IB History: Move to Global War-Internatinal Reactions to Italian and German Aggressoin

Summary

This video discusses the international responses to the aggressive actions of Italy and Germany during the 1930s, focusing on Britain's policy of appeasement, which aimed to avoid further conflict but ultimately failed. The video explores the factors influencing Britain's stance, including public opinion, economic pressures, and the weaknesses of the League of Nations. It also covers key events such as Italy's invasion of Abyssinia, Germany's rearmament, and the Anschluss with Austria, leading to the outbreak of World War II. The failure of diplomacy and the reluctance of major powers to intervene ultimately set the stage for global conflict.

Takeaways

• 😀 The British policy of appeasement towards Germany and Italy in the 1930s aimed to avoid war by making concessions, but ultimately failed.
• 😀 Public opinion in Britain strongly opposed war due to the trauma of World War I and the economic difficulties of the Great Depression.
• 😀 Britain’s economic struggles, including the need to manage commitments in colonies like India and Palestine, influenced its non-intervention stance.
• 😀 The League of Nations was ineffective in preventing aggression, largely because the United States was absent and many members were driven by self-interest.
• 😀 Despite the rise of fascist powers, countries like Britain and France were reluctant to confront Germany due to a combination of public and political factors.
• 😀 The Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 allowed Germany to rebuild its navy, violating the Treaty of Versailles, in hopes of avoiding a naval arms race.
• 😀 The League of Nations imposed sanctions on Italy after its invasion of Abyssinia, but these sanctions were weak and not fully enforced, with some countries, including the U.S., increasing trade with Italy.
• 😀 Britain and France did not intervene in the Spanish Civil War, despite fascist powers like Germany and Italy sending military support to the Nationalists.
• 😀 The annexation of Austria (Anschluss) by Germany in 1938 received protests but little action from Britain and France, as they believed it was inevitable given the desire of many Austrians for union with Germany.
• 😀 The Munich Conference of 1938, which allowed Hitler to annex parts of Czechoslovakia, was seen as a final attempt to avoid war but ultimately led to the collapse of appeasement.
• 😀 The policy of appeasement ended when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war, officially beginning World War II.

Q & A

What was the British policy of appeasement and why was it pursued?

The British policy of appeasement was a diplomatic strategy where Britain made concessions to Germany in an effort to avoid further conflict. It was pursued due to factors such as strong anti-war public sentiment, economic difficulties from the Great Depression, and a desire to prevent a costly war while maintaining global commitments.

Why is the term 'appeasement' often viewed negatively in hindsight?

In hindsight, the term 'appeasement' is viewed negatively because it ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II. Instead of deterring Germany, the concessions made to Hitler allowed him to expand further, which led to increased aggression and the eventual war.

What role did public opinion play in the British policy of appeasement?

Public opinion played a significant role in British policy during the 1930s, as many people were strongly opposed to war. The horrors of the Spanish Civil War and the economic hardships of the Great Depression reinforced the desire for peace, influencing British leaders to avoid military intervention.

How did economic pressures in Britain influence its foreign policy during the 1930s?

Economic pressures, particularly from the Great Depression, made Britain wary of engaging in any new conflicts. War was seen as an expensive endeavor, and with Britain already dealing with economic hardships, the government was focused on maintaining peace to ensure recovery and stability.

Why was Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, so committed to appeasement?

Neville Chamberlain believed that Adolf Hitler's demands, such as the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the unification of Austria and Germany, were reasonable given the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He also believed that diplomacy and negotiation could prevent a broader conflict, and he had little faith in the League of Nations to enforce peace.

What was the significance of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935?

The Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 was significant because it allowed Germany to rebuild its navy to 35% of Britain's naval strength, violating the Treaty of Versailles. Britain signed the agreement in an attempt to avoid a naval arms race, hoping that appeasing Germany's naval ambitions would prevent a larger conflict.

How did the League of Nations fail in its response to Italy's invasion of Abyssinia?

The League of Nations issued economic sanctions against Italy after its invasion of Abyssinia, but the sanctions were weak and not fully enforced. Key countries, such as the United States, continued to trade with Italy, and the League's failure to close the Suez Canal or impose effective measures demonstrated its ineffectiveness in dealing with aggression.

Why was the Soviet Union excluded from the Munich Conference and how did this impact Soviet-Western relations?

The Soviet Union was excluded from the Munich Conference, where Britain, France, and Italy negotiated with Germany over the fate of Czechoslovakia. This exclusion deepened Soviet mistrust of the Western powers and contributed to Stalin's belief that fascism might be easier to deal with than the spread of communism, affecting Soviet foreign policy in the years that followed.

What was the Munich Agreement, and why did it ultimately fail to prevent further aggression from Nazi Germany?

The Munich Agreement, signed in 1938, allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion. The agreement failed because Hitler violated it by later invading the rest of Czechoslovakia, revealing that appeasement could not restrain his ambitions.

How did the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 mark the beginning of World War II?

The invasion of Poland by Germany in September 1939 prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, fulfilling their promises to protect Poland. This marked the official start of World War II, as both nations finally moved from appeasement to military action in response to Germany's aggression.