INTERNATIONAL RESPONCE TO ITALIAN and GERMAN AGGRESSION (1935-1940)
Italy: Invasion of Abyssinia 1935-36
Italy: Albania 4/1939
Germany: Rearmament 1935
Germany: Remilitarization of the Rheinland 3/1936
Italy and Gemany: Spanish Civil War 1936-1938
Germany: Anschluss of Austria 3/1938
Germany: The invasion of Poland 9/1939
Germany: The invasion of Czhechoslovakia 3/1939
Saimi and Helmi
Pavel, Peter, Daniil
Made by
Riku and Lukas
Taika, Helmi and Morgan
Declaration of war on Germany from Britain and France 3.9.1939
Emilia
Tatiana
Emma
Soviet Union invaded Poland 17.9.1939
No response from the US side as this conflict had not a direct touching point with US
France had two treaties with Czechoslovakia that promised that France would assist them if there was a threat to their common interests
France
The League of Nation couldn't stop the invasion and it gave even more bad reputation to the League
The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy
Hoare-Laval pact, the secret agreement between Britain and France about the Abyssinian crisis settlement plan
The French realise that they're not in a good position to uphold these promises -> argue that Czechoslovakia can't be defended
Britain
Following Britain's lead
Soviet Union
Britain
Italy's invasion of Abyssinia had little impact on Germany, but it set a precedent for aggression
Britain was struggling economically and the public opinion was against military effrot
The British make a comittement to protect Poland 25.8.1939. Polands prime minister went to London to ask for help with the invasion.
Britain was more afraid of communism than the fascists that Italy and Germany were aiding
The Phoney war in 1939-1940. Eight month period at the start ow WW2 when there was only one limited military operation going on on the Western front.
The Soviet Union judged Italy's invasion and supported the League of Nations' actions against Italy
Britain's failure to take strong action led Hitler to believe he wouldn't face any opposition to his expansion plans in Europe
All: The Republican government called for foreign military help from Britain, France and USSR
Britain's PM Chamberlain didn't think Czechoslovakia was worth fighting for, but believed he could make a peaceful handover of the Sudetenland to Germany happen
Suspicion between anti-communist Britain and France and communist Soviet Union prevented a strong united opposition to Italy and Germany
Britain and France want to avoid conflict-> working to find a diplomatic solution (appeasement policy)
France pledged to support the Republic but quickly backed down and changed to a policy of non-intervention
Chamberlain and Hitler meet -> Hitler demands German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia to join Germany, Britain and France agree
Source: How Europe Went To War In 1939
Britain immediately rejected the call for support
Was demilitirized zone by Treaty of Versailles
Hitler remilitaricing Rheinland was a breach of said treaty
Hitler changes his demands = also wants claims of Hungary and Poland to Czech territory met + occupation of the Sudetenland = many think that it's unacceptable
The Great Brittain
Resulted in appeasement policies 1933-1937
Countries start preparing for war
In August 1936, a month after the beginning of the war, more than two dozen nations, including France, Britain, the Soviet Union, Italy and Nazi Germany signed a non-intervention agreement on Spain.
9/1938 Munich Conference and Pact = Sudetenland given to Germany, Britain and Germany agree to deal with problems through negotiations, Hitler promises to not demand any more territory in Europe
Their only option of intervention would have been on the same side as Hitler and Mussolini, which was also not desireable
Anglo-German Naval Agreement June 1935
Goal was to slow down the german rearmament by "tossing them the bone"
Hitler takes over the rest of Czechoslovakia 3/1939, breaking the Munich Pact -> shift of British opinion, Chamberlain takes a firmer stand against Hitler, but no military action from the Allies
Soviet Union provided military advisors, tanks, aircraft and other war materials to the Republic
Didn't want a war
France
Allowed Germany to grow its navy to 35% of the Great British Navy's size.
Met with France to make sure they would't take military action against Germany
Britain
Destruction of Guernica shocked the British public that wanted to not become enemies with Germany and Italy
Provided military support to Italy in a secret deal, including oil shipments
Initially condemned the invasion but later switched to appeasement policy, fearing the escalation of the conflict in the wider war
Appeasement policy -- trying to prevent a further conflict
Condemned the invasion but was reluctant to take strong action against Italy due to its own colonial interests in Africa
USA
USA
Was geographically and politically isolated
Initially supported the League's sanctions but later advocated for their relaxation, fearing that they would damage its own economy
Also provided military support
Chose to not interfere in the conflict (isolationist foreign policy)
The public opinion were divided between the supporters of Republic and the people who criticized the Republic for attacking Catholic churches
Wanted to remain impartial
Hitler thought of Germany as one of the great powers of Europe, even though the country lacked military strength
League of nation
Even though they weren't going to act the people were told to have their own ideas and opinions about Germany's actions
They were under the British pressure who wanted them to act
France was also worried that sympathisers of the Nationalists would lead to a civil war in France, and cause havoc in the elections
Hitler's accouncement of his plans on 16 March 1935
Britain, France, Italy and the League of Nations published statement condemning Hitler's actions but did nothing else to punish Germany
President Roosevelt sought to provide aid to the Republic in 1937
Needed more military strength to achieve his goals
They was weak against Germany.
Source about the French and British response: http://www.historyisnowmagazine.com/blog/2023/5/2/the-1935-italian-invasion-of-abyssinia-what-did-britain-and-france-do
Didn't work out as intended
Source about the Abyssinia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinia_Crisis
France
This territory was very important for their security, but
Rearmament was started and thus the Treaty of Versailes was violated
They did know about Germans plans
Many nations expressed outrage and violation of Polish sovereignty
Germany, Italy and Soviet Union, however openly violated the agreement
Global involvement in WW2
Decided not to take action since they had a weak economy and of course military after WW1
Mariia
The British saw that neutrality would not work anymore.
Sofia
The Abyssinian crisis prevented them from taking any action
Were also prevented from taking action by the Abyssinian crisis
Germany gained more military strength rapidly
Held meetings with Germany
Germany began to expand rapidly
Their goal was to make sure Germany couldn't debloy huge forces in Rheinland
Great powers responded only after the invasion of Poland had begun
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The agreement was abrogated by Adolf Hitler on 28 April 1939
Stresa Front agreement between Britain, France and Italy on 14 April 1935 was intended to stop Germany's actions
Anglo-German Naval agreement undermined Stresa Front only two or three months after the signing
Stresa Front finally collapsed in October 1935 after Italy started invading Abyssinia
League of nation
Britain
France
Italy
Foreign policy/relations
Italy was dependant on the relations with Germany
going against Germany would have been unheard of
-> it would have damaged the relations
Foreign policy/relations
Internal politics
Long term isolationism (1823)
Impact of Great Depression 1929
France was in a crisis, and did not have a government
Elections made politicians careful
Corruption
Germany Invades Poland 1.9.1939
Unable to respond
Germany still got many countries on its side in WW2
Aschluss was not even discussed within the League of nations, this being due to the discredit it faced from the Abyssinian affair
Italy did not approve of Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939, but it did not intervene to stop it.
the lack of unity
Britain had stated that it wouldn't have been possible to respond alone, and support was not provided
Active warfare and support
Diplomatic intervention
Soviet aggression in East Europe
Winter War in Finland 30.11.1939-13.3.1940