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History Chapter 4: Outbreak of WW2 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Point
        
        One weakness of the League of Nations is the fail of disarmament
      - Story
        
        Despite disarmament being seen as the mist effective step in preventing another World War, The League failed to achieve much success
        
        The only success achieved in disarmament was the result of individual major Eurpoean powers
        
        The failure to achieve disarmament meant that powerful countries still had military capacity for war, but that also there was nothing to stop them from engaging in conflict
        
        Attempts at disarmament during the 1920s and 1930s
        
        1921 Washington Naval Conference was the first to be held, organised by the USA, and was a success
        
        However, when the League attempted to organise disarmament conferences in 1926 and the 1930s, the major powers refused to cooperate
        
        There was a general unwillingness to disarm among the major powers as it will mean the country was unable to defend itself against foreign attacks and conflicts
        
        The major powers did not trust each other and wanted to ensure that they had the ability to protect their own national interests
        
        The failure of disarmament highlighted the importance the involvement of the USA was as the USA commanded much more respect than the League itself
        
        The only two nations capable of enforcing the League’s will were Britain and France, however, being severely weakened by WW1 and later the Great Depression, both nations viewed their national interests as more important than that of the League’s
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        The inability of the powers to trust each other and work together towards disarmament contributed to a general atmosphere of distrust and tension which would eventually lead to World War 2
    - - Point
        
        One weakness of the League of Nations was the Abyssinian Crisis
      - Story
        
        The League’s failure to intervene in the Abyssinian Crisis in 1935 served as a prime example of its ineffectiveness in maintaining world peace and resolving conflict.
        
        Implications of the Abyssinian Crisis
        
        Since Abyssinia had common borders with British colonies, and much closer to Europe, hence it was more reason for the League to intervene with Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935.
        
        However, Britain and France were allies with Italy under the Stresa Front at that time, and did not want to make an enemy of Italy and its leader, Mussolini.
        
        Fearful that an embargo on oil would drive Mussolini into an alliance with Hitler, the League imposed omitted economic sanctions on Italy.
        
        The League’s failure to impose meaningful sanctions not only signalled its demise, but also resulted in the Italian takeover of Abyssinia in May 1936.
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        This resulted in Hitler and Mussolini becoming more bold in their ambitions, as well as encouraging Mussolini to establish the Rome-Berlin Axis with Hitler later the same year.
- - - - Point
        
        One aspect of Hitler’s expansionist policy was the withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Geneva Disarmament Conference
      - Story
        
        When they came into power, the Nazis immediately began to take systematic approaches to abolish the Treaty of Versailles
        
        At the Geneva Disarmament Confrence, Hitler proposed the French to disarm to the level of armaments that the Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany
        
        Otherwise, Germany should be allowed to rearm to the level of the French.
        
        The French naturally objected to this, and Hitler used their objection as an excuse to withdraw from both the confrence and the League of Nations.
        
        Once he withdrew from the league he took concrete action to increase Germany’s military capabilities towards achieving his expansionist aims
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        This gave Hitler the freedom to do whatever he wanted as the League could no longer punish him.
    - - Point
        
        One part of Hitler’s expansionist policy was the conscription and rearmament
      - Story
        
        Hitler planned to rearm Germany to restore German pride and strength, and conducted secret rearmament and conscription programmes from 1933 to 1934
        
        Hitler only announced his remilitarisation programme on 1935 after rising to power in Germany.
        
        Under the terms of the TOV, Germany’s army was severely limited, and they didn’t have an airforce. By March 1935, Germany possessed a modern airforce as well as a developed army.
        
        Germany also implemented conpulsory conscription to plan for an army of 550000 men.
        
        Throughout remilitarisation, Hitler kept emphasising to the Allies that he was committed to peace, in order to calm them down.
        
        At this point, despite being weakened by World War 1, the Allies still had a stronger military than Germany, and hence they were in a position to keep Germany in check.
        
        However, due to the pacifist mood of the countries that could intervene like Britain and France, and the weakness of the League, the Allies only made verbal protests instead of imposing sanctories on Germany.
        
        Britain even signed an Agreement with Hitler in June 1935 that allowed Germany a limited build-up of its Navy.
        
        From 1936 onwards, the Germans spent great amounts on military production.
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        This buildup of Germany’s military capabilities and machinery enabled Hitler to later on put his expansionist plans into action.
    - - Point
        
        One aspect of Hitler’s expansionist policy was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland
      - Story
        
        On 7 March 1935, Hitler ordered German troops to cross the Hozenzollern Bridge to remilitarisae the Rhineland, using the Franco-Soviet Alliance as an excuse that Germany should be allowed to defend its own frontlines.
        
        While Hitler was certain that many in Britain would sympathise with Germany, he was unsure about French’s response.
        
        Hitler hence sent a small force into the Rhineland with no essential equipment or air support, with strict orders to withdraw if attacked.
        
        France was about to hold elections at that time, and with no French politician wanting to be seen as a warmonger, the French did not respond with force.
        
        France was also reluctant to respond with force as Britain, their greatest ally, was unlikely to support them against Hitler.
        
        The League could only condemn Hitler’s action as they were distracted by the Abyssinian Crisis.
        
        If Britain and France had responded to Hitler’s second violation of the TOV with a show of force, they might have had a chance of containing him.
        
        But Hitler’s gamble paid off and he was met with no resistance.
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        This made him more popular among the German people and the German army, and hence he became bolder in his demands.
    - - Point
        
        One aspect of Hitler’s expansionist policy was the German involvement in the Spanish Civil War
      - Story
        
        Hitler now knew that Britain and France were eager to avoid conflict, and hence they will not take any action against him.
        
        During the 1937 Spanish Civil War, Hitler sent soldiers, equipment and warplanes to support the Spanish Nationalist Forces, and these equipment proved to be successful.
        
        Hitler’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War was not only meant to divert British and French attention from his plans for expansion into Eastern Europe, it also allowed him to test his army and Air Force while fighting against alleged communists.
        
        The League did not take any action against Germany for its intervention in Spain.
        
        Hitler also had pointed out to Britain and France the perils of communist involvement on the Replublican side of the conflict, which resp named with Britan and France’s disdain and fear of communism.
        
        Hitler also portrayed himself as the defender against communism, and showed his hatred of communism by signing a pact with Japan in 1936.
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        This convinced the western powers that Hitler could be trusted, and made British and French intervention in Spain even more remote. However, this lack of intervention made Hitler more aggressive as he viewed Britan and France to be weak.
    - - Point
        
        One aspect of Hitler’s expansionist policy was the German unification with Austria
      - Story
        
        While many people from both Austria and Germany strongly supported union, the TOV did not allow Austria to join with Germany.
        
        Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazisd to make trouble and push for unions with Germany, then tried to pressure the Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, into agreeing.
        
        He told Kurt that only union would stop the riots and demonstrations in Austria, but Kurt called a vote to see if the Austrian people supported union with Germany.
        
        Hitler sent troops into Austria, to supposedly keep order during the voting.
        
        99.75% of the population voted for union, and hence Austria was annexed on 13 March 1938.
        
        While this was a clear violation of the TOV, Britain and France did nothing.
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        Hitler now had Austria’s resources of gold and iron ore, as well as its army and weapons, giving Hitler more resources for war.
    - - Point
        
        One aspect of Hitler’s expansionist policy was occupying Czechoslovakia.
      - Story
        
        Munich Agreement
        
        Hitler set his sights on Czechoslovakia next, as the population of the living area in Czechoslovakia were mostly German, and even threatened to fo to war if necessary.
        
        The Czechs had a modern army, and the Czech leader, Edward Benes, was willing to fight.
        
        Britain, France, and the Soviet Union all had promised to support them if they were attacked, but keeping with the policy of appeasement to avoid war in Eurpoe, the leaders of Britain and France, as well as Hitler and Mussolini, signed the Munich Agreement in 1938.
        
        The Agreement decided that Germany would gain partial control of Czechoslovakia, and the Agreement was not made with the consultation of the Czechs and the Soviets, even though they had a mutual military assistance treaty.
        
        Benes resigned and German troops marched into Czechoslovakia in 1938. Having gained control of part of Cezchoslovakia without a fight, Hitler decided to further occupy the whole of Czeshovakia.
        
        Invasion of Cezchoslovakia
        
        On 16 March 1939, Hitler invaded and took over the rest of Czechoslovakia, and neither the Czechs nor the Allies fought back.
        
        By this time, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain realised Hitler could not be trusted, and now he feared Poland would be Hitler’s next target.
        
        Britain and France warned Hitler that if he were to invade Poland, they would go to war with Germany.
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        The Invasion of Czechoslovakia resulted in Hitler gaining the resources of Czechoslovakia, as well as Britain and France now finally threatening to go to war with Hitler.
    - - Point
        
        One part of Hitler’s expansionist plans was the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
      - Story
        
        Hitler wanted to continue to expand Germany further by taking over Poland. However, he was worried about a war on two fronts.
        
        Hence, he signed a pact with Stalin that was to last ten years, which stated that Germany and the Soviet Union would not attack each other, and resolve any problems between them in a friendly manner.
        
        A secret protocol in the pact also divided Eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of influence.
        
        Soviet rights over the Baltic states was recognised by both Germany and Soviet Union, and Poland was also divided between them.
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        This allowed Hitler to invade Poland safely as he would no longer have to worry about fighting a war on two fronts, which would surely cause him to lose.
  - - - The last part of Hitler’s expansionist plan was the Invasion of Poland
    - - Hitler demanded for the city of Danzig since 1937 to be part of Germany, as Danzig was a port city and most of its population was German.
      - Hitler also wanted a railroad hilt across the Polish Corridor to reconnect Germany with East Prussia, which was considered to be part of Germany.
      - However, Polish leaders distrusted Hitler and feared the loss of Poland’s independence. Tensions increased between Poland and Germany, and negotiations broke down.
      - On 29 August 1939, Hitler also demanded for control of the Polish Corridor. While Britan and France finally realised that Hitler could not be trusted, they still resumed negotiations with Germany regarding Danzig.
      - This convinced Hitler they would not declare war on Germany, and he invaded Poland when negotiations fell through.
      - However, Britan and France kept their promise this time, and finally declared war on Germany in 3 September 1939.
    - - This caused the Allied powers to finally declare war on Germany, and hence start World War 2.
- - - - Point
        
        One reason for the policy of appeasement was the Fear of another major war
      - Story
        
        Since World War 1 had a huge impact on Britain and France, both nations suffered tremendous losses in the war, and were not militarily prepared for another war of a similar scale.
        
        Public disgust towards war, along with the effects of the Great Depression on the economies of both countries, made rearmament very hard even if the leaders wanted it.
        
        Both countries were democracies and politicians were aware public opinion was important in making decisions.
        
        While he disliked war, Neville also realised that he would lack public support in a war against Germany.
        
        The lack of interest shown by Britain when Hitler remiliaterised the Rhineland and public enthusiasm for the Munich Agreement seemed to support this view.
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        This resulted in a policy of appeasement as the politicians did not want to make any decisions towards war as they would lack public support.
    - - Points
        
        One reason for the policy of appeasement was the weakness of the League of Nations
      - Story
        
        The main aim of the League of Nations was to resolve international disputes, and many people hoped this would be the case and relied on the League to assist in resolving disputes.
        
        However, the League proved to be ineffective when it came to dealing with strong, powerful countries like Italy.
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        As a result, instead of relying on the League to act, the British adopted a policy of appeasement to satisfy Hitler and prevent the outbreak of another major war.
    - - Point
        
        Another reason for the policy of appeasement is the genuine sympathy for Germany over the Treaty of Versailles.
      - Story
        
        Many British politicians, including Chamberlain, thought that the Treaty of Versailles had dealt with Germany too harshly.
        
        When Hitler claimed that ethnic Germans in Czechoslovakia were being oppressed, Chamberlain believed that Hitler’s grievances were justified.
        
        He thought that Hitler’s intentions were only limited to granting these Germans self-determination, which was a key goal of the Treaty of Versallies itself.
        
        Some British politicians even admired Hitler and his aides, seeing them as strong and patriotic.
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        Hence, Chamberlain believed that by giving in to Hitler, he could help prevent another war, and hence he picked the policy of appeasement.
    - - Point
        
        Another reason for the policy of appeasement was Chamberlain’s misjudgement of Hitler
      - Story
        
        Chamberlain believed that Hitler was a man who could be reasoned with, and he was convinced further by Lord Halifax’s meeting with Hitler and his own meeting with Hitler.
        
        Chamberlain came to the conclusion that Hitler’s word could be relied upon.
        
        He wrongly believed that Hitler’s aims were only on revising the Treaty of Versailles instead of abolishing it, and could therefore be satisfied with negotiations and agreements.
        
        He believed that Hitler would cease making demands once he controlled the Sudetenland.
        
        Actually, Hitler repeatedly made promises to Chamberlain and then broke them.
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        Since Chamberlain believed that Hitler could be trusted, he happily continued with the policy of appeasement thinking that once Hitler got what he wanted he would stop making demands.
    - - Point
        
        One reason for the Policy of Appeasement was the fear of communism/
      - Story
        
        Many leaders in Britain and France hated and feared communism, which was vastly different from from their ideas of democracy and captalism.
        
        Hence it was seen as a bigger threat than Hitler and Mussolini’s facism.
        
        Although the Western powers were aware of Germany’s rapid remilitarisation programme from 1935 onwards, they believed that a stronger Germany could act as a shield against the Soviet Union and prevent the spread of communism to the West,
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        Hence, they saw Hitler as a powerful ally against Communism, and decided to appease him in order for him to help them ontinue fighting communism.