaty

In November 1919, the U.S congress failed to ratify the treaty of Versailles,
worried about entry into the League dragging America into another Euro-
pean conflict. America followed a period of ‘isolationism’, which would last
until 1941 and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wilson also suffered a stroke in
September 1919, reducing his political influence and power, as he was in-
creasingly incapacitated. Without America recognising the treaty, there
was no America to lead the League of Nations, and the treaty suffered
from a lack of credibility that the Germans would later exploit. Below: The
U.S senate murders the peace treaty, to the horror of humanity ; on the
right the senate saves America from becoming wedded to foreign wars.

12
Section 4

Cartoons about
Versailles

Above: The hypocritical Big Three abolish the militarism of

Germany, but do so with the use of military force; Allied armies stood
poised to invade Germany if the treaty wasn’t signed - it was truly a
diktat.

Right: Another comment on the ‘diktat’ - the Kaiser is forced into

signing. Actually, his abdication soon after the armistice meant he
was not involved in the signing of the treaty.

13
 Cartoons about the Treaty

Left: The big three measure up

Germany for the chop: clearly the
Treaty of Versailles will be the death of
Germany. The use of the guillotine
may imply Clemenceau was to blame
for the treaty being so harsh - the
guillotine was the weapon of choice for
executing nobility in the French
revolution.

Right: Clemenceau the ‘vampire’

sucks the blood out of Germany.
He was seen by many in
Germany as being the driving
force behind the losses the Ger-
mans suffered in the treaty.
Above: Germany tries to wriggle out of its punishment, while Britain
and France act as policeman. Note the absence of the U.S.

14
Left: ‘The Big Three’ are unaware that their actions are condemning
the generation of 1940 to future slaughter: this cartoon is eerily
prophetic. Clemenceau is the ‘tiger’, due to his infamous temper.
Below: ‘Monstrous! Why it’s fully a quarter of what we would of asked
for!’ Britain mocks Germany for its indignation at the treaty, given how
harshly they treated the Russians at Brest -Litovsk. Also, the Germans
planned to wipe out their war debt purely from taking reparations from
losing countries: German tax levels hardly increased during WWI.

15
 Left: Wilson is being naive in his peace
plans - European rivalry and paranoia
means everlasting peace is a pipe dream.

Right: A British cartoon showing Germany

burdened by indemnity (reparations). Even
as the treaty was being signed, some felt
that the reparations were unfair, and poten-
tially catastrophic - John Maynard Keynes
predicted so in his book, The Economic
Consequences of the Peace.

Right: The treaty is shown as the melting pot that it

truly was; the ‘peace soup’ is made up of Wilson’s
‘sweet oil and brotherhood’, but England, France
and Italy are adding liberal doses of national senti-
ment. On top of that, another major ingredient ap-
pears to be militarism, as shown by the weapons
sticking out from the pot. With so many vested inter-
ests in the treaty, it is little surprise that the result
pleased few, and upset many.

16
Section 5

Was the Treaty of

Versailles fair?

Above: German troops are given a hero’s welcome as they return

home from the front. The fact that the German army felt that they had Above: ‘Only when we have paid £6,660 million can I give you some-
not been defeated was a major factor in the indignation at Versailles - thing to eat’; A German cartoon attacks indemnities and the burden it
any treaty would have angered the Germans, as they did not feel placed on a starving Germany.
they had lost the war.

17
 Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? - Analysis

Key Points Explanation

Yes June 1918 Germany rejects Wilson’s 14 points in June 1918, when it looks like they are going to win the war.

The treaty imposed on Russia in March 1918 is far, far harsher . Russia loses 35% of her land. Germany had
Brest-Litovsk also not raised taxes during the war, believing any costs of the war would be financed by making other countries
pay reparations (all assuming Germany would win)

Germany had planned to invade France first before fighting Russia since 1898. This plan also violated Belgium
Schlieffen Plan
neutrality. Germany declares war on France and Russia, only Britain declares war on Germany.

Germany still had a large army and had not been invaded- a Diktat was the winner’s right, and needed to weaken
Diktat
the Germans. The Germans had to accept what was given - they had lost the war!

The German economy was in no state to ever pay back the reparations - it was ravaged by war and civil unrest.
No Economy
What little money the Germans had was needed to rebuild their country.

The alliance system was also to blame for the start of WWI - it was the alliance system that made an
Alliance system
assassination in Sarajevo a world war. To blame the war solely on Germany was unfair.

League of If the League of Nations was meant to promote international peace and co-ordination, why wasn’t Germany
Nations invited to join?

Self-
For the Germans now living in Poland or Czechoslovakia, where was their self-determination?
determination

Diktat The Germans had no choice but to sign, or face invasion.

18
Self-determination leaves a number of newly
Germany is never going to accept the treaty
independent (Poland, Czechoslovakia etc) but
as they cannot understand how they lost the
weak states around Germany but containing
war- hence the popularity of the ‘November
German citizens. This gives some legitimacy to
criminals’ myth.
Hitler’s annexation of these territories later.

‘Revisionism’ - many look back in the

Why does the Treaty of late 1920s and 1930s and think the
Versailles fail? treaty was too harsh and unfair.

Wilson has a stroke and America refuses to

join the League of Nations, meaning it has
lost one of its most powerful members, and
When the depression occurs, Britain and
the driving force behind its creation.
France are too pre-occupied or weak to up-
hold the treaty by use of military force.

19
To what extent was the
League of Nations a success?
Syllabus con

2
2 To what extent was the League of Nations a success?
Focus Points
• How successful was the League in the 1920s?
• How far did weaknesses in the League’s organisation make failure inevitable?
• How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult?
• How successful was the League in the 1930s?

Specified Content
• The League of Nations:
– strengths and weaknesses in its structure and organisation: work of the League’s
agencies/humanitarian work
– successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s
– the impact of the World Depression on the work of the League after 1929
– the failures of the League in the 1930s, including Manchuria and Abyssinia.

3 Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

Focus Points
• What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties of 1919–23?
• What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s?
 The League of Nations
Although it was not his original idea the League of Nations is
often accredited to the US President, Woodrow Wilson. He
certainly made it one of his 14 Points and he was very much
responsible for ensuring that its Covenant (i.e. rules and
regulations) was incorporated into each of the peace treaties.
The two main aims of the League were:
a) to keep the peace by means of collective security
b) to encourage international cooperation.
More precisely the Covenant states:
In order to promote international co-operation and to achieve
peace and security, by the acceptance of obligations not to re-
sort to war, and by the firm observance of international law as
the rule of conduct among governments, and by the mainte-
nance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obliga-
tions, the member states agree to this Covenant of the League
of Nations.
Article 16 – Should any member of the League resort to war in
disregard of its covenants, it shall be deemed to have
committed an act of war against all other members of the
League, which hereby undertake immediately to subject it to the
severance of trade or financial relations…It shall be the duty of
the Council in such case to recommend to the several
governments concerned what effective military, naval or air
force the members of the League shall contribute to the armed
forces to be used to protect the covenants of the League.
Article 23 – Members of the League:
b) will endeavour to secure and maintain fair and humane
conditions of labour, both in their own countries and abroad,
and for that purpose will establish international organizations.
c) will endeavour to take steps in matters of international con-
cern for the prevention and control of disease.
How was the League organized? It consisted of five main
bodies:
a) The General Assembly consisted of representatives of
all the member states (42 at the beginning, 55 by 1926) who
met annually to decide on general policy. Decisions had to be
unanimous.
b) The Council consisted of permanent members (Britain,
France, Italy and Japan in 1920) and temporary members
(between 4 and 9) elected for three years. This body met more
frequently – at least three times a year – to discuss specific
political disputes. It could condemn a country for being in the
wrong and in theory it had the power to impose economic
[sanctions or even use military force.
c) The Secretariat was the bureaucracy, the civil service; it
dealt with all the paperwork at the headquarters in Geneva,
Switzerland.
24
 d) The Permanent Court of International Justice HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS IN
consisted of fifteen judges and was based at the Hague in THE 1920s? The US
Holland. Emade the League
The biggest blow to the League was the decision of the United but did not
e) Commissions and Committees– such as: States not to participate; this clearly undermined its military and join .

economic capability. Nevertheless, in the aftermath of the Great

a) The International Labour Organization (to improve War, because of war weariness there was a considerable
working conditions) amount of good will for the peaceful resolution of disputes. No
b) The Mandates Commission (to look after the former one could contemplate another war so soon after the last one
colonies of Germany and Turkey) and no one could afford a war so soon after the last one.
Accordingly the League had a number of successes, though
c) The Refugees Committee these principally involved minor powers.

d) The Slavery Commission Successes

e) The Health Committee In 1920 the League stopped Yugoslavia invading Albania and
in the following year it settled a dispute between Sweden and
f) The Disarmament Commission (this made little progress).
Finland over the Aaland Islands in the latter’s favour; Sweden
I accepted the judgement
The ones I
The dispute between Poland and Germany over Upper
highlight I
Silesia was settled in 1921 after a plebiscite (vote). The
found it the territory was divided (2/3 to Poland, 1/3 to Germany).
easiest to
remember A dispute between Iraq and Turkey over the oil-rich area by
Mosul was settled in Iraq’s favour, though the latter was a
<I'm pretty sure

info British mandate (1925). Finally the League stopped a war

there's more

this in your
between Bulgaria and Greece, ordering the latter to withdraw
about
its troops and pay compensation (also 1925).
textbook)
Ihave done many
textbook 25
highlights on
my
want
ask me if you
so come

of be I don't use the TB

more
any .
 In addition, the League’s committees and commissions did
much valuable work. The International Labour Organization
(ILO) had some success in reducing working hours and
increasing pay, the Refugee Organization helped thousands of
prisoners-of-war return home, and the Health Organization was
successful in combating a typhus epidemic in Russia.
Many were optimistic
about the difference the
League of Nations could
make , left.
Nevertheless even during this period of its greatest successes
the League suffered a number of failures which served to point
up its inherent weaknesses.
Failures
In 1920, Poland seized Vilna from Lithuania; the League
protested but Poland ignored it – the League did nothing. Later
the Conference of Ambassadors (which had been set up in
Paris to deal with peace treaty problems) overruled the League
and endorsed Poland’s seizure.
Similarly in 1923, the Conference overruled the League’s
position on Corfu. The murder of Italian soldiers sorting out the
border between Greece and Albania led the Italian leader,
Mussolini, to bombard the Greek island of Corfu. The League
condemned Mussolini’s actions. Mussolini initially accepted the
decision but behind the scenes he persuaded the Conference
to overturn it. The Greeks were required to apologise and pay
Italy compensation.
In addition, there were wars between Poland and Russia
(1920) and Greece and Turkey (1920-22) which the League
could do nothing about. So too in 1923 when France invaded
the Ruhr in Germany, the League had no role to play.
So it can be seen that even in its most successful period, the
League suffered a series of failures which did much to illustrate
its weaknesses. These failures were not crises of sufficient im-
portance to generate war. However, the onset of the Great De-
pression and the challenge presented by aggressive major pow-
ers proved to be fatal.
26
Section 1

The Great
E

Manchuria Japan was suffering from economic

problems (depression) and Manchuria
Depression
didn't only
affect the US
represented an easy way to expand

1931-1933 Why did Japan invade

Manchuria?
and gain raw resources. Trade in
Manchuria was very valuable. Also
but also Japan .

Manchuria was in a state of crisis due

to lack of centralised rule in China.

Manchukuo was the puppet state set

up in Manchuria by the Japanese. It
What was Manchukuo?
was claimed as an independent state,
but its orders came from Tokyo.

The Chinese appealed to the league,

and hoped that whey would either
What did the Chinese do?
intervene or stop the Japanese
invasion.
He took
The Lytton enquiry is set up to find
Iway +00
out if Japan’s actions are justified. The damn long
What was the League’s report takes one year (they go by to get there
reaction? boat!) The report lays the blame at and do the

Japan, and says their actions are investigation .

Consider this as
unlawful.
one of the examples
Above: Japan militarism tramples the League, yet the Japanese At the league, a vote of 42 to 1 (the 1 for the League's

are still welcomed in Geneva. Makeup is applied to the League to How did Japan react to the failures
being Japan) condemn the Japanese .

try and keep up the facade that everything is fine. findings of the Lytton
invasion. Japan simply leaves the
inquiry?
League, and continues its invasion.

27
3 reasons why the League fails
Explanation
*What does this show about the League of Nations? Who pays at-
to act over Manchuria tentions to these failings?

Britain and France, the most Hitler, Mussolini and Japan all realise the league will not act if it is not in
powerful members of the League, their best interests, or a powerful aggressive nation acts against a smaller
1) Depression
are facing economic crisis at or weaker nation. The democratic countries (France, Britain, U.S.A) are
home. War is not affordable. failing to deal with the depression, and this makes them weak and unwill-
Britain has a powerful navy and ing to commit resources and money to enforcing the league’s laws.
territories in Asia, however it doe However, Manchuria is still a very early stage of failure- much worse is to
come over the next few years..
- not want to send its most
Sussects powerful asset around the world
2) Logistics
how most against a determined and well-
members of the
Britain
equipped enemy. The potential
League even
didn't really care
for cost, in £ Sterling and in men
other countries . does not seem worth it.

Both Britain and the U.S.A want

to keep trading with Japan, and
3) Self-interest
see them as a potential future ally
against the U.S.S.R.

Right, Uncle Sam is shown by the problem by a hesitant league,

who look to America to act. Manchuria certainly was in the Amer-
ica’s sphere of influence,

28
Section 2

World Disarmament A series of conferences put forward

by the League of Nations aimed at

Conference What was the World Disarmament

Conference?
reducing the size of armies around
the world. Leaders were keen to
avoid another ‘arms-race’, like the

1933-1934 one which had preceded the First

World War.

Hitler demanded that other League

of Nation countries should reduce
their armed forces to Germany’s
size. Germany argued that as
What did Hitler want? Germany was now a league
member, she should be treated
equally - i.e either everyone
disarms, or Germany is allowed to
re-arm.
↓
obviously
France did not want military parity
with Germany - it saw having more
Why did France reject this? armed forces as absolutely
necessary to defend itself against
German aggression.
↓ Brus mad
Hitler walked out of the conferences,
and pulls Germany out of the league
How did Hitler react? of Nations. He begins re-arming,
and publicly announces this in 1935
Above: a cartoon critical of the failure of the World Disarmament
at the Nuremberg rally.
Conference.

29
Explain why the events of the WDC worry France more than any
other members in the League.

France had previous of being invaded by Germany (1871 & 1914), and if
either France reduced their armed forces to Germany’s level, or
Germany was allowed to re-arm, it would leave France open to inva-
sion*. Britain still had the Royal Navy and the English channel to protect
it- there was no possibility it could be invaded. Germany had a
population of 60 million to France’s 40 million - it was therefore essential
France had a bigger army.

*France had already begun building the Maginot line, designed to protect
the French border with Germany from attack. They began building in
1929.

What does this have to do with ‘revisionist’ attitudes with the

Treaty of Versailles?

By the 1930s, many in Europe felt the T of V had been too harsh. The
First World War was still recent, but obviously less so than in the
making of the treaty. After Locarno and Germany’s acceptance into the
L of N, it was felt that Germany was not a threat, and many of the
terms, such as disarmament, reparations and forbidden Anschluss were
unfair. This change in opinions explains why in the 1930s Germany was
able to reverse many of the clauses of Versailles - re-armament,
Rhineland, Anschluss etc without opposition.
Above: Disarmament proved to be a step too far for Europe.

‘Revisionist’ means to look back at something at a later date, and

change opinion.

30
Section 3

Abyssinia Why doesn't the League do anything significant? Explain these

points

1935 - 1936 Wanted Mussolini as an ally - Britain and France hope that they can
make Italy a valuable ally against Germany (remember Italy fought on
the Allied side during WWI.) If they go to war with Italy, they will lose any
chance of an alliance, and push him into an alliance with Hitler. They are
Date Event prepared to put their own needs ahead of the needs, and laws, of the
League of Nations.
I Italy defeated by Abyssinia at the
1896 It was an battle of Adowa by the
embarasment for Trade - America (and to a lesser extent Britain) both had lots of money
Abyssinians.
Italy · to lose if they stopped supplying oil to the Italians. Economists calculated
the damage could be severe at a time when both countries were still in
Italian army invades Abyssinia -
October 1935 the grip of the depression. Again, personal needs came first.
-> poison gas and tanks used.
think the
↓
Treaty
had also bunned chemical weapon usuge .
Military logistics - The Italians had a large (although as WWII would
prove not particularly good) navy, and Britain again didn't want to risk
Hitler re-militarises the
March 1936 sending their trump card, their navy, to fight. It would be very expensive
Rhineland.
and with Hitler re-arming Germany, a dangerous move.

Italy conquers the capital Addis
Abada. The Abyssinian Prime
May 1936
Minister, Haile Selassie, flees.
He had appealed to the League.
Italy leaves the League of
1937
Nations.
Timing- the depression and Hitler’s rise to power meant that Britain and
France didn’t want to act, and probably lacked the means to do so. Ger-
many was now beginning to look like a powerful opponent again, and it
was decided it was better to try and keep Italy as a potential counterbal-
ance (remember Mussolini discourages Hitler from Anschluss in 1934)
than risk war, and Germany and Italy uniting.

31
 What was the Hoare - Laval pact?

The British (Hoare) and French (Laval) foreign ministers make a secret
plan to give Mussolini two thirds of Abyssinia, if he calls of the invasion.
This plan is leaked to the press, and there is outcry in both countries.
The league’s integrity has suffered a blow it never recovers from - its two
most powerful nations have been caught secretly trying to divide a weak
country and give it to an aggressor. This is exactly the kind of action the
League is meant to prevent, not encourage. Both ministers are sacked,
but the damage is already done.

Left: Selassie complains to the
league, who are meant to be
the world’s police force. His
pleas fall on deaf ears.
Above, France and Britain give Mussolini a stern warning about Abyssinia. Unfortu-
nately, he does not listen. Below, Mussolini forgets the ethics that the League, and
himself as a member, is meant to stand for. Meanwhile Britain and France are too
busy looking at their Western borders and Germany.

Who else profits from the invasion of Abyssinia?

Hitler! Sensing that the tine was ripe (as Britain and France were busy with
Abyssinia, he marches into the Rhineland in March 1936. This is a gamble,
but he correctly judges no one will oppose him. He sees Britain and France
will try and avoid war at all cost.

32
 Worth taking note
Section 4 Very Important

Why does the League of b) Clearly the absence of the USA, the world’s foremost economic power, meant that
economic sanctions could never really be properly applied. In any event history has

Nations fail?
shown that economic sanctions can be bypassed and take a long time to work.

Apart from these explicit failures in the 1930s, it could be argued that the League
was very unlikely to be a success since it had too many inherent weaknesses right
from the start:
c) The League had no army of its own; it therefore had no teeth. In 1923 members
voted to be able to opt out of providing troops and an attempt to make it compulsory to help
– the Geneva Protocol of 1924 – was proposed by one British Prime Minister (MacDonald),
only to be rejected by the next (Baldwin). In effect military action would have to be
undertaken by Britain and France and they were reluctant to act ; they had been very much
weakened by the First World War.

a) First and foremost the absence of the USA and other major powers
(Germany did not join until 1926; Russia not until 1934 when Germany left, Japan
left in 1933; Italy in 1937) meant that this world organisation was really controlled
by only Britain and France. The rejection of both the peace treaties and the
League by the US Congress really undermined the economic and military power of
the League.
Left: No army put
the league in a
precarious situation,
as this cartoon of the
1930s shows. The
snake is called
‘international strife’
and looks poised to
strike.

33
 d) Moreover, Britain and France placed their own self-interest above support of
the League. For instance both democracies refused to take disarmament seriously,
France invaded the Ruhr in 1923, Britain signed a naval agreement with Germany in
1935 in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles, and as we have seen both
powers did their best to avoid alienating Mussolini over Abyssinia. In addition, very often
the democracies were out of step and could not agree with each other on policy.

- e) The League’s decision-making processes were too cumbersome and too

slow. Meetings were infrequent and the need to obtain unanimity (i.e. everyone
If you were agreeing) proved to be difficult.
to write this in the
f) For the vanquished of World War One the League was too closely associated
exam
, try with the hated peace treaties: they preferred to operate outside the League. Indeed
mentioning the some of the victors felt that some of the terms of the treaties were harsh and unfair as
Abysinnin Crisis well. Accordingly much diplomacy did occur outside the League – even in the 1920s with
.

the Locarno Treaties and the Kellogg-Brand Pact – but increasingly in the 1930s with
It is a good
the Stresa Front, the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and of course the Munich
example to the
Conference in 1938.
slow
League
decision making .
CONCLUSION

The League of Nations was a noble idea, but like many ideals it was
unable to work in the real world. Of course none of its weaknesses
necessarily doomed the League to failure, provided all the members were
prepared to refrain from aggression and accept its decisions. The real
explanation for the failure of the League was that aggressive states such as
Japan, Italy and Germany were prepared to openly defy it, while League
members, like Britain and France, were not prepared to risk another war to
support it.

‘Wilsonian Idealism ‘above- some suggested that the League of

Nations, for all its good intentions, could never realistically work.

34
Why had international peace
collapsed by 1939?

3
`Focus Points
•What were the long term consequences of the peace treaties of 1919-23?
•What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s?
•How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939?
•Was the policy of appeasement justified?
•How important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
•Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?

Specified Content
•The collapse of international order in the 1930s
•The increasing militarism of Germany, Italy and Japan
•Hitler’s foreign policy to 1939:
-the Saar
-remilitirsation of the Rhineland
-involvement in the Spanish Civil War
-Anschluss with Austria
-appeasement
-crisis over Czechoslovakia
-the outbreak of war.
 Timeline of the 1930s
1930 The Depression

1931-1933 Japanese conquest of Manchuria Stresa Front: Britain, France Italy.Promises to uphold Treaty of
1933- 1934 World Disarmament Conference
Versailles, and Locarno. Aimed at stopping Germany breaking
1934 German-Polish Non-aggression pact
these treaties. Fails because Italy sees that Britain will act in
their own interest - Naval treaty, and because of the invasion of
January 1935 Plebiscite in Saarland
Abyssinia.
March 1935 Germany announces it is re-arming

April 1935 Stresa Front

May 1935 Franco-Soviet Pact of Mutual assistance.

Franco - Soviet Pact of Mutual Assistance: Designed to
June 1935 Anglo-German Naval Treaty
threaten Germany with encirclement, but is hollow in terms of
October 1935 Italian invasion of Abyssinia
being an actual military commitment
1936-1939 Spanish Civil War

March 1936 German occupation of the Rhineland

October 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis

Rome-Berlin Axis: agreed on the independence of Austria,
November 1936 Anti-Comintern Pact
which had caused tension in 1934 when Hitler first attempted
1937-1945 Japanese invasion of China
Anschluss.
March 1938 Anschluss

September 1938 Sudeten crisis and Munich conference

October 1938 German occupation of the Sudetenland

March 1939 German invasion of Czechoslovakia

March 1939 Britain and France guarantee Polish independence Pact of Steel: Military alliance between Italy and Germany. In
May 1939 Pact of Steel effect until 1943 when fascist government is overthrown.
August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact

1st September 1939 German invasion of Poland

3rd September 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany

17th September U.S.S.R invades Poland

36
Section 1

The aims of the Axis Hitler had three aims:

1. To abolish the Treaty of Versailles

The Germans hated it, especially:
1.What were the aims of Hitler? • Tiny armed forces,
• Rhineland demilitarised,
2.What were the aims of Japan? • Anschluss with Austria forbidden,
• Germans forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) and Po-
3.What were the aims of Italy? land (including Danzig).
The Treaty was a constant reminder to the Germans of their humiliation
in World War I. Hitler did not believe that the German army had lost the
war, and he was determined to make Germany great again.
The League of Nations’ Failures

The League of Nations had 3 disastrous failures in the 1930s:

2. To expand German territory
1. Manchuria (1931-33) Jupan left the leage
The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation
2. World Disarmament Conference (1933-34) Germany left + needed more Lebensraum (‘living space’). He was determined to get
with an
angry Hitler Lebensraum by conquering land in eastern Europe.
3. Abyssinia (1935-36) Italy left
However, a much greater disaster for international stability was:
3. To defeat Communism
4. The failure to stop Hitler in Europe (1933–39)
The Nazis were Fascists: the exact opposite of the Communists who
In 1935, the historian Hal Fisher wrote that ‘: ruled Russia. Hitler was determined to destroy Communism, and this
meant a war with Russia
a country which is determined to have a war can always have it.‘

Hitler was determined to destroy the League of Nations, and it is doubtful if By 1939, how far has Hitler achieved these aims?
anything could have saved it.

37
 Japanese Foreign Policy in the 1930s Italian Foreign Policy in the 1930s

The Depression had a big impact on Japanese politics and foreign policy. Italy was keen to be regarded as a great power and to enter into European
Japan lost valuable export markets when world trade fell and trade barriers diplomacy to ensure its interests were served. A key interest in the 1930s
were erected. This undermined confidence in the system of government. was protection against a rebirth of German military power. . Italy supported
There was a shift in power to the military leaders who believed aggressive the Dollfuss Government in Austria in 1934 when Austrian Nazis tried to
expansion would restore the Japanese economy by taking over areas overthrow the government with secret German help
which offered both a market and raw materials. Manchuria for example
In March 1935 Germany openly introduced conscription and announced
In September 1931 the Japanese army ‘set up’ the Chinese by blowing up rearmament. Italy negotiated the Stresa Front with the two democratic
- part of their own railway, the South Manchuria Railway Co. This is known powers, Britain and France.
As an excuse as the Mukden Incident. Japan then carried out a full annexation of
But when the Anglo-German Naval Treaty in June was signed by Britain,
to invade Manchuria, which China was too weak to resist.
Italy was furious.
Manchuria .

Bc its their own In 1934 Japan issued the Amau Declaration. This said it had special
Worse, in October Italy invaded Abyssinia, trying to develop its small Afri-
railway the bomb rights in East Asia. The region was their ‘sphere of influence’.
wasn't even that can Empire, gain prestige and a little extra trade. The League took rela-
strong enough to
In 1936 Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany. Both coun- tively swift and strong action, but not strong enough to deter Italy.
brenk it.
tries feared the USSR and agreed to try to contain it. To the western pow-
Therefore Italy believed its security was best served by alliance with Ger-
ers this was a worrying alliance and it became even more alarming in 1937
many. In 1936 an ‘understanding’ between Germany and Italy became 2 Basicly
when Italy signed up too.
known as the Rome-Berlin Axis. In 1937 Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Germany d
In July 1937 Japan launched a full invasion of China and took key centres Pact signed in 1936 by Germany and Japan to protect each other against Italy became
b ffs
of power and trade in the east of China. This was a direct attack on west- the USSR. In 1938 Italy made no real protest to Germany over the .

ern trade interests, but again they took no decisive action against Japan. Anschluss and Mussolini saw himself as a mediator at the Munich Confer-
Britain and France were far more worried about a German threat to peace ence over the Sudetenland.
in Europe and, with America, tried to be avoid conflict. America was still act-
In April 1939 Italy was so confident of its power and British and French ap-
ing as a neutral country.
peasement that it invaded and occupied Albania, posing a threat to its two
In 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, USA and the British Empire, enemies of the 1920s, Yugoslavia and Greece. In May 1939 Italy signed
bringing global war. ↑ the Pact of Steel with Germany, promising full military support in a war.
When I was in seas we learnt
about it but we were told its 38
not out the
coming in exam

but I'm not sure for your grade if they

changed it .
Section 2

How does Hitler

achieve his aims?
1.How does Hitler achieve his aims?

2.Case study: Spanish Civil War.

Above: A British cartoon of 1938 shows Germany crushing Austria. Next in

line is Czechoslovakia. At the back, Britain says to France: ‘Why should we
take a stand about someone pushing someone else when it’s all so far
away’.

It is a total defeat. Czechoslovakia will be swallowed up by

the Nazis. And do not suppose that this is the end. This is
only the beginning.

Churchill, speaking about the Munich Agreement in 1938.

Above: A British cartoon of 1936. Hitler goose-steps across the
These are some contemporary views of appeasement and the growing
‘spineless leaders of democracy’. The first three steps are labelled
power and menace of Hitler’s Germany. But how does he achieve his
‘ Rearmament’, ‘Rhineland’ and ‘Danzig’.
aims without war??

39
 * for this that I made if you want it but its actually
I'll send another slide
of Europe
you If you look to the
in the history room .
map

wall
Event Key Dates Main events What do Britain and France do? Why? on the
there are some
France does nothing, British sign Anglo -German naval treaty
We refer Conscription/ 1933 End of WDC. Begins re-arming in secret. (1935) limiting German Navy to 35% of British. This breaks slides cut out
as
Re-armament 1935 Nuremberg Rally, proclaiming freedom to re-arm. TOV, but Britain’s concern is if Germany must re-arm, Britain stuck there
to this .

will still have strongest navy. French can do nothing alone.

( I think almost
the 'Hitler's As agreed by TOV, Saarland is allowed a plebiscite after 15 years, on all of them
Saar Plebiscite 1935 Nothing - legal according to TOV
to
8 steps
whether to return to Germany. Vote is 99% to return. were mine)

War but idn Hitler marches troops into the Rhineland to re-militarise it. This is breaking
Nothing - preoccupied over Abyssinia , Both in depression,
So yeah you
Rhineland March 1936 the TOV. Hitler orders this troops to retreat at the first sign of resistance. can hare
why there's None comes.
France will not act alone, Britain still does not see the threat.
a look at
9 here Nothing - not their place to interfere. Some left-wing radicals
that
.

Germany supplies weapons to Fascist side, Soviets to Communist side.

(such as George Orwell) join the communist forces. Both
Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 Testing ground for new weapons. Guernica (1937) shows power of Luftwaffe
Britain and France are intimidated by the power of the
(German air-force) Fascists eventually win, under General Franco.
Luftwaffe after Guernica.

Hitler first tries Anschluss in 1934, but is blocked by Mussolini. With the threat
of Italian opposition, he backs down. Nothing- both believe that the TOV is too harsh with regard to
1934 In 1938 he tries again, and the Nazi party in Austria stir up trouble. Anschluss, and feel what Hitler is doing is justified. Mussolini
Anschluss
March1938 Schushnigg, the prime-minister, offers to call a plebiscite (thinking this will won’t stop it, as he is firmly in Germany’s camp now, after
save Austria.) Hitler does not want to take the risk, so sends in troops to Abyssinia.
monitor the vote. 99% vote for Anschluss.

Sudeten Nazi Party start riots, call for Unification with Germany. Hitler
threatens force. Chamberlain intervenes, Meets at Munich conference (Sep
1938), with Italy and France. Agrees to give Sudetenland to Germany.
Sudetenland August - September 1938
Doesn’t consult Benes (Czech PM). When Benes protests (Czechs are ready
to fight) tells them they will do so without Anglo-French support. Sudetenland
given to Germany.
Stop a war between Czechoslovakia and Germany, even
though Czechs are well armed. Chamberlain is convinced he
has secured ‘peace in our time’. Logistics of supporting
Sudetenland are hard, and both Britain and France need to re-
arm. Both start re-armament, though Chamberlain thinks he
can deal with Hitler.

Prepare - both realise Hitler cannot be trusted, and both step

Germany invades the rest of Czechoslovakia . Czechs offer no resistance-
Czechoslovakia March 1939 up re-armament. Britain signs treaty with Poland, offering
their defences were in the Sudetenland.
assistance if they are attacked.

Hitler and Stalin shock the world by signing a non-aggression pact, promising
The British have tried to make an alliance with Stalin, but have
not to attack each other. They also agree to divide up Poland. This leaves
Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 been too slow and arrogant. Chamberlain still thinks
Hitler free to commence a war with the West after, without the fear of a war
Communism is a major threat. Both are shocked.
on two fronts.

After claiming people in the Danzig are being mis-treated, Hitler invades
Declare war against the Germans, as Poland is invaded. They
Poland on 1st September 1939. Britain says if Germany do not pull out by
Poland September 1939 are in a better position to fight than they were in 1938, but still
3rd of September, they will declare war. Germany doesn’t: World War II
go tot war with a sense of dread.
begins.

few slides are the '8

The next
detail so -
steps to War in more
send
you can read those or I can

mine which is more of like a summary .

you

Nazism snuffs out the light of
Czech independence, (above),
while the Munich Pact is the
only thing stopping Europe from
drowning in the chaos of war,
right.
Right: Mussolini congratulates
Hitler on bagging Austria with-
out firing a shot. He is the game-
keeper, and meant to be
protecting Austrian integrity.
However, unlike 1934, this time
he didn’t act.
Right: A soviet cartoon shows
the West feeding
Czechoslovakia to a ravenous
Germany. America watches in
the background..
41
 Case Study: Spanish Civil War Foreign involvement

Side Republican (Communist) Nationalist (Fascist)

Spanish Civil War
February The Popular Front (A left-wing coalition) narrowly win the Spanish Support U.S.S.R International Germany Italy
from Brigade
1936 national election.
March Street riots and general anarchy in Spain as right wing supporters Why do they In support of In support of To support To support
protest again the new government and election results get Communism, Communism Fascism and Fascism and fight
involved? and to fight (which was fight Communism.
May Fearing an uprising, the government place the main part of the Fascism. Their popular Communism. To Hitler asked
Spanish Army to the Canary islands, with their right wing general, involvement is amongst many test weapons. Mussolini to
Franco not made public liberals in the For economic commit
however. 1930s) and to gains - trading troops,and Italy
July Despite the governments previous efforts, the military begin an fight against ore.To keep committed more
uprising in mainland Spain. Those involved in the rebellion are Fascism, which Italy involved, as relations with
called Nationalists, the government is called the Republicans. they saw as the thus straining the West
Hitler and Mussolini agree to support the Nationalists, Stalin agrees enemy of French - Italian worsened
to support the Republicans. German and Italian planes airlift liberty. relationships. (Abyssinia).
Franco and his army to mainland Spain. The German planes
involved are called the Condor Legion.
August First International Brigade volunteers arrive in Spain. These are How The U.S.S.R Limited. In total The Condor While providing
liberals around Europe who volunteer to fight fascism. Notable effective is supplies tanks, about 35,000 Legion was manpower, the
members include George Orwell, Ernest Hemingway and Willy the support? planes and volunteers fight essential in Italian troops
Brandt. weapons. Also during the war, airlifting Franco suffer some
the NKVD but they often and his army to embarrassing
November Germany and Italy recognise Franco as head of Spain’s (Secret police) , have little effect Spain, and defeats, and this
government. killed overall, other bombing involvement
communists than useful for Guernica. further drives a
April 1937 Guernica is destroyed by the Condor Legion of the Luftwaffe
that didn’t propaganda. German tanks wedge between
(German Air Force).
support Stalin. Many become and planes are the West and
July 1938 Start of the collapse of the Republican army, after successive Their ships disillusioned superior to the Italy.
defeats. carrying about republicans.
supplies take a Communism - However the
October The International Brigade leave Spain. long time to Orwell wrote Germans
arrive, and their Animal Farm provide few
February Britain and France recognise Franco as the legitimate leader of planes are not based on the troops.
1939 Spain. as good as the Republican
Germans. Communists.
April 1939 All remaining Republicans surrender to Franco- the Nationalists
have won the civil war and Franco will remain in power as a fascist
dictator until 1975. Spain is neutral in WWII.

42
 Those who remain neutral
Britain France League of Nations
While many liberals Leans more towards The Spanish Government
support the the Republican side, (Republicans) asks the
Republicans, and as it fears being League for help- there is
some even go to surrounded by Fascist little the League can do
Spain to fight, the countries (Germany, though. The League did
Government did not Italy & Spain). officially ban foreign
want to get involved However fears getting volunteers in 1937, but it
formally. officially involved, as was a symbolic act.
is worried that it will
spark war. Makes the
Non-Intervention
agreement, banning
any exporting of war
materials to Spain. All
countries sign, but
U.S.S.R, Italy and
Germany continue to
supply troops and
weapons to Spain.

Top Right: A British cartoon criticising the lack of action by the League
of Nations, and Britain and France. The car in the middle contains the
League’s politicians, who are too busy procrastinating to notice all the
arms on the way to Spain.

Right: Franco walking in the ruins of Guernica, commenting ironically

on the destruction that he has bought his country.

43
 Section 3

Appeasement Czechoslovakia had been formed in 1919 at the Treaty of St. Germain.
But as we can see, the problem of Wilson’s 14 points were that self-
1. Case study: Munich determination could be claimed by many ethnic groups. The ethnic
makeup of Czechoslovakia was over 25% German, mostly living in the
2. Why do Britain and France choose appeasement? Sudetenland. The German Sudeten Party was created in 1931, with the
aims of the Sudetenland becoming part of Germany.
3. Is appeasement a failure?
Ethnic breakdown of Czechoslovakia in 1938

Czechs 7,450,000

Germans 3,200,000

Slovaks 720,000

Magyars 560,000

Poles 100,000

Left: Czechoslovakia
was in a dangerous
position, surrounded by
unfriendly states. Also, it
was far away from
France and Britain,
meaning it was isolated
from any potential
military support. The
U.S.S.R could potentially
be an ally, but only if
they were included in the
conversation.

44
7th September German Sudeten Party demands union with Germany. German newsreels
1938 show ‘evidence’ of atrocities against Sudeten Germans.
Hitler threatens to support the Sudeten Germans with military force.

Date Venue Hitler’s demands Chamberlain’s actions

15th September Berchtesgaden Sudetenland be Decides Hitler is a ‘man who can

given to Germany. be trusted.’ Agrees that any area of
Promises this was the Sudetenland with more that
the ‘last problem to has a population more than 50%
be solved.’ German should be given to
Germany. Doesn’t tell France or
Czechoslovakia before saying yes,
and has to persuade them to
agree.
It seems like Chamberlain has averted a crisis, and he agrees to meet Hitler 7 days later to
formalise the details of the deal at Berchtesgaden…

22nd Bad Godesberg Hitler now wants Chamberlain is taken by surprise

September German troops to at these new demands; he thinks
occupy the the he is meeting with Hitler to finalise
Sudetenland, and the deal made at Berchtesgaden.
for areas with a Along with the French,
majority of Chamberlain rejects these new Should Britain and France have fought over the Sudetenland?
Magyars and demands, and prepare for war.
Poles to be given Yes No
to Hungary and
Poland. •France had an alliance with •Czechoslovakia was far away, and
While it seems all negotiations have broken down, Mussolini suggests a four power conference Czechoslovakia hard to support logistically
at Munich between Britain, France, Germany and Italy. Czechoslovakia are not invited, neither •The Czech army was strong and •Guernica had shown the
are the U.S.S.R. Both are furious.
modern, and with help could of destruction the Luftwaffe could
29th September Munich Sudetenland to Chamberlain and France tell stood up to Germany cause - that could easily be Paris or
given to Germany Czechoslovakia that if they choose
•Czechoslovakia was created in London
immediately. to resist, they will have to do it on
their own, without help from Britain the Paris peace conference- to •Hitler had a point about self-
or France (despite the French- change that would be violating determination - 3 million Germans in
Czech alliance). those treaties. Czechoslovakia
Chamberlain returns to Britain as a hero, with a peace of paper which guaranteed ‘peace in our •Hitler could demand more •If Hitler got what he wanted now,
time’. Hitler later calls this a ‘scrap of paper.’ Benes feels like he has been betrayed by the territory after the Sudetenland if he maybe he would stop
West, and given on a plate to Germany.
though the West was weak
October 1st Czech guards stand down, and German troops occupy the Sudetenland.
1938 Hungarian and Polish troops take areas which contain Poles and Magyars.

15 March 1939 Germany invades the rest of Czechoslovakia. Appeasement has failed.

45
 Left: ‘Four’s company’ as Brit-
ain, France, Italy and Ger-
many meet at Munich and
toast to self-sacrifice. The pic-
ture on the wall is of Benes,
the Czech prime minister who
was not invited. Below: The
human cost of appeasement-
Above - Hitler and Chamberlain meet at Munich, 1938. Chamberlain was
Czech civilians welcome their
confident he could trust Hitler, and had the measure of him. Below,
German conquerors.
Chamberlain is receives a hero’s welcome back in England. The paper in
his hand guarantees ‘peace in our time.’ The public in England supported
appeasement, and only with the outbreak of WWII was the policy
criticised by the majority.

46
 7 reasons why the British and French choose appeasement.

The Depression hits both Britain and France extremely hard. Mass Is appeasement a failure?
unemployment and stuttering economies mean both have to
Depression
prioritise domestic issues. Even if they want to fight, can they
afford it?
YES NO
Many also think the TOV is too hard- with regards to Anschluss,
self determination (Sudetenland) and re-armament. The Anglo- •Germany is allowed to break the •Some of the TOV is unfair - it is
Revisionism German naval agreement (1935) shows this; Britain doesn’t mind TOV normal Germany will want to
Germany having a navy, as long as it can’t threaten the Royal
reverse it
Navy.
•Germany is allowed to grow
Sometimes, the problem is what to do? When Germany re-
stronger to the point it can threaten •It buys time for re-armament -
militarises the Rhineland, what can the French do? Like the Ruhr,
Logistics if the French occupy it using force, they must stay there long peace in Europe again Britain and France are in no
term .Czechoslovakia is far from the West, and could be position to fight in 1938 (Hitler later
conquered before help arrives.
•The world sees that Britain and admits he should have gone to war
Chamberlain seems to think he can trust Hitler’s word- that he is a France are weak and will not stop in 1938, not 1939). Ultimately the
gentleman, and will not break his word. Stalin also appears to
aggression Allies win WWII. Many of the
Hitler believe this (Nazi-Soviet Pact). Both are shocked when he breaks
his word, and shows that treaties and promises do not mean planes built between 1938-1939
anything to him. •If Britain or France act tough in prove crucial in the Battle of
Especially after 1938, both Britain and France start re-arming. 1936 when Germany is still weak, Britain in 1940.
France has been building the Maginot line since 1929, suggesting they can stop WWII
Buy time they are already planning for another war. Many of the planes built •It shows the world, and the public
by the British between 1938-9 prove crucial in the Battle of Britain
in 1940.
back home the true colours of
Hitler. Very few people in 1939
Remember both are democratic countries, and public support is
needed for war. Until March 1939, public support is against war.
doubt that the cause of Britain and
Chamberlain is greeted as a hero when he returns from Munich in France is righteous.
Public opinion
1938. This is a generation that have witnessed the horror of WWI,
and Guernica (1937) has shown how terrible the next war would
be.

As late as 1939, both countries still feel a strong Germany can be

used as a buffer against the U.S.S.R. They fear a Communist
Fear of Communism
revolution or invasion of Europe. Britain and the U.S.S.R are
begrudging allies in WWII.

47
 Differing views on appeasement; Chamberlain desperately
The view from the East; Britain and France point Hitler towards the struggles to avoid war (above), while Hitler snatches up the
U.S.S.R (above) , while Stalin questions ‘no chair for me?’ after being children of Europe (below)
left out of the Munich conference (below).

48
Section 4

The Nazi-Soviet Pact 23rd August 1939: Ribbentrop (German foreign minister) and
Molotov (Soviet foreign minister) announce to the world a non-
aggression pact between Germany and the U.S.S.R. This is sometimes
Key Questions
called the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, but is more commonly known as
the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
1. What was the Nazi Soviet pact?
The pact agrees:
2. Why is this pact signed?
1.neither country will attack each other
3. Who’s to blame?

4. Does this guarantee the start of WWII? 2.to divide up Poland between the two countries (this is kept secret)

In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact that shocked
Why was the Nazi-Soviet Pact signed?
the world. Why did Hitler, the public enemy of Communism, do this? Why did
Stalin distance himself from the West and sign a treaty with someone who Hitler’s perspective
wrote about finding lebensraum in the East in Mein Kampf?
Wants to avoid a war on two fronts- this
enables him to attack the west, without
worrying about Soviet intervention. Also
weakens the Anglo-French position-
Hitler is convinced they won’t fight over
Poland without Soviet support.
Conveniently forgets his hatred of
Communism (see Hitler’s aims, page
32). This pact makes Hitler think he can
invade Poland without causing war,
allowing him to prepare for an attack on
the West, with his Eastern border
secure.
‘How long will the honeymoon last?’
Above: a British cartoon commenting on an
unlikely marriage between Hitler and Stalin.
The answer is less than 2 years.
Stalin’s perspective
The U.S.S.R is isolated in 1939 and
needs an ally- Britain and France are
non-committal. Also he sees that the
West will not stand up to Germany, so
better to join the stronger side. Stalin
probably knows the U.S.S.R will be
involved in a war in the future, but in
1939 it seems just as likely that it will be
against Britain and France- Stalin has
not forgotten the White intervention
(1919) or Locarno (1925). He is also
not consulted at the Munich conference
(1938) and (fairly accurately) feels that
the West are trying to make Hitler
expand East, and not West. Stalin
believes that Hitler will keep his word.
49
 Is this Britain and France’s fault?
Both fail to make an alliance with Stalin as they still want a strong
Germany as a buffer against the U.S.S.R. The U.S.S.R had deliberately
been isolated from European politics (Locarno, Munich etc). The
French sign the Franco-Soviet pact of Mutual assistance, but this
does not promise a concrete commitment, and is intended to scare Hitler.

‘Stalin had become increasingly angry with the policy of appeasement as this had al-
lowed Hitler to strengthen. However, even after the Munich agreement he hoped to se-
cure an anti-fascists alliance with Britain. The British were aloof and did not consider
this idea worthy of their full attention- they sent a minor official, but slow boat (Lytton
report) to meet Stalin. Stalin was offended by the reluctance of Britain to take an alli-
ance seriously, and sent a letter to Hitler suggesting a non-aggression pact. Hitler re-
plied straight away, and sent Ribbentrop immediately to sign a deal.

The Great Purges 1936- 1939 The West reacts to the Pact. Above - Hitler and Stalin go for a walk to-
gether, but the friendship is only superficial. Below- Poland lies dead as
From 1936- 1940 Stalin starts his great purges of the U.S.S.R.Anyone
considered as potential opposition was imprisoned or killed.Show-trials of Hitler and Stalin swap insults, in the guise of friendship.
famous prisoners are publicly broadcast. Defendants often confess (after
severe torture) to crimes that are hard to believe.Amongst the millions
killed in these years (exact figure are unknown) the Armed forces suffered
greatly: 3/5 Marshals, 8/9 Admirals, 13/15 Army Commanders,50/57 Army
Corps Commanders are all killed or imprisoned.

What do the purges tell...

Germany Britain/France

The U.S.S.R’s army is now weak. Sign

an alliance, isolating Britain and
France, then attack them. The U.S.S.R
are too weak to attack you, so you can
defeat the West then come back and
attack the Soviet.s
The purges make the U.S.S.R’s
military weak, and the U.S.S.R
undemocratic. Better to try and side
with Germany.
50
 Does this make WWII inevitable? Left - Poland
had no answer
1) Germany can now look to a war with the West without worrying about a war on two
to an
fronts
onslaught
2) Germany and the U.S.S.R agree to carve up Poland from both the
3) Hitler feels that Britain and France will not defend Poland (as they say they will in
www.icHistory.com Nazis and So-
www.icHistory.com
TheNSNAP:
The NSNAP:an
anunlikely
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agreement.
March 1939) without support from the U.S.S.R viets. This
4) The U.S.S.R has now broken any potential ties with the West, meaning Britain and
Discover:
plan was
Discover: thethe meaning
meaning of of NSNAP
NSNAP Explore:
Explore: reasons
reasons forfor
thethe NSNAP
NSNAP Skill:
Skill: source
source interpretation
interpretation + analysis.
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France have one less ally against German aggression agreed in the
“ What, no chair for me? ”
“ What, no chair for me? ” 1938.
In March
In March 1939,
1939, appeasement
appeasement ended
ended when
when Hitler
Hitler sentsent
his his troops
troops
Published September,
Published September, 1938. intointo Czechoslovakia.
Czechoslovakia. By By doing
doing thisthis
he he
had had broken
broken promises
promises pact.
Also, this pact has a significant impact on the Coldmade War. TheReview
in Munich. West feels this pact guar-
made in Munich. Review thethe events
events in the
in the table
table below.
below.
antees WWII - if the pact is not signed, GermanyTerritory
will not invade Poland.
Status
TheYear U.S.S.RChoose
Territory Status Year Choose
feels that it has no choice but to sign this pact, as the West has isolated it. It blames
The Rhineland To do
the West for the subsequent German invasion The Rhineland
in June 1941. To do
Italy Reoccupied Right - Operation
Italy Reoccupied
Austria Allied
August 23rd 1939 Austria Nazi-Soviet Pact signed Allied Barbarossa : The
The Sudetenland Annexed
The Sudetenland Annexed German invasion of the
Germany Czechoslovakia
invades Poland. Britain gives it an ultimatum
To do
1st September 1939 Czechoslovakia To do
to withdraw or face war. Soviet Union, June
Poland Returned
Poland Returned
Theand
Soviet Union declare war on Germany. Invaded
1941. Stalin was taken
3rd September 1939 Britain
The Soviet France
Union Invaded
Why Why did Hitler and Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?
did Hitler and1939 Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact? completely by surprise.
Friend
Friend 17thor or Foe?
Foe?
September The U.S.S.R invades Poland from the east.
On the 23rd of August 1939, the world was shocked when Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet
On the 23rd of August 1939, the world was shocked when Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet
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the two countries had a secret agreement to invade and divide Poland between them.
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the Russians. If the West is too stupid ble the Soviet Union signed a
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west ” which enabled us to make military preparations”
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ion.’ peace for 18 months which
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Source A: Source A:
ship would not last long.
AAunexpected
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Source B: Source B:
Source C: Source C:
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BBC History.com
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On the 23rd of August 1939, the world was shocked when Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet
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to invade a peace treaty
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(France) instead.