Western Civ 1020 FInal Exam

How long was the Paris Peace Conference?

January to June 1919

Who were the four main Allied nations and their leaders at the Paris Peace Conference?

Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Britain, Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele of Italy, Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau of France, and President Woodrow Wilson of America

What were the three important elements of Woodrow WIlson’s 14-point Plan for Peace?

Guiding newly created states toward democracy, national self-determination (nationalism), and the League of Nations

What are some other key aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s 14-point Plan for Peace?

International seas should be free from restrictions, removal of national economic barriers, reduction in military armaments, countries’ rights to self-determination, creation of independent Poland, and restoration of Alsace-Loraine to France

What were the serious problems of the League of Nations?

US never joins because of Henry Cabot Lodge’s Lodge Reservations. Because the US never joins, it never becomes relevant

What system does Germany make for better peace terms?

A democratic republic called the Weimar Republic. There were two House legislature, lower house/Reichstag and the cabinet. The President is the Head of State and the Chancellor is over the cabinet so they are the chief executor of the country itself

Why was the Treaty of Versailles harsh on Germany in terms of territory?

Germany had to give up 10-13 percent of their territory to France, Denmark, and Poland. The Rhine River Valley or Rhineland was demilitarized, used as a buffer zone, and under Allied occupation for the next 15 years

Why was the Treaty of Versailles harsh on Germany in terms of military provisions?

Germany is disarmed/demilitarized as a nation. They aren’t allowed to have offensive arms and the German General Staff is disbanded

Why was the Treaty of Versailles harsh on Germany in terms of economic provisions?

War indemnity was no set number at the Paris Peace Conference. The Reparations Committee decides later and its a big, big number that’s kind of impossible to pay off.

What is Article 231? What does it do?

The War Guilt Clause puts all of the blame for WWI on Germany, insinuating that they should shoulder all the monetary weight of the war

What happens when Germany refuses to sign the Treaty of Versailles in May 1919?

French army begins to mobilize against them and Germany sends two randos to sign at the Palace of Versailles 5 years to the day after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

What does WWI end? What is the result of that?

The European Great Powers System. Great Britain is doing better than France, Eastern Europe and modern Middle East emerges, and the US is doing the best and is now Europe’s bank

WWI was a war of fronts. Where was the Western Front? the Eastern?

From the Alps to the English Channel. From the Baltic to the Black Sea

What were the casualties of WWI beyond death?

Economically, European currencies were on the decline. Politically, empires/monarchies were brought to an end and democracies in France and Great Britain were very fragile.

What was the Western Opinion on WWI?

The war was a pointless tragedy. Allies were driven by pacifism.

What was the constitutional crisis in Britain post-WWI?

King Edward the Eighth abdicated the throne for King George the Sixth so he could marry a divorcee

What was the Kellogg Briand Pact of 1928 or the Pact of Paris?

Utopian effort to preserve peace made between US Secretary of State, Kellogg, and French foreign minister, Briand. 62 nations sign.

What was the Locarno Pact of 1925?

German government promised Germany would respect status quo of Europe. This was referring to borders and interference in foreign affairs, both of which caused WWI in the first place

What style of government emerged after WWI?

Totalitarianism, where the government controls both private and public matters

What was the principal objective of totalitarianism?

Strengthen the state to serve the state

What was the left-wing system of totalitarianism? Where did it develop?

Communism, where the state aims to dismantle class system in society. It developed in Russia

What was the right-wing system of totalitarianism? Where did it develop?

Fascism, which relies on social darwinism, racism, militarism, nationalism, and anti-communism. It developed in Italy and Germany.

Why was totalitarianism unique in Germany? Why was totalitarianism unique in Italy?

It took the form of Nazism in Germany. It argues that the purpose was to uphold and protect the Nation, who were the Aryan Race. The Italian government argued the purpose was to uphold the state as supreme.

Who were the leaders of the totalitarian regimes in Europe?

In Russia, it was Joseph Stalin over the Communist party. In Germany, it was Adolf Hitler over the Nazi Party. In Italy, it was Benito Mussolini over the Fascist Party.

What are the 5 characteristics of totalitarianism?

Regimes are dominated by a single political party, regimes are dominated by a single dictator, the state has a desire to control all important parts of society, the state desires to eliminate all opposition, and they use secret police/mass surveillance/censorship to keep the people in line

What were the secret police forces in each totalitarian regime?

Russia had the NKVD, Germany had the Gestapo, and Italy had the OVRA

What were the severe economic problems in Italy post-WWI? How did the Paris Peace Conference contribute to this?

Italy is experiencing high taxes/inflation rates, low trade, huge war debt, and high unemployment. The Paris Peace Conference gave Italy no financial/social spoils or land

What was Benito Mussolini’s ideology?

He was originally a socialist, but he was always an ardent Italian socialist. he wanted radical change in Italy, making him resonate will all the social classes

What was the Italian Fascist Party’s private militia called?

Black Shirts

What was Mussolini’s idea to inspire nationalism in the Italian people regardless of class?

Let’s Make Italy Rome Again

What happened in Mussolini’s March on Rome?

In October 1922, Mussolini marched on the Italian government center in Rome to seize power. Italian Prime Minister resigns and King Victor Emmanuel III make Mussolini new Prime Minister

What happened in the Parliamentary elections in 1924?

Giacomo Matteotti, a Italian Socialist member of Parliament, presents evidence of voter fraud at the hands of Mussolini. He is then assassinated and no investigation is ever opened.

By the end of 1925, what title does Mussolini adopt as he gets the most power he has ever had?

Ill Duce, which means the leader in Italian

What are some of Mussolini’s immediate actions as Ill Duce?

Outlaw all other parties besides the Fascist party, establish the OVRA, outlaws labor unions, and use the Black Shirts to deter any dissent

What were some of the economic reforms under Mussolini?

Massive public works programs, better public transportation, suppression of labor strikes, and reforms to taxation

How does Adolf Hitler get into a position to join and eventually lead the German Workers Party (DAP)?

Hitler returns to Munich, Germany and is employed by the state police to investigate the DAP. He agreed with a lot of their points and joins the part, eventually becoming the leader in summer of 1920

What does Hitler rename the DAP to?

He changes the name from the German Workers Party to the National Socialist German Workers Party, or the Nazi Party for short

Who were Hitler’s heros and how did they inspire his Nazi movement?

Hitler modeled his leadership after Karl Lueger, an anti-semitic Austrian lawyer leading the Christian Austrian Socialist Party. Hitler was completely inspired by Benito Mussolini, so he made a paramilitary squad called the Black Shirts and wanted to do his own March on Rome

What happened in Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch?

Hitler and the Nazis wanted to take over the Bavarian government, so they storm a political rally in a beer hall in Bavaria. Hitler is arrested for treason, but is not executed and serves less than a year in prison because the people agree with him. This incident puts him on the public stage for the first time

What is Mein Kampf? What does it introduce?

A blueprint for Hitler’s vision for Germany. It introduces the idea of lebensraum, or living space, which argues that Germany should expand into the East, specifically Ukraine/Breadbasket of Europe, for agriculture

What is the lesson of the Beer Hall Putsch?

Nazi party must advance through legal and constitutional means from here on out.

What did Hitler use as a tool to give multiple speeches in a day in multiple cities?

Aircraft

How did the Great Depression provide an opening for Hitler?

US was Europe’s bank so when US had no money. everyone else followed suit. The German people were looking for someone to blame. They then go from 12/560 seats in the Reichstag in 1928, to 101/560 seats in 1930, to finally 230/560 seats in 1932

Who/What is on Hitler’s blame list?

Weimar Republic, Treaty of Versailles, Communists, and Jewish people

Who makes Hitler a member of the Presidential cabinet? What position is he given?

President Paul von Hindenburg makes HItler the Chancellor of Germany in January 1933.

What happened in the Reichstag FIre?

On February 27th, 1933, the Reichstag, the parliamentary building of Germany burns down. Nazis did it, but they blame communists and Jewish people

What does the Reichstag Fire lead to?

The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act March 133. This gives Hitler dictatorial power

What does Hitler do after the Enabling Act and the death of Paul von Hindenberg?

He combines the office of the President and Chancellor into one, assumes the office, and takes the title of Der Fuhrer

What is the Night of Long Knives?

On June 1934, any political dissenters/opposition of the Nazis are murdered or put into concentration camps as a political purge

What are the Nuremberg Laws?

Passed in 1935, they striped Jewish German people of their citizenship, forbade Jewish-Goyim intermarriage, took Jewish businesses, and instituted that Jewish people must self-identify with the Star of David

By 1935, how are Hitler’s ideas in Mein Kampf put into place?

He expands the German army from 100k to 500k, rebuilds the Navy, builds the interforce, and just overall shits on the disarmament clause of the Treaty of Versailles

What is the West paralyzed by?

Pacifism and appeasement

What is the idea that Germany is not completely to blame for WWI and therefore, they should be open to revisions to the Treaty of Versailles that are more forgiving? Who did and DID NOT hold this idea?

Revisionism. Great Britain held this idea, but France did not (Alsace-Lorraine/revanche)

What was the first violation of the Treaty of Versailles by Germany? What is done about this?

Germany increased defense spending, amount of active duty troops from 100k to 500k, expanded Germany navy, and invented German Air Force. France/Great Britain/League of Nations send letters

What was the second violation of the Treaty of Versailles by Germany? What is done about this?

Germany moves 300k soldiers into the Rhineland in March 1936. France does not mobilize their 250k soldiers, showing Hitler he can go even further

What political party controlled the Austrian Fascist government?

the Austrian Socialist Christian Fascist Party

Who was the Austrian chancellor? Who was the head of the Austrian Nazi Party?

Kurt von Schuschnigg. Arthur Seyss-Inquart

What is the Austrian Plebiscite? How does Hitler mess it up?

The Austrian people were meant to vote on a singular issue, whether they wanted a free, independent, socially Christian Austria. Hitler instructs Austrian Nazis to create so much turmoil that this vote never happens

What does Seyss-Inquart do immediately after Schuschnigg resigns as Chancellor and Seyss-Inquart assumes this position?

Declares a state of emergency in Austria and appeals to Hitler to put down the false insurrection that the Nazis have caused

What is the third violation to the Treaty of Versailles? What is it called? What is done about it?

Three days after Seyss-Inquart becomes Chancellor of Austria, Hitler moves into and annexes Austria. This is called Anschluss. The West, once again, does nothing

What is the official policy of the League of Nations?

Appeasement, a process of reconciliation with a tyrant/dictator for the acquisition of peace by making clear-cut and tangible concessions to an aggressor.

What is appeasement NOT?

It is not compromise, it is capitulation

What is the area of land inside Czechoslovakia that Hitler sets his sights on after Austria? Why is this?

the Sudetenland in Western Czechoslovakia. The Sudeten people are Germanic

What does Hitler do to justify his eventual aggression against Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland? What does this aggression look like? How does Czechoslovakia fight back?

He lies about the Czech government harassing Sudeten Germans. He begins amassing German soldiers at the border. Czech mobilizes their troops against Hitler, the only country to do so at this point

What is the Munich Conference? What is the resolution?

Initiated by Neville Chamberlain, it is a meeting in Munich, Germany between Mussolini, Hitler, Chamberlain, and the French PM to discuss future of Czechoslovakia and Sudetenland. In exchange for the Sudetenland, Hitler promises to not advance into the rest of Czechoslovakia or Europe

By March 15th, 1939, how does Hitler violated the Munich Conference’s resolution?

Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia

Who does Britain sign defense agreements with in March/April of 1939 following the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Poland, Romania, Greece

Who does Joseph Stalin, leader of Russia, reach out to in fear of Hitler? What is their reaction and why?

He reaches out to the old Triple Entente, Great Britain and France. They say no because they are afraid of the spread of communism.

What is the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact? What does Hitler immediately do following this agreement?

Promise between Germany and Russia/Soviet Union to be neutral to one another in a time of war. Hitler then invades Poland September 1st, 1939

Upon invading Poland, who declares war on Germany?

Britain and France

Where does Hitler start his westward advance?

The lowcountries

The combined armies of ____, _____, and ____ get stuck in _____, a town in northern France.

Britain/France/Belgium/ Dunkirk

When does Hitler launch its invasion of the West? What does Great Britain do about this?

May 10th, 1940. Neville Chamberlain resigns as British PM and is replaced by Winston Churchill

When the British say no to a deal with Germany, what operation does Hitler launch?

Operation Sea Lion, Germany’s invasion of Great Britain

What did Germany need to do in order for Operation Sea Lion to succeed? What is this campaign known as? Who wins?

German Air Force (Luftwaffe) must destroy Britain’s Air Force (Royal Air Force) This is known as Battle of Britain. Britain wins and Hitler backs off

Between 1939 and 1941, what was the common opinion regarding the outcome of WWII? Like the Battle of Trafalgar, what did the Battle of Britain do?

Germany was going to win. It kept the war going long enough for the balance of power to change.

What is Hitler’s plan to invade Russia called? Why was this always on Hitler’s to-do list? What agreement is this a violation of?

Operation Barbarossa. In Mein Kampf, Hitler introduced lebensraum because he wanted Ukraine, which was the Breadbasket of Europe. This violates the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Why does the balance of power in WWII change?

The invasion of Russia and the attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing Russia and the US on the side of the Brits to kick Nazi ass

Why did Mussolini cause problems for Operation Barbarossa?

Germany had to go help Italy invade Greece and Yugoslavia after Greece initially whooped Italy’s ass, pushing the operation back by a month from a planned May 1941 to an actual June 1941

What was the German Army Group North’s objective? Why?

Leningrad, old Russian capital of St. Petersburg. This was the center of Russia industry

What was the German Army Group Central’s objective? Why?

Moscow. It was a major center of Russian transportation and communications

What was the German Army Group South’s objective? Why?

Kyiv, Ukraine and Stalingrad. These were the principal food and oil producing regions

Where do German troops shift focus to after the Russian winter sets in? Why is this?

The South, due to oil and food. Hitler is obsessed with his Aryan soldiers taking over Stalingrad, a city heavily populated by Russians/Slavs/Jewish people/Communists

How does Operation Barbarossa end?

The Germans reluctantly retreat in January 1943, making his a huge turning point for the Russians

How does Pearl Harbor shift US foreign policy?

Post-WWI, the common sentiment was that the US should stay out of European affairs. This forces them to become active in the war

What is the Cash and Carry deal? Who was this designed to help?

Formulated by FDR, this was a law passed allowing the US to sell arms to nations at war if they paid cash and were able to bring them back across the Atlantic. This was designed to help Great Britain, the only Navy with the resources to do so.

What does FDR persuade Congress to pass?

A first-ever peacetime draft, beef up military spending, the Cash and Carry deal, the Land Lease program

What is the Destroyer for Bases Agreement?

An executive order by FDR to send 50 old battleship destroyers in exchange for naval bases in the Western Hemisphere

What is the Land Lease Program?

FDR is able to give military goods to any nation that he deems fit for the the vital defense of the US

Who are the Axis powers?

Japan, Italy, Germany

Why did the relations between Japan and the US turn bitter?

the US imposed a trade embargo on strategic goods that would aid Japan’s war machine, specifically oil. Japan relies heavily on US oil and they get mad

What caused the attack on Pearl Harbor?

the trade embargo and Japan’s insistence on their war of aggression against China

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, what becomes clear?

US, GB, and Soviet Union are gonna win and Germany, Italy, and Japan are gonna lose