Path to War

Chapter 26

Was WW II caused by Germany’s actions in both Austria &

Czechoslovakia?

• No, World War II had long term causes

• The Treaty of Versailles – 1919

• Patriotic Germans had never forgotten their nation's treatment in Paris in that year

Why was the League of Nations so weak?

• Could not enforce its decisions it lacked an army

What nations were best equipped to provide the League with the much needed ‘muscle’?

Britain & Britain & FranceFrance

Why was Europe so confident in assuming peace would last?

• 1st – The Locarno Treaty of 1925 • Germany joined the League of

Nations in 1926• 2nd – Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928

• In both treaties nations vowed to use diplomacy

Two treaties were signed

How did these two treaties make Europe feel?

• By 1929 Europe was lulled into a false sense of security

• Politicians stated that war was no longer an option

• previous enemies now friends

Secure

Why did Japan attack Manchuria in 1931?

• Japan had invested vast sums of money into Manchuria’s economy

• An explosion on the Railway gave the army the excuse it needed (sabotage)

How did The League react to Japan’s aggression?

• Established a Commission of Enquiry

– Japan should withdraw

– Japan resigned from the League

Why did Italy invade Ethiopia in Oct 1935?

• Ethiopia appealed to the League for help• The League condemned the attack

– Imposed economic sanctions on Italy – All members didn’t

• Mussolini desired to show the world how powerful Italy was.

• He saw himself as a modern day Julius Caesar

Why did Hitler withdraw from the Disarmament Conference of 1933?

• France refused his plan

• France should disarm to the level of Germany or that Germany should re-arm to the level of France

How did Hitler rearm so quickly?

• He secretly began rearming in 1933• In 1935, Hitler went public on Nazi’s

military expansion• Compulsory military conscription

• The League did nothing (condemned it)• France built the Maginot Line• Britain signed a Naval treaty with

Germany• The start of appeasement

How did the League react?

In March 1936 Hitler reoccupies the Rhineland

3.The league’s weak response encouraged Hitler’s plans of expansion

1.Strengthened his power within Germany2.Balance of power now favored Germany

Birds of a feather flock together

• The League opposed Italy’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia

• Hitler supported Mussolini expansion

• Both sent troops to Spain

• Became allied in Oct 1936

Rome to Berlin Axis

Anschluss with Austria

• In 1938 Hitler threatens to invade

• Nazis are put in charge of Austria

• German troops are welcomed

• Austria is annexed

Lebensraum – Living space

• 1938 Hitler demands the Sudetenland

• Claims they’re mostly Germans anyway

Sudeten woman dutifully salutes parading Nazis, October, 1938

Munich Conference

• Caved to Hitler’s demands

• High point of Western Appeasement

•British, French, German & Italian reps meet

•Chamberlain boasts – “peace for our time”

Why did Hitler sign a treaty in August of 1939 with the USSR?

• Avoided a two-front war

• Could now attack Poland

• Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact