Essay Prep for Foreign Policy

Key Notes for Essay: Which Contributed More to the Outbreak of WW2, Hitler's Foreign Policy or the British Policy of Appeasement?

• Hitler aimed to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, demonstrated by the remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936) and withdrawal from the League of Nations (1933), setting a precedent for defying international agreements.
• Expansionist ambitions included annexing Austria (Anschluss, 1938) and demands for the Sudetenland, reflecting Hitler's desire for Lebensraum and furthering his aggressive foreign policy.
• Rebuilding the Wehrmacht and forming alliances with Italy (Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936) and Japan (Anti-Comintern Pact, 1936) strengthened Germany's military and diplomatic position.
• Blitzkrieg tactics, showcased in the invasion of Poland (1939), demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid, aggressive military strategies and set a precedent for future invasions.

• The British policy of appeasement aimed to avoid another war due to economic constraints and the trauma of WWI, leading to concessions such as the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935).
• Key appeasement events like the Munich Agreement (1938) allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland without opposition, emboldening Hitler and encouraging further aggression.
• The Munich Agreement and subsequent lack of action against Germany signalled to Hitler that Britain and France would not intervene, paving the way for the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939) and the invasion of Poland.
• Both policies were interconnected: Hitler's bold moves were facilitated by appeasement, which failed to curb his ambitions, ultimately leading to the outbreak of WWII in September 1939.

Key Notes for Essay: What Factors Led to the Decline of Peaceful European Relations 1920-39?

• The Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations. This fostered resentment and economic hardship, destabilising Europe and sowing seeds for future conflict.
• The Great Depression (1929) caused widespread economic instability, unemployment, and political unrest across Europe. This crisis weakened democratic governments and contributed to the rise of totalitarian regimes.
• The rise of fascism and Nazism in Italy and Germany, respectively, led to aggressive foreign policies. Mussolini's ambitions in Africa and Hitler's expansionist goals in Europe undermined the stability and peace of the continent.
• The failure of the League of Nations to enforce collective security and address international disputes effectively demonstrated its impotence, leading to a loss of faith in international diplomacy and cooperation.
• The policy of appeasement, particularly by Britain and France, allowed aggressive actions by totalitarian regimes to go unchecked. Key events like the remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936) and the Munich Agreement (1938) emboldened aggressors.
• The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) acted as a prelude to larger conflicts, with Germany and Italy supporting Franco's fascists while the Soviet Union backed the Republicans. This proxy war heightened tensions and polarised Europe.

• The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939) between Germany and the Soviet Union shocked Europe, as it divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and paved the way for the invasion of Poland, signalling the failure of diplomacy.

OL Style Paragraph Answer - What Were the Goals of the League of Nations, and Were They Achieved?

• The League of Nations was established after World War I with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Its primary goal was to maintain world peace and prevent another devastating conflict like the one just experienced.
• To achieve this, the League aimed to resolve international disputes through diplomacy and collective security, promote disarmament, and improve global welfare by addressing issues like labour conditions, human trafficking, and health.
• One of the League's main strategies was to encourage countries to negotiate and settle disputes peacefully. If a member nation was attacked, the League could impose economic sanctions or use military force, relying on collective security.
• However, the League often struggled to enforce its decisions because it lacked its own military force and depended on member nations to contribute troops and support, which they were frequently unwilling to do.
• While the League had some successes, such as resolving territorial disputes between Sweden and Finland over the Åland Islands and between Greece and Bulgaria, it faced significant challenges.
• Major powers like the United States never joined, weakening its influence. Additionally, the League failed to prevent significant acts of aggression in the 1930s, such as Japan's invasion of Manchuria, Italy's conquest of Ethiopia, and Germany's expansion under Hitler.
• In summary, while the League of Nations had noble goals of maintaining peace and promoting cooperation, it ultimately failed to achieve these aims.
• The lack of participation by key nations and the inability to enforce its resolutions contributed to its failure, paving the way for the outbreak of World War II. Despite its shortcomings, the League's legacy lived on, influencing the formation of the United Nations after World War II, which sought to learn from these past mistakes.