WWII - The 1930s (Lesson)
The 1930s.
Spanish Civil War.
1923-1930 had seen a military dictatorship in Spain. Depression caused the army to lose faith in the Spanish Government. The King asked the military dictator to resign; he refused. In 1931, King Alphonso fled. 1931 – Spanish republic began:
- created separation of church & state
- divorce permitted
- state schools established
- railroads & banks nationalized
The Republic faced opposition from newly formed fascist party (Falange.) Workers and peasants thought changes weren't happening quickly enough and tensions developed. Street fighting erupted, along with strikes, church burnings, and attacks from the left & right, assassinations.
On July 12, the Falange murdered a Lt. of the Republican Army. A former minister was assassinated as revenge. Francisco Franco, leader of the Falange, left to gather troops from Morocco, returned and began attacking the republican government.
Britain & France refused to support (Russia was aiding the Republicans and they didn't want to be seen as allying with Communists.) Germany & Italy saw this as an opportunity to "test run" new weapons. Nationals wore down the Republicans, and by 1938, Nationalists were in control of Spain. April 1, 1939 Franco claimed complete control (500,000 dead.)
Germany's March to War
1936 – Remilitarization of the Rhineland. Treaty of Versailles called for unending demilitarization. Growing British sentiment was to leave Germany to the Germans. . . nothing done despite French protests (France wants to invade, but no one else willing to support.) Emboldened Hitler to retry Austria in 1938.
1937 – Hossbach Memorandum – announcement that Germany needed more Lebensraum or living space; war was inevitable to gain the space and would begin in 1940.
Hitler turned to Austria. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schussnig had meeting, was to keep Nazi party out, but lost his nerve and legalized the party, agreed to give government jobs to the Nazis. Went home and decided to let the people vote (Do you want a Free, Christian Austria?) which only resulted in angering Hitler so he invaded. Austria backs down, Hermann Goring, the minister in charge of Hitler's rearmament plan, fabricates a request from Austria which convinces the rest of the world that Austria wants annexation.
Czechoslovakia was the next target. Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) wanted peace at all cost. Believed that present problems could be solved if reasons were found and satisfied (the West didn't want war – worried about inferior arms, many thought revolution would come out of war, wanted the Nazis to be a barrier to the Bolsheviks) Chamberlain didn't like "small out of the way countries." Germans in Sudetenland begin asking for concessions in April 1938. In May, Hitler authorized soldiers to smash Czechoslovakia if need be. German pressure continued. In September of 1938, rioting broke out in Sudetenland. The Czech government established martial law. Chamberlain went to Germany 3 times in a two week span to negotiate peace. Hitler talked of Czech brutality. The French were easily persuaded and went to Czech president Edvard Benes – he felt he has no choice. Chamberlain set up a staggered schedule of takeover – Hitler demanded immediate occupation. Chamberlain returned home and assumed failure. Mussolini proposed a four power conference (himself, Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier from France – no Czech representative!) September 28th, they met in Munich. Agreement was reached, Hitler was to receive areas that are 50% German, agreed to respect Czech sovereignty in other areas. Chamberlain announced "Peace in our time."
March 15, 1939 – Hitler marched into Prague and dismantled Czech government. (Image above is of the German Army arriving in Prague.)
Britain and France abandoned appeasement and promised to back Poland in the event Germany attacks.
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