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Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? - Coggle Diagram
Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?
What were the long-term consequences of the
peace treaties of 1919–23?
Rise of nationalism: The peace treaties created new nation-states and reshaped existing ones, but in many cases, they did not fully satisfy the aspirations of all ethnic groups. This led to ongoing tensions and conflicts, as minority groups sought greater autonomy or independence. This rise in nationalism would ultimately contribute to the outbreak of World War II and many other conflicts throughout the 20th century.
Economic instability: The reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, which were meant to punish Germany for its role in the war, had devastating economic consequences. Germany was unable to pay the full amount demanded, and the resulting economic instability contributed to the rise of the Nazi Party and the outbreak of World War II.
League of Nations: The Treaty of Versailles established the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations, with the aim of promoting international cooperation and preventing future wars. However, the League was ultimately ineffective at achieving its goals and failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II.
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?
Expansionist policies: Hitler's foreign policy was driven by his desire to expand Germany's borders and create a larger, more powerful German state. He pursued a policy of aggressive expansionism, annexing Austria in 1938 and then claiming the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. When the Czech government refused to surrender the Sudetenland, Hitler invaded and occupied the country in 1939. These actions increased tensions in Europe and contributed to the outbreak of war.
Failure of appeasement: The policy of appeasement pursued by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, which involved making concessions to Hitler in order to avoid war, ultimately failed. Hitler continued to demand more territory and showed no signs of slowing down his aggressive policies. The failure of appeasement allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked and contributed to the outbreak of war.
International tensions: There were other factors that contributed to the outbreak of war, including longstanding tensions between European powers, economic instability, and the failure of the League of Nations to prevent aggression. Hitler's foreign policy exacerbated these tensions and made it more difficult to find peaceful solutions to conflicts.
Was the policy of appeasement justified?
Arguments in favor of appeasement:
Desire to avoid war: The primary motivation behind the policy of appeasement was a desire to avoid war. After the devastation of World War I, many European leaders were understandably hesitant to enter into another conflict. The policy of appeasement was seen as a way to achieve peace without resorting to war.
Fear of Soviet Union: Many Western leaders were also concerned about the threat posed by the Soviet Union, which was seen as a potentially greater danger than Nazi Germany. By appeasing Hitler and creating an anti-Soviet alliance, some leaders believed they could prevent the spread of communism and maintain the balance of power in Europe.
Arguments against appeasement:
Failure to deter aggression: The policy of appeasement ultimately failed to deter Hitler's aggressive policies. In fact, it may have emboldened him to pursue even more aggressive policies, such as the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
Abandonment of allies: The policy of appeasement also involved abandoning smaller nations, such as Czechoslovakia, in order to appease Hitler. This was seen as a betrayal of allies and a violation of international norms.
Moral objections: Some have argued that the policy of appeasement was morally unjustified, as it involved making concessions to a brutal dictator who had already shown a willingness to commit atrocities.
How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?
Why did Britain and France declare war on
Germany in September 1939?
Treaty obligations: Britain and France had pledged to defend Poland in the event of a German invasion. This commitment was part of a mutual defense pact signed in March 1939 between Britain, France, and Poland. When Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France were obligated to declare war on Germany in order to fulfill their treaty obligations.
Diplomatic efforts had failed: Prior to the invasion, Britain and France had made diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and avoid war. However, their efforts had failed to deter Hitler, and he had continued with his plans to invade Poland. With diplomatic efforts exhausted, Britain and France had no choice but to declare war in order to defend Poland.
A threat to European security: Germany's invasion of Poland was seen as a threat to European security and stability. The international community had condemned Germany's aggressive actions, and Britain and France saw the invasion as a clear indication that Hitler had no intention of respecting the territorial integrity of other nations.