Failures of the LoN in the 1930s

Manchuria + Abyssinia

  • Japan invaded Chinese Province of Manchuria

    • Japan ignored LoN’s instructions to withdraw

    • no consequences

  • Italy invaded African country Abyssinia

    • LoN placed economic sanctions- not including steel, oil, iron

Germany leaves the LoN- Nov. 1933

  • Hitler free to pursue his aggressive foreign policy

  • Rearmament began

Saarland Plebiscite- Jan 1935

  • ToV gave Saarland to France for 15 years

  • Then, LoN allowed vote to decided whether Hitler or France governs region

    • many opponents of Hitler in the area

  • Plebiscite held in January

    • Over 90% voted to join Germany

  • Although not a failure, enabled Hitler to have a propaganda victory.

Remilitarisation of the Rhineland- March 1936

  • Germany used Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance (1935) to invade, claiming they were surrounded by enemies.

  • LoN does nothing

    • busy with Abyssinia

    • France in the middle of elections so does not want to risk war

Spanish Civil War- July 1936

  • left-wing Spanish gov. vs right-wing nationalists led by General Franco

    Britain-

    • Non-Intervention Committee to avoid bigger war

    France-

    • Non-Intervention Committee to stop civil war in France due to sympathisers

    Germany-

    • sent support for Franco- tried out Luftwaffe + ally with Mussolini

    Italy-

    • sent support for Franco- expand Italy’s power + influence

    USSR-

    • sent support for left-wing government- prevent another fascist state

  • Franco won in 1939