1. Toward World War II

2. Some questions: A separate conflict or part of a 31 year conflict? Was World War II avoidable?

3. Collective Security in the Interwar Period The League of Nations: –Possibility of sanctions and collective action against aggressors Locarno Pacts (1925) –Signatories: France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Italy; also Poland, Czechoslovakia ) –Acceptance of Versailles frontiers –Guarantees of non-aggression –Provision for arbitration, mutual assistance French alliances with countries surrounding Germany Conferences among great powers Map of Europe between the World Wars

4. Emasculation of the League Manchurian Crisis, 1931 –Japan invades Manchuria Withdraws from League League takes no action Abyssinian Crisis (1935) –Italy invades Abyssinia (Ethiopia) –Abyssinia appeals to League –League fails to act (France, courting Italy, is reluctant)

5. Remilitarization of the Rhineland,1936 Britain condemns, but without threat of action France protests Matter taken to League Council, Hague tribunal – no response France unwilling to take action –Internally divided, pre-occupied with domestic concerns –Under caretaker cabinet, pending new elections Germany offers non-aggression pacts

6. Spanish Civil War (1936-39) Spanish Republic (est. 1931) increasingly polarized between left and right Right rebels as left gains ascendancy – receives assistance from Italy and Germany Republicans receive assistance from USSR France and Britain urge non-intervention –committee established: decisions not enforced Effect: Italy ends up more closely aligned with Germany

7. Rome-Berlin Axis - 1936 Italy recognizes German position in Central Europe Germany recognizes Italy’s position in the Mediterranean Both join in anti-Bolshevik crusade Supplemented by German-Japanese Anti- Comintern pact

8. Emerging situation: 1936-1938 Versailles Treaty effectively dead Germany rearming, growing stronger France increasingly alarmed –system of alliances more and more uncertain –Aligned with Britain, forced to follow its lead USSR –Has previously signed treaties with Germany, 1922 –More recently with France (1934) but neither considers the other reliable

9. Britain’s position Re-arming but reluctant to fight Neville Chamberlain as prime minister, 1936 Anxious to assert European leadership Willing to recognize new power configuration –Thus accommodate `reasonable’ demands –Allow ‘adjustments’ to borders

10. Anchsluss with Austria, 1938 Italy pre-occupied, abandons objections Austrian Nazis undermine government German demands bring Austrian Nazi leader Seyss-Inquart to power Seyss-Inquart request for assistance brings German troops Austria annexed, result endorsed in plebiscite Other powers fail to object

11. Sudetenland and the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia map multinational state -- created by Versailles –German minority in Sudetenland (3 million out of 13 million) Disaffected – demand autonomy, changes in gov’t policy Increased Nazi agitation Czech independence guaranteed by treaties with France, Russia, Yugoslavia, Romania

12. The crisis Hitler demands self-determination for Sudetenland Chamberlain meets with Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 Sept. 1938), gains delay Czech gov’t concede self-determination in exchange for British & French guarantees Hitler increases demands at subsequent meeting at Godesberg –Immediate annexation of Sudetenland –Plebiscites in other German-speaking areas –Polish and Hungarian claims to be met –Acceptance by Sept. 28 th Czechs reject, mobilize British and French mobilize

13. Munich Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, Daladier meet on 29 Sept. at Mussolini’s suggestion Agree to –German annexation of Sudetenland, Oct. 10 th –Plebiscites in other minority areas –British and French to guarantee new frontiers Czechoslovakia told to accept or fight alone

14. Chamberlain’s position Apparent sincere desire to engage Hitler Show that ‘legitimate’ claims could be achieved by diplomacy Leader of a country which was –Not necessarily willing to fight for a distant land –Unready to do so

15. Problems with this: Hitler was not a ‘reasonable’ opponent Nor necessarily appeased Munich agreement surrenders defensible borders Using Slovak demands as pretext, Hitler declares that Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist Prague invaded, March 15, 1939 Britain declares guarantees invalid because Czechoslovakia has disintegrated

16. Outbreak of war: In the aftermath, Britain signs treaties guaranteeing independence Poland, Romania, Greece, Turkey Germany begins making demands on Poland (increased access across Polish corridor Germany and USSR sign non-aggression pact Germany makes demands on Poland Invades, Sept. 1, 1939 on pretext of faked Polish attack Britain and France demand withdrawal, declare war USSR attacks Poland from the east, Sept. 17 th

17. Some final considerations Absence of effective international institutions Absence of stable balance of power –Britain and France unable to engage USSR against Germany: Problem of Poland Problem of mutual mistrust –Fail to enlist Italy against Germany Fundamental misperception of German aims by the British