More revision for Int 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/

Revision for Int 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/roadwar/

Reminder for Int 2

Remember your NAB will take place next Wednesday 28th. You can find past papers on the SQA website if you want to do them and get them marked.

Unit 3 Notes S Grade

Unit III –

People and Power Context D Germany

THE BIRTH OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

1918 Germany surrendered to Alllies.  Why?

Kaiser told the war was lost

Germany’s allies surrendered

British naval blockade was cutting food supply

German people wanted an end to the suffering.

The Allies agreed to a ceasefire because the Kaiser abdicated, German soldiers were withdrawn from France and Belgium and all prisoners were returned.

A new temporary government was formed in Germany with elections to take place in January 1919.  This gov’t was led by Freidrich Ebert (from the Social Democrat Party) There was discontent in Germany as many felt that democracy had been forced upon them.  There were demonstrations against the elections and an attempted revolution. Germany no longer had a Monarchy and was a Republic.  This new gov’t was to be known as the Weimar Republic.

Political Parties

LEFT WING = Socialists.  Made up from:

Social Democratic Party (Ebert)

Independent Socialists (who later joined with Ebert)

Communists (Spartacists)

The Socialists wanted to improve working and living conditions but the

SDP wanted to do this peacefully using the law and the Communists wanted change quickly through a revolution.

CENTRE = Zentrum Party

RIGHT WING = Nazi Party.  An extremist group who hated democracy.

Spartacist Revolt

In January 1919 the Spartacists tried to seize power.  Why?

hated democracy

didn’t want elections – thought power would stay with the middle/upper classes and the working class would not see improvements

feared that demands of workers and soldiers would not be met

This attempted revolution failed.  Why?

Ebert and SDP had support of upper class and army who hated and feared Communism

Ebert had support of the Army and the Freikorps

Leaders of the Spartacists were murdered

Elections 1919

The SDP led by Ebert won the election.  They then joined with the Independent Socialists to create a coalition gov’t.

Proportional Representation (PR) used to elect the Reichstag.

60,000 = 1 deputy elected to the Reichstag.  PR allowed extremist groups to be elected.  Under Article 48 if the Weimar Constitution the President of the Reichstag could call a state of emergency and rule without the support of the parliament.

The constitution also set out the fundamental laws.  All citizens:

were equal before the law

had the right to free speech

had the right to freedom of religion

freedom to join a Trade Union

freedom from imprisonment without a trial.

Other Problems

Germany didn’t just face opposition from the Communists.  There was also opposition from the Right (Nazis) and the German economy was very weak.  Many Germans were also still very bitter about the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Notes

WEIMAR REPUBLIC 1923-1929

Germany had spent vast amounts of money on the First World War. When she lost, Germany had to pay back the money she had borrowed along with reparations.  Germany was crippled.  The Gov’t printed more money in an attempt to pay of its debts however this led to inflation.  Goods became more expensive, prices went up and people demanded more wages.  This led to the Gov’t printing even more money.

The invasion of the Ruhr

At the end of 1922 the Weimar Gov’t failed to make a payment of reparations to the French.  France refused to believe that Germany couldn’t afford to pay and with the support of the Belgians, France invaded the Ruhr valley.

French and Belgian troops took over mines, factories and railways and they moved food and supplies back to their own countries. Germany was too weak to fight back.  The gov’t called for passive resistance and German workers went on strike.

Results?

French were angry and fighting broke out

The German Gov’t had to import food and supplied from other countries which made Germany bankrupt

More money was printed, the value of the mark fell and eventually became worthless.  Germany was in hyperinflation.

Inflation 1923

Effects?

standard of living fell.  Prices increased, people bartered goods for food, elderly suffered as pensions did not increase, life savings were wiped out

people felt cheated and betrayed by the Gov’t

those who had borrowed money gained as they could now pay it back with worthless bank notes.

Right wing extremists and Nationalists were furious at the French invasion and looked for opportunities to overthrow the Gov’t.

How was it solved?

new chancellor – Gustav Stresemann in 1923

realised that passive resistance was causing more problems

called off the strike

stopped printing money and scrapped currency

new currency introduced

Germany slowly began to recover

America lent Germany money so reparations could be paid

Dawes Plan and Young Plan reduced reparations

French and Belgians left Ruhr in late 1923

Munich Putsch

The Nazi party, led by Adolf Hitler blamed the Weimar Gov’t for signing the Treaty of Versailles and for the misery caused by inflation.  Hitler organised a revolution to overthrow the Weimar Gov’t. 

In 1923 the Nazi party stormed into a beer hall in Munich where the heads of the Bavarian gov’t, the police and army were having a meeting.  The three leaders were forced at gunpoint to agree to support Hitler.  The next day the Nazis celebrated but the leaders changed their minds.  The police arrested Hitler and 16 Nazi members were shot

Why did it fail?

The Nazi party did not have as much support as they thought they did.  Members of the gov’t in Bavaria deserted Hitler and the national gov’t threatened to use the army and police against the Nazis.

Hitler was arrested, sentenced to prison and the Nazi party broke up.

Wall Street Crash 1929

The Wall Street Crash in 1929 caused the German economy to collapse.  Once again discontent and poverty swept through Germany. Unemployment soared – reaching 6m in 1932 – and many Germans began to lose faith in the Weimar Gov’t.  People turned to the extremeist groups – the Nazis and the Communists.

Notes

RISE OF THE NAZI PARTY

1925-1929

Support for the Nazis was low.  Conditions in Germany were improving, the economy was recovering and hyperinflation was over.

Whilst in prison after the Munich Putsch, Hitler reorganised his party and wrote Mein Kampf – later to become the Nazi bible.  In this Hitler set out his plans for gov’t which he would achieve by legal means and not through force.

Hitler’s plans:

destroy Treaty of Versailles

destroy democracy

get rid of the Jews

create Lebensraum in the east

unite Germany and Austria (Anschluss)

Propaganda

Propaganda means when a group take action to spread opinions with the intent of persuading people.

The Nazis made great use of Propaganda to spread the word of the Nazi party.  The held large rallies, Hitler toured Germany by aeroplane, the made broadcasts for radio and cinema and created their own newspaper.

The Nazi party were portrayed as a party that was strong, disciplined, organised and able to restore pride and power to the German people.  Hitler was a great public speaker and this helped to attract people to the party.

Who Supported the Nazis?

The Nazis realised that to gain power they needed support from many groups in society.

Nazis had support from

Germans who felt they had been stabbed in the back in 1918

Germans who believed that the Jews were responsible for the defeat

middle classes who lost savings during the hyperinflation

unemployed as the Nazis promised jobs

the army as the Nazis promised to rearm

the industrialists as they would make money from rearmament

1929-1932

The Wall Street Crash was the Nazis opportunity to gain control.  They publicly blamed the Weimar Gov’t for the poor state of the economy and managed to gain new support.  In 1932 the Nazi party was the biggest party in the Reichstag and only after persuasion from the Gov’t did they consider joining a coalition, with Hitler becoming Chancellor.

Hitler gains control

In order to gain control Hitler had to remove his enemies – namely the Communists and Socialists, Roehm a Nazi with different views to Hitler and the ageing President, Hindenburg.

Communists/Socialist

The Reichstag fire (February 1933) gave Hitler the chance he needed.  The Communists were blamed for this and Hitler persuaded the President to grant him the powers under Article 48. Hitler then passed the Enabling Act (March 1933) which gave Hitler the right to rule for four years without the Reichstag.  In July 1933 a law declared the Nazi party the only party.  The political rights and personal freedoms laid down in the Weimar constitution were taken away and Germany became a police state. The Gestapo  had the power to put any opponents of the Nazis into the concentration camps.

Roehm

Hitler did not like Roehm’s plans to merge the German army and SA together.  Roehm did not agree with Hitler’s collaboration with the industrialists and this led to tension. The Night of the Long Knives (June 1934) saw around 800 Nazis including Roehm killed.  This removed any enemies from within the Nazi party.

President

Hindenburg died in 1934.  Hitler took the role of President and Chancellor and created one leader of Germany – the Furher.

Notes

LIFE IN NAZI GERMANY

By 1934 Hitler had established a dictatorship in Germany. This was based on a fear of the Gestapo and the concentration camps.  All Aryans had to be controlled and all non-Aryans had to be removed.

Young People

It was important that Young people were indoctrinated: 

to ensure the survival of Nazism

to be used as spies

to train boys to become soldiers and girls to become mothers.

Hitler Youth

regular activities, followed discipline and order

educated to support Hitler

of a military nature – uniforms/marches

focus on sport and fitness

Pressured into accepting Nazi ideas

Youth Patrol Service (idea of power)

threat of being taken away from family

peer pressure – large numbers joined

propaganda

People joined the Hitler Youth as they were attracted to the power and the adventure.

Many young boys went on to join the army or SS which allowed Hitler to carry out his plans.  By 1939 membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory and all other youth groups were banned.

Jews

Hitler hated the Jews and once in power he wanted to make Germany free from all Jews.  Slav people were to become slaves to the master race (Aryans)

1933-1939 Hitler tried to remove Jews from Germany:

1933 - boycott of Jewish businesses

1935 - Jews forbidden to join army

The Nuremburg Laws

Jews banned as German citizens

Jews not allowed to vote

Jews not allowed to work for Gov’t

Jews not allowed to marry Aryans

1936 – Berlin Olympics.  Attacks on Jews were stopped/ hidden.  Hitler did not want this to be seen by the worlds’ media.

1938 - Jews forced to have their passport stamped with J for Jews

1938 – Kristallnacht and Jewish children banned from going to German schools.

1939 - Hitler threatens the Jews with destruction should war break out in Europe.

Other Opposition

The majority of Germans supported Hitler and the Nazis from 1933 as they provided jobs, effective propaganda made people support them and the fear of the Gestapo and the concentration camps.

Political Opponents:

Communists and Socialists were the Nazis biggest enemies.  They hated each other so did not join together to try to stop the Nazis. 

Enabling Act 1934 banned all other political parties and trade unions.  This affected the Communists and Socialists as they had a lot of support from the Trade Unions.

The Gestapo were ordered to hunt down political opponents and send them to the concentration camps.

Religious Opponents:

Hitler disliked the Christian Church but he couldn’t attack the churches as this would alienate the German people.  Many Nazi supporters were Christians and attacking the church would lead to opposition from abroad.

1933 – Concordat signed with Pope and Hitler tried to unite all protestant churches.

1936 – creation of Reich Church

Nazi beliefs replaced Christian beliefs

swastika replaced cross

Mein kampf replaced bible

Reich Church did not attract many ordinary Germans.

Notes

THE ROAD TO WAR

Hitler’s Foreign policy consisted of destroying the Treaty of Versailles, creating Lebensraum in the east and eventually dominating the world. 

He set about achieving this by:

Destroying the Treaty of Versailles

built up German armed forces

In 1935 Hitler increased the German army to more than the 100,00 and brought back conscription.  Both of these were not forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. 

signed an agreement with Britain to allow the German navy to be 35% the size of the British navy

created the German Airforce (Luftwaffe) in 1936.  This was also forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles.

Reoccupying the Rhineland

March 1936 Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles and occupied the Rhineland.  This allowed Hitler to concentrate on expanding east as he no longer feared an attack from France

Creating Lebensraum

March 1938 Hitler started his move east.

he invaded Austria and brought about the Anschluss – something else forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles

October 1938 persuaded Britain and France to allow him to occupy the Sudentenland part of Czechoslovakia (area close to border of Germany and where a lot of Germans lived)

March 1939 invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia

September 1939 invaded Poland

World Domination?

When Hitler invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.  The Second World War had begun.

Notes

History Past papers

Enjoy http://www.sqa.org.uk/pastpapers/findpastpaper.htm?subject=History

Int 2 essay help

This link will provide you with some more information for your essay http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/roadwar/rhine/revision/1/

UNIT II – International

Co-operation and Conflict Context A 1890s – 1920s

EUROPE BEFORE 1914

Rivalries

Europe was divided into rivalries

Trade – Britain felt threatened by growth of Germany and USA

Imperial – Britain and France threatened by growth of German Empire.  Russia and Austria-Hungary arguing over Balkans

National – France and Germany rivals over Alsace-Lorraine

Main problems – rise of Germany and tension in the Balkans

Main Players

Britain

richest and most powerful country

large empire

ruled by King George V

policy of “splendid isolation”

small army

most powerful navy “2 power standard”

France

led by President Poincare

colonies in Africa – interested in this area

industrialised

Germany

led by Kaiser Wilhelm II

growing richer and hungry for land and power

late in race for colonies but keen to get some

wanted a bigger army and navy

Russia

ruled by Tsar Nicholas II

large country but quite backward

large but ineffective army

wanted control of the Balkans

Austria-Hungary 

led by Emperor Franz Josef

empire made up of lots of small nations with different races, religions

other countries were Italy, Turkey (a declining empire) and the Balkans (a troubled area)

Search for friends

Germany

main enemy = France and wanted to isolate her

1879 alliance with Austria-Hungary

1882 alliance with Italy = Triple Alliance (a military agreement)

France

main enemy = Germany

worried about her growing in strength and signing alliances

1884 alliance with Russia

1904 friends with Britain = Triple Entente

German Aggression

Land

desperate to expand, wanted large empire to rival France and Britain

1905 Morocco.  France controlled Morocco so to cause tension Germany encouraged the Moroccans to be more independent.  To Germany’s surprise, Britain backed France

1911 Morocco.  G again tried to be powerful and sent gunboat to Morocco.  This was seen as a warlike move and Britain threatened Germany.  Germany backed down but tension remained

Military

increased her military power. 

Army already strong so focused on increasing Navy.  This worried Britain

1906 Britain launches Dreadnought.  Very modern warship which made all others inferior.  It was faster, bigger and more heavily armed

Germany started to build them – the naval race had begun

Tension between Germany and Britain was very high.

Notes

CAUSES OF WW1

Alliances

Countries in Europe were dragged into war because of the alliances they had made

Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

Triple Entente – Britain, France and Russia

Britain also had an alliance with Belgium

Alliance = military agreement – will go to war if a country is attacked

Entente = friendship – countries agreed to put aside differences

Arms Race 

growth of weapons, army, navy

naval race – Germany wanted to increase the size of her navy

Britain worried about this, she wanted to keep the “2 power standard”

1906 launch of new battleship -  Dreadnought.  This was faster, more armed, bigger than all other warships

Balkans

troubled area in South East Europe

made up of many small nations who want independence

1908 Austria-Hungary takes over Bosnia

Serbia is not happy with this

Serbia supports the Balkan states in their fight for independence.  Serbia is an independent country

rise of nationalism in the area

Austria-Hungary is against the Balkans being independent.  Her empire is made up of lots of small nations and if they are successful in getting independence she will disintegrate

Sarajevo

28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo

He was heir to Austrian throne

Killed by Gavrillo Princip who was a Serb and member of the Black Hand Gang

Austria-Hungary sends ultimatum to Serbia

Ultimatum demands that Serbia accepts responsibility for the killing, allows Austrians in to run the investigation and only given 2 days to reply

Ultimatum seen as harsh by other countries

Serbia rejects the ultimatum

Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia

How they all got involved

When Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilises to help her fellow Slav country

Germany now mobilises to help her ally Austria-Hungary

France mobilises to help her ally Russia

When Germany invades Belgium, Britain declares war on Germany

Notes

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

Original Plan

created by Count Von Schlieffen 1905

military plan to stop Germany having a war on 2 fronts

Germany faced attack from France in the west and Russia in the east

Aims

to keep the German army as 1 and not to divide it into 2

to defeat France first and then attack Russia with Austria-Hungary

Germany believed Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilise – this was plenty of time to defeat France

Speed was vital

to attack France, Germany decided to go through Belgium (a neutral country)

Belgium was a small flat country with a small army – easy and quick to defeat

the invasion of Belgium led to British involvement in the war

Schlieffen stressed that 6/7 of the German army divisions should go through Belgium

The remaining division was to attack directly through the French/German border

Moltke’s version

Von Moltke replaced Schlieffen as Chief of General and made changes

He feared France would invade Germany if only 1 division went directly to France

If France invaded Germany then she could easily take over munitions factories, industries and stop supplies to Belgium

Moltke wanted 5/7 division to go through Belgium and 2 to go directly to France

How did it fail?

Belgium army stronger than expected – held up Germans at Liege

Britain kept alliance with Belgium and came to her defence – held up German army at Mons and le Cateau

German soldiers had to wait for supplies from Germany

Russia mobilised much quicker and Germany had to send troops to the east

Battle of the Marne

German army made a mistake and swung south for Paris too soon

Britain and France decided to attack

France sent troops from Paris to Marne by taxi

German retreated and “dug in” – she didn’t want to loose the ground she had already taken

Britain and France dug in as well

Trench Warfare had begun

Notes

TRENCHES

Keywords

Stalemate = no country could move, soldiers stuck in one place

Attrition = each side tried to wear down the enemy and force them to surrender

Western Front = area where trenches were.  Stretched from coast, across France to border with Switzerland

Design

Layout was vital so troops, supplies and messages could be moved

approx 2.5 metres deep

battlefield was in-between 2 sets of trenches – called No Man’s Land

built in lines

front line trench

reserve trench

supply trench

in-between all of these were communication trenches

built in zig zags so if the enemy got in they couldn’t fire straight down it

blind alley – trench that led to a dead end to confuse the enemy

INSIDE

duckboards (wooden) to walk on to try to keep feet dry

firing step to lift soldier up to see where to aim

dug out – area built into the side of the trench where soldiers slept

sandbags were at the top of the trench, front and back

barbed wire in front of the trench

Conditions

noise – from shells

smell – rotting bodies, smoke from shells, sweat, latrines

diseases – lack of proper toilets, dysentery, trenchfoot, poor rations

rats – ate stale foods and dead bodies

boredom – soldiers suffered from this

battles – stress, fear, shock, injury, death

Many soldiers struggled in the trenches.  Depression was common, morale lowered as war dragged on (it was not “over by Christmas”) and idea of war being romantic was lost.  Life in the trenches was very  difficult and for some soldiers it was all too much, some committed suicide.

Tactics

Battles followed a similar pattern

heavy artillery bombarded enemy trenches

troops went “over the top” and advanced into no man’s land

in no man’s land soldiers faced fire from enemy machine guns

if successfully crossed no man’s land, cut through barbed wire and survive hand to hand fighting

This type of battle usually failed.  Artillery didn’t destroy the trenches, no mans land had no protection from machine guns.  In battle it was easier to defend than attack.

Weapons

Artillery (cannons that fired shells) – not very effective

Machine Guns – very effective

Aeroplanes – first used towards end of war, limited effect

Tanks – first used 1916 Battle of the Somme – not very effective

Gas - no fear after issue of gas masks, not very effective

Spade

Battles

1916 Battle of Verdun – Verdun was very important town for French, had army forts.  Germans attacked and French defended but lost many men.

1916 Battle of the Somme – Battle attack, worst day in British Military History, approx. 60,000 men died on the first day.  Tanks used for the first time.

1917 Battle of Passchendaele – Canadian troops fought on side of Allies

By 1917 Canada and USA troops

involved.  Helped clinch allied victory in 1918

Cost

Massive loss of lives.  Estimated that 9 million lives were lost in the “great war”

Germany suffered highest loss of men

Notes

HOME FRONT 1914-1918

Britain 1914

most people supported the war

people believed it was a just war to defend Belgium

it was a chance to settle differences with Germany

suffragettes abandoned campaign

many Irish men joined the British army

some people did however oppose the war – conscientious objectors

political – didn’t agree with Gov’t decision

religious – against religion

absolutists

Effects of War: Britain

Armed Forces

increase in size, men needed to fight

high casualty rate due to machine guns meant even more men needed

1916 Universal Conscriptions Act: men aged 18-41 had to join army unless essential workers or conscientious objectors

Women

joined the war effort

worked in heavy industry, gov’t departments, land army, joined VAD as nurses to help wounded soldiers, did work previously done by men

fashion changed – women now wore trousers, earned their own money and became independent

Rationing

food became in short supply – food ships were converted to troop carrying ships

German u-boats (submarines) attacked food ships and reduced amount of food coming in

Rise in prices

Food rationing introduced so everyone could cover basic needs

1916 – Country War Agriculture Committee set up to encourage increase in food production

Women’s Land Army brought more workers onto the land

Government

1914 – Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) restricted peoples freedoms

Gov’t took more control of industry in order to ensure that weapons needed for battle were provided

1915 Munitions Act – restricted workers from changing jobs, lengthened hours and controlled wages

strikes were illegal in the munitions industry

Economy

went through changes during the war

Britain ran up debts

Economy weakened due to loss of trade with Japan and USA

Lost most of her merchant navy

Britain being overtaken by other countries in industrial methods

had to borrow money at end of war to cover debts

Britain lost “workshop of the world”

Britain ceased to be main source of foreign investment

Britain lost money and influence on world scene

Parts of British empire became independent

new industries (aircraft) strengthened the economy

Other Factors

1915 War Act created internment  for aliens (foreigners)

Aliens and property were attacked

Royal family changed its name

Liberal Gov’t blamed

Liberals formed a coalition with Conservatives

“Socialism” in trenches reduced class divisions

Women given the vote in 1918

Effects of War: Germany

Germany suffered greatly during the war

naval blockade on Germany from 1914 reduced war materials and food getting to Germany

1917 Germans were starving and disillusioned by war – wanted peace

1918 revolution in Germany forced Germany to surrender to Allies

By 1918 German war materials were exhausted and she could no longer carry on

Many German soldiers believed in Communism and no longer wanted to fight

German high command told the Kaiser that soldiers could no longer be relied upon to fight

German Gov’t at end of the war

faced revolution

faced dilemma of whether to accept Treaty of Versailles

handed Kaiser over to Allies as a war criminal

strikes and mutinies in Army and Navy

problems of what to do with returning soldiers

feared new neighbours – Poland might attack her

Role of USA

lowered morale of Germans

Didn’t enter in 1914 because

not a member of Triple Alliance or Triple Entente

no immediate threat to USA

followed policy of isolation

to support Britain or Germany would lead to trouble with American immigrant groups

1917 entered war on side of Allies

because of

German unrestricted submarine warfare

Zimmerman Telegram

War declared on Germany 1917

Result of USA involvement

American Expeditionary Force sent to Western Front

Morale of Allies lifted

gave USA a seat on the Peace Conference in 1919

Notes

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

End of World War One

lack of support in Germany led to a revolution which forced Germany to surrender

1918 the “big four” met at Versailles to create a peace treaty

The “big four” were:

President Wilson, USA wanted a fair treaty based on his 14 point plan

Lloyd George, Britain first wanted to punish Germany then changed attitude

Georges Clemenceau, France believed Germany should be punished for waging war, planned to get as much as he could, Germany was not allowed to discuss the terms and only had 15 days to reply

Orlando, Italy wanted as much land as possible for Italy

Treaty

Terms

it was dictated peace

Germany had to accept “war guilt” clause (Article 231)

League of Nations was set up

A union between Germany and Austria (Anschluss) was forbidden

Territorial Clauses

all of Germany’s colonies given to the League of Nations who decided who got them

In Europe:

Alsace-Lorraine given back to France

Eupen Malmedy given to Belgium

Schleswig given to Denmark

Danzig and Saar to be looked after by League of Nations

Newly created Poland got land in the East

Germany was reduced in size with key areas of importance (areas rich in pride or natural resources) given away

Military Clauses

Army – limited to 100,000 men, no gas, tanks or artillery and no conscription

Navy – only 6 battleships with rest going to the Allies, no u-boats

Air force – no planes allowed

Demilitarisation of Rhineland area – no military in the east of this area and west part to be occupied by Allies for 15 years

Reparations

£6,600,000,000 to be paid to Allies in annual payments or in gold, currency or goods

Criticisms

it was dictated peace – Germany didn’t agree to it

war guilt clause was unfair

Germany denied national self determination (where minorities have the right to decide which country should rule them)

Germany resented loss of colonies

New Germany was punished for Kaiser’s policy

Germany’s International Position in 1918

Germany was humiliated by the Treaty

Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war

Powerless, especially as army was defeated and reduced

BUT, Germany was no longer encircled by hostile nations – Britain, France and Russia

Russia was now weaker and in middle of a civil war

Britain and France were devastated countries

Therefore International position was not as bad as it first seemed

Remember: the Allies could have divided Germany between them

Notes

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

This was created at the Treaty of Versailles and its aim was to maintain world peace

Aims

to encourage arbitration (discussion) rather than conflict

to discourage war by imposing economic sanctions

to bring about peace through       “collective security”

to bring about disarmament

Problems

major nations like USA not members of the League

Germany and Russia were not allowed to join

Britain and France were economically and military weak after 1919 and couldn’t support the league with force

Weaknesses of the League

important countries didn’t join

too closely linked to the Treaty of Versailles

no effective way to enforce its decisions

viewed with suspicion because of its close links with the Treaty of Versailles

countries left the league at will if things weren’t going their way

Successes of the League

it was the only international organisation created to prevent wars

did have some success

returned Prisoners of War

helped refugees

improved conditions for workers

improved health

fought against slavery

France and Collective Security

France saw Germany as her enemy and she didn’t rely on the League to protect her and contain Germany

France instead relied on

Reparations to keep Germany weak

The French army and the Maginot line

A little entente with new countries in east – Poland, Czechoslovakia – to threaten Germany and create a war on two fronts

Germany and Collective Security

Germany felt aggrieved by the Treaty of Versailles

Under leader of Stressmann Germany followed a policy of fulfilment

Germany tried to persuade  the Allies that she was doing her best

Germany tried to persuade her neighbours that she wasn’t a threat to peace

This policy was eventually successful

1924 Dawes Plan reduced reparations

1929 Young Plan reduced reparations

1925 Locarno Treaty between France and Germany – Germany said she wouldn’t go to war over Alsace-Lorraine

1926 Germany allowed to enter League of Nations

1932 Hoover Moratorium suspended reparations

1933 This policy ended when Hitler came to power

Notes