International Relations

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

1. Accept war guilt.
2. Reparations.
3. Give up land.
4. Decrease size of army.
5. Couldn't join League of Nations.

What Was the League of Nations and When?

The League of Nations (1920 - 1946) aimed to promote international cooperation and peace, considered the predecessor of the United Nations. Set up by President Wilson following the 14 points he drew up during the war.

Success of the League of Nations

• Refugee committee.
• International Labour Organization.
• Financial committee.
• Encouraged international cooperation.
• Upper Silesia 1921 (peaceful plebiscite lead to region divided in two)
• Aaland Islands 1921 (gave them to Finland)

What Was the Corfu Incident and When?

In August 1923, Italians were murdered on Greek soil, leading to Mussolini's naval bombardment of Corfu. The League of Nations intervened, ordering Italy to evacuate

What Was the Bulgaria Incident and When?

In 1925, Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border. The League, with Bulgaria and France's support, mediated the conflict, leading to Greece's withdrawal

What was the Rapallo Treaty and when?

1922 - USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relationships.

What was the Dawes Plan and when?

1924 - USA lent Germany money.

What was the Locarno Treaty and when?

1925 - Germany accepted western borders (however, not eastern borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia) set out in ToV, paving the way for Germany to enter LoN

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact and when?

1928 - Pact between 65 nations not to use force to settle disputes.

What was the Young Plan and when?

1929 - Reduced the total amount of German reparations.

Problem in League of Nations in 1920

• Main countries weren't involved (USA still had isolationist approach).term-11
• They had no army.
• Own leaders didn't have faith in the system.

What Was the Manchuria Crisis and When?

In 1931, Japan invaded China, a League member, leading to Japan's departure from the League. This marked a failure for the League of Nations

Three impacts of the Great Depression

• Global economic depression (American loans called back in Germany + Poland) and economic nationalism
• Economic hardship led people to vote for extreme nationalist parties so emergence of powerful dictatorships.
• The League of Nations broke down after Japan invaded Manchuria as the depression hit Japan hard leading to military dictatorship.

What Was the Abyssinia Crisis and When?

Italy invaded Abyssinia, gaining control by 1936. Britain and France's actions regarding the Suez Canal supported Italy, marking a failure for the League of Nations

What is meant by the Remilitarization of the Rhineland and when?

Chancellor Adolf Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to march 20,000 German troops into the Rhineland.

Hitler's actions (1933-37)

• 1933, walks out of League's disarmament conference and by 1935 was publicly rearming
• 1936, starts remilitarising Rhineland (knew he was going against ToV because told troops to withdraw if they faced opposition)
• 1936, Luftwaffe fights in Spanish civil war showing Britain and France the power of German military

Hitler and Appeasement (1937-38)

• 1938, Germany unites with Austria (Anschluss) due to Austrian population agreeing in plebiscite
• 1938, Germany plans to invade Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, leaders agreed to give Hitler Sudetenland (without consulting Czechs) at Munich conference

Nazi-Soviet pact

• March 1939, Hitler invades rest of Czechoslovakia, Britain and France say they will declare war if he invades Poland
• August 1939, Stalin signs agreement with Hitler (agreed not to attack each other)
• September 1939, Germany invades Poland and Britain + France declare war on Germany

Who Believed Appeasement Should Be Upheld?

Chamberlain believed in appeasement due to the destructive nature of modern weapons and the casualties of World War I

Who Believed Appeasement Should Not Be Upheld?

Churchill disagreed with appeasement, distrusting Hitler and fearing a repeat of World War I

Causes of World War II

Treaty of Versailles
Rise of Fascism
Appeasement
Failure of the League of Nations

Effects of World War II

Devastation of Europe
Rise of the United States and Soviet Union as superpowers
Creation of the United Nations
Beginning of the Cold War