Studied by 12 people
1939-1940 outbreak of WW2 + International responses to German aggressions and actions 1933-1939.
What three meetings did Chamberlain attend to try to avert the Czechoslovak crisis?
Berchtesgaden, Bad Godesberg, and Munich
What countries failed to abide by the non-intervention doctrine during the Spanish Civil War?
Germany, Italy, and the USSR
What was the Non-Intervention Committee (NIC)?
A committee primarily supported by Britain and France, aiming at controlling the flow of materials and aid to the parties in the Spanish Civil War.
The name of the pact between the USSR and Germany
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Name all of Hitler’s territorial expansions and the year.
Saarland (1934), Rheinland (1935), Anschluss (1938), Sudetenland (1938), Czechoslovakia (1938), Memel (1939)
Did the Czech government (Beneš) accept the Sudeten autonomous demands?
Surprisingly yes, they conceded, but Hitler wanted war so told the Sudeten Germans to reject
When did Germany invade Poland, and when did France and the UK join the war?
1st September 1939, 3rd September
What was the Nazi German style of warfare called?
Blitzkrieg
What was the period between October 1939 and April 1940 called, and why?
The phoney war, during which Hitler offered peace, but no one trusted him. Still, there was no direct action from Hitler or the West against each other.
What five countries were pulled into the war in April and May 1940 when they were invaded by Germany?
Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark
At what French port city were the British encircled in June 1940?
Dunkerque/Dunkirk
What was the French puppet government called?
The Vichy Government/Vichy France
What was the German plan to invade Britain called?
Operation Sealion
Why were the Germans unable to invade Britain?
Failure to achieve air superiority/loss in the Battle of Britain
What main actions were taken to counteract German rearmament?
The Stresa Front was established in 1934, between France, the UK, and Italy
What were the main events that killed the Stresa Front?
Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty 1935, UK and Italy did not want to work with the communists and the UK believed this would make Germany feel surrounded
Anglo-German Naval Treaty allowed Germany to triple its navy in size, and completely ignore the Versailles restrictions, alienating France and Italy.
The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia, the lack of support from Britain and France as well as the support from Germany forced Mussolini to reconsider his allegiances.
Why did the Allies not stop the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
Weak French government, nobody wanted a war before the elections
French general staff exaggerated the amount of German troops + what would be needed to stop them
British were overstretched militarily, British armed forces not ready for a war
British did not see Hitler’s action as threatening, with Lord Lothian saying “The Germans are only going into their own back garden”
Why did the French government not intervene in the Spanish Civil War?
Fear of opposition, chronic instability, lack of support from Britain
What did Britain do during the Spanish Civil War?
Tacit support for Franco and the nationalists, trading with them, protecting British trade and business, allowed them to use Gibraltar for communications, giving them British bank credit.
Why did the Spanish Civil War embolden Hitler?
Non-intervention failed, the Allies failed to provide meaningful resistance and gave Hitler another ally, also allowed him to test military strategies, particularly the Luftwaffe.
Why did no one respond to Anschluss (beyond simple protests)?
France was paralysed by its own politics
Italy was dependent on Germany
Britain felt that it was inevitable anyway, saying the only way to stop it would have been to use force (which they did not want to do)
Why did France not initially support Czechoslovakia?
Argued it could not be defended, did not need to uphold their 1924/25 commitments, happy to negotiate
Why did Britain initially not support Czechoslovakia?
Chamberlain saw Czechoslovakia as an artificial state destined to fail, and held sympathy with the Sudeten Germans, also wanted to negotiate. Britain was also not in a position to aid Czechoslovakia (apparently)
Why did Hitler refuse the initially negotiated terms (at Berchtesgaden) for the handover of the Sudetenland?
Wanted to occupy it quicker, stop the Czechoslovaks from preserving their industry, + wanted an excuse to invade the state completely.
What countries were present at the Munich Conference, deciding the fate of Czechoslovakia?
France, Britain, Italy and Germany
NOT Czechoslovakia (or the USSR)
What was the pact of steel?
The agreement between Germany and Italy 1939, tying them to each other militarily
What is Lebensraum?
German concept about the expansion of the German state to make space for the German people
What was the Hossbach Memorandum?
Memorandum compiled by Colonel Hossbach, detailing Hitler’s supposed plans for expansion.
What were Stalin’s purges?
A series of purges in the Soviet Union, where Stalin killed or jailed his political opponents
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Flashcard (90)