The International Response to Fascist Aggression To what extent did the failures of the International Community contribute to the outbreak of the Second World War?

Discussion! Why was appeasement pursued by Britain and France?

Appeasement Giving in to the demands of an aggressive nation in the hopes of maintaining peace Why did Britain agree to this? Why did France agree to this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8lSozEbcs

Why should we take a stand about someone pushing someone else when it’s all so far away…

Appeasement Chamberlain at the Munich Conference  “I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word.” “Armed conflict is a nightmare to me. . . War is a terrible thing, and we must be very clear, before we embark on it, that it is really the great issues that are at stake.”

But what about the League of Nations???

But what about the U.S.??? Surely they would want to save democracy and protect human rights….

But what about the USSR??? Surely those Nazi-hating commies would help…

Partner Discussion How might the policy of appeasement encourage expansionism? Can you think of any examples?

Review: Responses by the International Community Stresa Front Abyssinia Hoare-Laval Pact Re-militarization of the Rhineland Spanish Civil War Invasion of Albania

Stresa Front (April 1935) Agreement between France, Britain and Italy Response to German rearmament & Hitler’s first (failed) attempt to take Austria Formal protest of Hitler’s TofV violations Reaffirmed commitment at Locarno & Austrian independence Could have deterred Hitler, except….. Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty  Russia joined League  Italy unwilling to work with communists Concerns over Japan  Anglo-German Naval Agreement  Italy & France offended! Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia (May 1935)

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International Response to Abyssinian Crisis (203)

Hoare-Laval Pact( Dec. 1935) What did this suggest? How did this undermine the League? “It is us today. It will be you tomorrow!” – Selassie after League decides to lift Italian sanctions and recognize Italian control of Abyssinia.

Impact on the League Hoare-Laval Pact exposed this as a scam! Undermined their authority Showed countries in power acting in own self-interest Improved German/Italian relations Ended Stresa Front After no response from the League  shifted balance of power to favor Hitler = invade Rhineland!

How did the international community respond to Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland? (March 1936) They didn’t! Here’s why….. France political divisions during election year made it impossible to act Military unprepared and knew this would lead to long, drawn-out war Public and government did NOT want another war! Britain unwilling to fight over Rhineland; not a threat Overstretched military Simultaneous negotiations with Hitler made appeasement appealing Turning point: seen as the last chance to stop Hitler without war!

Response to Spanish-Civil War (July 1936) Wanted to prevent the Civil War from becoming a wider conflict  no international intervention! France proposed Non-Intervention Committee: 16 countries joined (including USSR, Germany and Italy) Believed nationalists would win and did not want an enemy in Franco Republican side was aided by USSR  do not aide communists! British business interests in Spain  financial chaos if Franco lost and communists came to power

Compare What similarities do you notice in Britain’s unwillingness to get involved after German aggression in the Rhineland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia?

Themes in British Non-Intervention Economic Problems Imperial Commitments Public Opinion Injustices of the Treaty of Versailles Self-Interest

End of appeasement with Hitler Even after Hitler invaded Austria, the response was minimal  League of Nations weak after Abyssinia & Britain thought action was inevitable. This will all change with Czechoslovakia… Munich Conference = appeasement March 1939: takeover of the rest of Czechoslovakia proved that Hitler’s aims were not limited Shift of opinion in Britain! Chamberlain outraged! Pressure to take firmer stance!

International Response to Invasion of Albania (April 1939) Italy previously guaranteed sovereignty of Balkans  invasion was turning point for Chamberlain! Took more aggressive action: Promised to protect Greek borders with military Italy declared war on Britain 1940  Mussolini invaded Egypt and Greece from Albania British forces launched counter-attack in North Africa Battles in the Mediterranean destroyed half of Italy’s naval fleet by November 1940.

Invasion of Poland September 1, 1939 Two days later, Chamberlain issued ultimatum to Germany  no response Declared war! Very little aide given to Poland After Hitler invaded Norway a few weeks later  Chamberlain resigned and was replaced by Churchill

ABC Brainstorm: Failure of the International Community This is a strategy that challenges you to remember important concepts from a large topic or section of content. Focus: International Response to Aggression Japan (1.3), Italy (2.6) and Germany (2.7) On a sheet of paper, list the letters of the alphabet: A-Z While reviewing the section, you are going to try and come up with an important term, idea, concept or person that matches with each letter. You will then describe it, or write a sentence. Your description needs to focus on the international response! Try and get all 26 letters!!

ABC Brainstorm: Failure of the International Community GOOD examples: S: Stresa Front – agreement between France, Britain and Italy to uphold TofV; undermined by side agreements and Abyssinia S: Sanctions were the main form of punishment by the League and imposed on both Italy (post-Abyssinia) and Japan (post-Manchuria). They were ineffective, especially during the GD BAD examples: S: Stresa Front S: Sanctions were ineffective S: Several years ago, Japan expanded and the League was angry. S: Sudetenland – Hitler invaded this region of Czechoslovakia to unite German territories; violated the T of V.

Venn Diagram

Timeline Review Project The Move to Global War