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Outbreak of WWII in Europe - Coggle Diagram
Outbreak of WWII in Europe
Weakness of the LoN
Failure of disarmament
Countries refused to disarm
Britain, France and Italy also refused to disarm
created a sense of distrust and tension amongst the major powers, increased the likelihood of war on a major scale with more weaponry
Because even members of the LoN refused to follow their own rules other countries refused to follow them as well
Attempts at disarmament
1920s
Washington Naval Conference (1921): Success
Locarno Treaties (1925): Partial success
World Disarmament Conference (1932 - 1934): Failure
League Commission to prepare for World Disarmament Conference (1926): Failure
Kellogg - Briand Pact (1928): Failure
1930s
Abyssinian Crisis (1936)
Italy took over Abyssinia in 1936
Failure 1: B and F were allies due to the Stresa Front Pact (declare importance of the independence of Austria.) So they prioritised their interests first. Failure 2: B and F did not close the Suez Canal and war materials still went to italy's troops
The failure of the LON in the Abyssinian Crisis to impose meaning sanctions proved it to
be a weak and discredited peacekeeping force.
emboldened hitelr
Hitler's Expansionist Policy
German unification with Austria (1938)
99.75% voted for Anschluss (political union)
In 9 Mar 1938, Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, unwillingly held a plebiscite to see if the Austrian people supported Anschluss with Germany
Hitler sent soldiers to stand behind voters to intimidate them in the name of protecting the voting booths
Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to make trouble and push for Anschluss
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Strategic Importance:
Czechs, led by President Edvard Benes were willing to fight Hitler
Led by the Nazis in Sudetenland, Germans in the territory demanded to become a part of Germany. Hitler threatened to attack Czech, if necessary
Sudetenland:
Province of Czechoslovakia, however, most citizens were German so Hitler wanted it.
Munich Agreement:
However, B and F chose policy of appeasement to avoid a war in Europe. 29 Sep 1938, B & F & Italy signed a treaty with Hitler. Sudetenland to be given to Germany.
Hitler still invaded Czech and the Allies and British PM were worried that he would go for Poland afterwards. Britain and France announced that they would go to war with Germany if he went for Poland
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression pact
Both countries would agree to not attack each other and resolve conflicts in peaceful manners
A secret protocol was included in the Pact which gave half of Poland to germany/half to russia
Germany
: Hitler wanted Poland but did not want a war on two fronts (USSR in the east and Brit and Fran in the west), therefore Hitler signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin.
Russia
: Mistrust of Britain and France since no invitation in munich agreement, Failure of the Franco-Soviet alliance: did not have sufficient border-protection 2.
Russia
: Breathing space and time for rearmament in fear of a major war, Incapable of self-defence upon Stalin’s purge of the red army officials
Withdrawal from LON and Geneva Disarmament Conference
A.K.A. World Disarmament Conference
Hitler proposed that France should shoulder the same disarmament that Germany was shouldering but France refused and Hitler used this as an excuse to leave the LoN.
Without the limitations of the LoN, Hitler now took steps to increase Germany’s military capabilities to achieve his expansionist policy
Conscription and rearmament
From 1934 to 1935, the Nazis stepped up secret rearmament and conscription programme
Hitler announced his remilitarisation program in 1935. By 1935, Germany had 2,500 planes in the Luftwaffe, and a 300,000 strong army. Germany also introduced conscription in this year.
Germany insisted that he was committed to peace to allay Allies’s fears.
German Involvement in Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War:
Hitler sent soldiers, equipment and warplanes to support the Spanish Nationalist Forces (General Franco)
The German Luftwaffe proved to be a formidable force - leading to heavy civilian casualties in many Spanish cities.
Hitler wanted to divert the attention of B & F and also test the army that he was building for 2-3 years. They (LON) did not retaliate even though many civilians also died as they wanted to get rid of communism
Reasons for Policy of Appeasement
Buying time to rearm
NO NEED EXPLAIN OR U JUST DUMB
Genuine sympathy
-Tov dealt with Germany too harshly, Chamberlain thought Hitler just wanted to grant Germans around the world self-determination
-Some politicians saw Hitler as strong and patriotic
Failure of the LON
League was ineffective dealing with strong powerful countries, B satisfied hitler with appeasement policy
Chamberlain’s misjudgement of Hitler
Believed Hitler to be a man that can be reasoned with, misjudged Hitler that he wouldn't abolish TOV but reconsider it
Believed so due to his face to face meeting with Hitler
Fear of another major war
WW1 had a huge impact of F and B, militarily wasn't prepared
Democratic president of B did not have public support against a war with germany as public does not seem bothered (East-Fulham by-election: Conservative candidate in favor of rearmament lost 3000
majority to a labour candidate in favour of appeasement)
Fear of Communism
Communism was viewed as a great threat (i.e. soviet union)
Hitler was fiercely anti-communist
communism was viewed as a greater threat than nazism, hitler can be a formidable ally