Key: Blue rows: Manchuria 1931 Green rows: Disarmament Conference 19321933 Orange rows: Abyssinia Crisis 1935 Date Event Significance September 1931 Japanese Army claims Chinese troops sabotaged the Plausible reason to invade: in selfdefence, not invasion per se railway (belonging to the Japanese), invaded Manchuria and expelled Chinese troops February 1932 Creation of the puppet state of Manchukuo, with Henry Pu Yi installed as the emperor Puppet State meant that the League of Nations could not directly accuse the Japanese of taking over Manchuria, since it is July 1932 Late 1932 September 1932 Germany proposes option of allowing Germany to rearm to the level of other powers in the Disarmament Conference. Proposal rejected, Germany walks Japanese Imperial Army attached Shanghai with warplanes and gunships, ignored civilian government s instructions to withdraw. China appealed to the League to take action (banking on idea of collective security) LoN officials present report after field trip; Japan was to technically an independent state Shows that other countries did not see Germany as an equal, but as a defeated nation withdraw from Manchuria December 1932 Agreement to treat Germany equally Indecisiveness of League: took 5 months just to decide to treat Germany as an equal January 1933 Germany returns to the Conferences February 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor (quite obvious, no?) February 1933 Japan announced further expansion plans in China 24 February 1933 League votes 42:1 on the subject (with the one being Japan, since it obviously wouldn t vote against itself) Illustrated very clearly the ineffectiveness of the League policy unable to obtain unanimous vote on issues concerning members of the League easily 24 March 1933 Japan withdraws from the League League could no longer control Japanese actions in any way April 1933 Japan invades the Chinese territory of Jehol The League had failed in stopping the Japanese invasion of
China (ie, failed in keeping collective security) May 1933 Hitler promises not to rearm Germany conditionally ( false promises everywhere) October 1933 Germany withdraws from the League League could no longer control German actions in any wa. Illustrated the failure of the League by showing how they could not come to an agreement on disarmament, a key issue in promoting collective security December 1934 Border dispute at WalWal, 80km inside Abyssinia. Mussolini claimed it was Italian territory and prepared for invasion. Haile Selassie, the Abyssinian Emperor, appealed to LoN for help 4 September 1935 (after months of deliberation), the League proposed a compromise where Mussolini would be given part of Abyssinia, rejected by Mussolini Inefficiency of League: took close to a year to come to a (partial) decision October 1935 Italy invades Abyssinia Italy was clearly the aggressor and violated the League Convenant, an ideal case for the LoN to act firmly and demonstrate its purpose October 1935 December 1935 Committee was set up to debate on imposing sanctions in Italy. Time factor was critical, however these were delayed because of the economic interests of major powers (France, Britain). SUEZ CANAL REMAINED OPEN (this was to prove fatal) Secret talks between Britain and France to divide Abyssinia, 2/3 to Italy. France was insistent about this, and even wanted to present pact to Mussolini before presenting it to the LoN. Infamous HoareLaval pact. Illustrated how the League s purpose was secondary to national interest in trying times; even key members did not take League seriously. Foundation for failure of LoN? LoN was essentially taken as nothing but a bureaucratic joke France and Britain bypassed the League in making their decision 7 March 1936 Hitler marches troops into Rhineland; France needed Italy more than ever as an ally against possible Nazi aggression France was thus prepared to sacrifice Abyssinia to Italy; needed Italy at all costs 9 May 1936 Italy formally annexes Abyssinia LoN again failed and this one cost them more than the previous ones because it was a clear cut case of Italy being the aggressor. All respect for LoN s authority lost November 1936 RomeBerlin Axis Showed that you could not trust Mussolini (allied with Hitler despite France s desperation to pull Italy to their side). End Game: Hitler and Mussolini the ultimate winners, making use of national interest > League interest to manipulate the situation to their advantage
Date Event British Reaction French Reaction Significance 1935 Rearmament and conscription, rebuilds Luftwaffe British were sympathetic: Anglo German Naval Agreement which allowed Germany to have a navy French did not act. Unstable politically and economically, placed their trust in the Maginot Line Beginning of Hitler s preparation to war; in direct contravention of ToV. AngloGerman Naval 1936 Hitler marched 22,000 German troops into the Rhineland (supposedly a demilitarised area) in direct contravention of the Treaty. Offered France and Britain a 25year nonaggression pact 12 March: German troops marched into Austria; Anschluss with Austria Mar May Sudetenland Crisis Hitler orders the Sudeten Nazi Party to make demands, citing persecution (partial truth) Hitler moves troops to the Czech border in the show of 35% the size of the Royal Navy Sympathetic: seen as reclaiming what was theirs. Weak economically and militarily, did not want to commit to war; troops had been moved to the Mediterranean because of the Abyssinia crisis Did not act. Chamberlain was determined to appease Hitler, and the British population were opposed to another war (economically and militarily not ready). Anschluss was not seen as a threat since both were Germanic nations Did not act. Unstable government (Hitler acted between governments) and would not act without British support. Relied on Maginot Line. French generals thought the German occupying forces were much bigger than they actually were Did not act. French politics were in turmoil; French government resigned two days before Germany invaded Austria. Obviously, not in a position to oppose. Agreement undermined the Treaty Beginning of the policy of appeasement, illustration of British sympathy and French indecision France and Britain chose to allow Hitler to break the ToV (which stated that Germany was not permitted to Anschluss with Austria). Hitler gained 7,000,000 population, 100,000 troops and resources. The balance of power in southeastern Europe shited in favour of Germany, Czechoslovakia surrounded on three fronts by the German Empire Significance of Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia: extensive border defences; losing this area would mean losing these Was Hitler gambling? Czechoslovakia had a modern
15 Sep 22 Sep 29 Sep 30 Sep 15 Mar force ; Czechoslovakia mobilises Chamberlain relegates part of Sudetenland to Hitler Hitler demands all of Sudetenland; demands for Czechoslovak army to withdraw from the Sudetenland by 1 Oct Munich Conference British mobilises the Royal Navy: war seemed imminent Munich Agreement, in which Sudetenland in its entirety would be relegated to Hitler and Hitler promises not to make any more territorial demands in Europe (barely 6 months after the Munich Agreement) German troops marched into Czechoslovakia and took over Bohemia (17 March) Chamberlain gave a speech stating that you could not trust Hitler (about time you caught on too, huh). However, did nothing to stop Hitler army and extensive border defences Again, appeasement comes into play. Note date: less than a week after Chamberlain relegates part of Sudetenland to Hitler; Hitler s growing ambition French did nothing to stop Hitler. Turning point in road to war: to Hitler, this was solid evidence that Britain and France would not act against him unless their national interest was directly threatened Showed the failure of the policy of appeasement; instead of appeasing Hitler, merely boosted his confidence and ambition. Britain and France had severely underestimated Hitler and trusted him too much
Note: don t bother reading this unless you want to see the full flow of events; loads of things outside our syllabus and not really relevant. Made this for fun, oops. The only part to take note of would be the partitioning of Poland (Nonaggression pact with USSR) right at the end! Key: G Germany B Britain F France R USSR J Japan I Italy Date Event G B F R J I Significance 1924 Stalin becomes dictator Russia a Communist base in Europe 1929 France begins construction of Maginot Line 1930 France completely withdraws troops from the Rhineland (as part of the Locarno Treaties) September 1931 Japanese Army invades Manchuria; set up puppet state of Breaking of the Convenant of the LoN (despite how it was supposedly done in selfdefence ) Manchukuo January 1933 Hitler becomes Chancellor Beginning of sequence of events hat would lead to WWII 27 Feburary Reichstag Fire, Emergency Decree Used by Hitler to blame and arrest Communists 1933 (28 Feb) 24 March Enabling Act Hitler had full power and effectively dictatorship 1933 24 March Japan withdraws from the League LoN no longer held any power over Japan 1933 April 1933 April July 1933 of Nations Japan invades Chinese territory of Jehol Civil Service Purge, Banning of Trade Unions and new parties, Illustrates failure of LoN, therefore indirectly boosting Hitler s confidence that they would not act Consolidated Hitler s power by eliminating all opposition; Hitler could now focus on his ideals
Employment Law, Concordat with Catholic Church of Aryan superiority and Lebensraum without worry of opposition October 1933 Germany leaves the LoN League no longer held any power over Germany, Hitler could do what he wanted 1933 USA recognises USSR 1934 USSR admitted to the LoN January 1934 PolishGerman 10 year nonaggression Empty promises everywhere pact December 1934 Border dispute at WalWal; Mussolini claims Abyssinia was Italian territory and prepares for war 1935 Hitler reintroduces conscription In direct contravention of the ToV and rebuilds Luftwaffe 2 May 1935 FrancoUSSR Treaty of Mutual Assistance 18 Jun 1935 AngloGerman Naval Agreement that allowed Germany to have a navy 35% the size of the Royal Navy Was a hollow diplomatic threat of war on two fronts for Germany; however represented a conscious decision for France to participate in a 2 nd encirclement of Germany Again, in direct contravention of ToV. Gave Hitler the confidence to go against it since Britain obviously did not care (signed treaty that went against their own terms) and France would not act without Britain October 1935 Italy invades Abyssinia Clearly the aggressor and knowingly violated League Convenant, ideal case for LoN to act firmly and demonstrate its purpose December 1935 Infamous HoareLaval Pact where Britain and France agree to divide Abyssinia with 2/3 to Italy 7 March 1936 Hitler marches 22,000 troops into Rhineland. Britain and France do nothing due to domestic concerns Illustrated how Britain and France placed national interest before League interest; contributed to failure of LoN since major players did not take it seriously Direct contravention of not only the ToV, but also the Locarno Treaties. Beginning of appeasement. Was this partially necessitated by the Franco USSR Treaty of Mutual Alliance? 9 May 1936 Italy formally annexes Abyssinia Showed how desperate the French were to have Italy as an ally against Hitler (BUT FAILED
1 November 1936 RomeBerlin Axis, the official military alliance of Italy and Germany 1936 War between China and Japan officially begins Somehow, nothing significant happens in 1937 March Hitler invades Austria; Anschluss with Austria. Britain and France do not act. May 15 September 22 September 30 September 15 March 17 March 31 March Hitler moves troops to the Czechoslovakia border, Czechoslovakia mobilises Chamberlain relegates part of Sudetenland to Hitler Hitler demands all of Sudetenland Munich Agreement, where France, Britain and Italy agree to give Hitler Sudetenland and Hitler promises to stop making any more territorial demands German troops march into Czechoslovakia and take over Bohemia, British and French do not act against him Chamberlain makes a speech that Hitler could not be trusted AngloPolish military alliance, where Britain and France promise to defend Poland should Germany attack ANYWAY) Shows French failure in trying to pull Italy to their side despite trying to appease them by giving them Abyssinia Hitler gained people; resources; land. Basis of power shifted in favour of Germany, German Empire now surrounded Czechoslovakia on three fronts Ironically enough, Czechoslovakia is the only state inclined to oppose Hitler s expansionist policies Failure of Chamberlain to appease Hitler with part of Sudetenland; illustrated Hitler s territorial ambition Key turning point in the road to war: conclusively proved to Hitler that France and Germany would not act against him unless their national interest was directly threatened. Also a controversial decision morally; Czechoslovakia was not invited to decide their own fate Marked the failure of appeasement. First time Hitler had taken over a nongermanic people, no longer a question of reversing the ToV but showed Hitler s expansionist aims clearly (about time, Chamberlain old friend, no?) Finally, they start taking action against Hitler 23 August SovietNazi pact that stated Hitler was now free to invade Poland without
Germany and USSR would not take military action against one another, partitioned Poland 1 September Hitler invades Poland; Britain and 3 September 27 September 1940 18 December 1940 France issue the Polish Ultimatum War is declared by Britain and France; WWII begins Japan joins the Axis powers with Italy and Germany Hitler signs Directive 21 (codenamed Operation Barbarossa), the operational order for the invasion of the Soviet Union fearing a war on two fronts (like in WWI), emboldening Hitler. Did it make war inevitable? Hitler s fatal miscalculation: did not expect Britain and France to stick to the AngloPolish Treaty This is where the European War and the Pacific War starts getting entangled Hitler turns on USSR in contravention of the SovietNazi pact