20c - Moving towards WWII (Lesson)
Moving towards WWII
Authoritarian Regimes in Central Europe
By 1929, in Central Europe, authoritarian regimes had taken over Hungary, Spain, Albania, Portugal, Lithuania, and Yugoslavia, and by 1936, liberties had also been suppressed in Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, and Greece. For the most part, the new regimes were conservative, Christian, and anti-communist, and are sometimes called semi-fascist. The only exception to the rule was Czechoslovakia, which was a democratic republic with free enterprise led by Thomas Masaryk.
The Interwar Years
Please view the slideshow below to review the major nations and their challenges during the interwar years.
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 the 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 Begins Making Moves
Hitler began his takeover quite cautiously. October 1933 – Germany withdrew from the League of Nations after Britain and France refused to disarm German land; Germany began to rearm with tanks and airplanes.
1934 – Non-aggression pact with Poland was signed. Hitler made it clear to his generals that he had no intention of respecting the treaty. Poland didn't trust Hitler, but the Polish leader (Beck) thought he could control Hitler and they could profit from being a buffer between Germany & Russia. This interfered with France's plan to leave Germany isolated (they'd been making treaties with Czech, Romania, Yugoslavia – Kellogg-Briand) and sent Russia searching for security.
Russian minister Litvinov was one of the few who had read Mein Kampf. Joined the League of Nations in 1934, signed a defense treaty with France in 1935, and signed with Czechoslovakia promising defense of that country in the event of a German attack – but only if France fulfilled their treaty obligations.
Germany tried too soon to overtake Austria. The Austrian Chancellor said 'no,' and was assassinated, but the takeover bid was still rejected. Mussolini was against it – causing German – Italian friction. Italy signed an alliance with France.
March 1935 – Hitler publicly announced the rearmament of 600,000 (the Treaty of Versailles stated they were to only have 100,000 men), introduced universal military service, and announced the existence of an airforce. Western reaction was muted. . . there were German sympathizers in many countries as many felt Germany had been too harshly punished after WWI.
Italy decided to invade Ethiopia. (Mussolini wanted Italian control over N. Africa), League of Nations began embargoes against Italy. In May of 1936, Italy completed the invasion of Ethiopia but destroyed most of the ties with France & Great Britain. Mussolini changed his mind about Austria. Re-established the Rome-Berlin Axis.
Watch the following Crash Course video to find out more:
Germany's March to War
1936 – Remilitarization of the Rhineland. The 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 – an 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 a meeting, was to keep the Nazi party out, but lost his nerve and legalized the party, agreeing 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, and Hermann Goring, the minister in charge of Hitler's rearmament plan, fabricates a request from Austria that convinces the rest of the world that Austria wants annexation.
Czechoslovakia was the next target. Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) wanted peace at all costs. He 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, and Daladier from France – no Czech representative!) September 28th, they met in Munich. An agreement was reached; Hitler was to receive areas that are 50% German and agreed to respect Czech sovereignty in other areas. Chamberlain announced, "Peace in our time."
March 15, 1939 – Hitler marched into Prague and dismantled the 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 attacked.
Review the presentation of appeasement and take the test at this BBC website Links to an external site. (notice how it is written from the British perspective, as it is targeted to British students):
In your notes, respond to the following.
Provide three arguments for appeasement as practiced by France and Great Britain and three arguments against appeasement. Note: after World War II, “appeasement” became a derogatory concept that was used to justify policies during the Cold War.
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