Chapter 4 Part One (Weaknesses of LON)
Download as PPTX, PDF2 likes1,565 views
The document discusses the failures of the League of Nations (LoN) in disarmament and maintaining peace in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly highlighting the inability to manage Hitler's expansionist goals. It notes key events such as the World Disarmament Conference and Italy's aggression towards Abyssinia, emphasizing how the major powers prioritized their national interests over collective action. This environment contributed to Hitler's military rearmament and the eventual establishment of the Rome-Berlin Axis, illustrating the LoN's ineffectiveness in curbing aggression.
Chapter 4 Part One (Weaknesses of LON)
- 2. 1) Weaknesses of the LON 2) Hitler’s Expansionist Goals
- 4. i) Failure to Disarm ii) Failure to maintain world peace/resolve conflicts
- 5. In the 1920s and 1930s, there were efforts at disarmament to reduce the chances of another war. However, most of the successes were led by powerful nations and not the League.
- 6. Successes at limiting weapons: Efforts apart from the LON ▪ Washington Conference (1921) Set ratio for tonnage of capital ships
- 7. Successes at limiting weapons: Efforts apart from the LON ▪ LocarnoTreaties (1925) Guaranteed French and Belgian borders with Germany Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
- 8. A German territory west of the Rhine River along the French border.
- 9. Failures: Efforts by the LON LeagueCommission to prepare forWorld DisarmamentConference (1926) ▪ Britain and France not cooperative World Disarmament Conference (1932- 1934) ▪ Hitler withdrew from conference and LON
- 10. Learning Points ▪ USA seemed to command more respect than LON ▪ National interests of major powers like Britain and France were more important than those of the LON ▪ LON’s failure at disarmament atmosphere of tension and distrust
- 11. Italy was interested in Abysinnia ▪ Revenge for 1896 Defeat ▪ Restoring ‘Roman Empire’ ▪ Abyssinia’s mineral wealth ▪ Italy had interests in neighbouring Somalia
- 12. What did the League do? ▪ Imposed trade sanctions on Italy Not painful enough – oil, coal, steel not sanctioned. League members cared for their own economic interests
- 13. What did Britain and France do? ▪ Suez Canal left open to Italian ships – Italian war supplies could proceed to Abyssinia ▪ Hoare-Laval Pact
- 14. Results? Rome-BerlinAxis est. in 1936 LON’s failure to act encouraged Hitler’s expansionist aims - no country or organisation could stop him if he were to pursue his aggressive policies
- 16. Hitler demanded that France disarm to same level as Germany did underTOV France refused – why? Hitler withdraws from conference and LON Hitler free to re-introduce conscription and rearmament in violation ofTOV
- 17. Hitler began to build up Germany’s air force (Luftwaffe) and reintroduce conscription 1935: plans for 2,500-plane Luftwaffe and 550,000 army put in place VIOLATING TOV Hitler claimed that these were defensive acts
- 18. Countries like Britain and France were unwilling to risk another war – why? – and did not act decisively against German violations Britain even signed the Anglo-German Agreement in 1935 which allowed Germany to build up her navy
- 19. What do you think was the impact of British and French responses (or the lack thereof)?
- 20. 1)You will be assigned to study one of the following events: Remilitarisation of Rhineland Spanish Civil War Anschluss (Union with Austria) Munich Agreement Nazi-Soviet Pact 2) Fill in the graphic organizer (Annex A)