IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS IN 1920s
• Read through each event on pages 22
to 24 or your student booklet. For each
event copy down the results or
consequences.
Little Entente 1920-1929
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Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Rumania signed treaties to protect against
unprovoked attack from Hungary, and to guard against the Hapsburgs
regaining power and territory.
In 1921 France became associated with Little Entente. She signed formal
agreements with Poland (1921), Czechoslovakia (1924), and Yugoslavia
(1927).
France - Little Entente 1921 - 1927 - France enter into agreements with
Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Rumania and becomes a member of the Little
Entente to give protection against Germany. In addition France completes an
alliance with Poland
Result or Consequence
• Germany is surrounded by a web of
defensive alliances
• France shows it does not have
confidence in the League of Nations to
maintain peace and contain Germany
• This shows a lack of commitment to
Global Collective Security
Treaty of Rapallo 1922 • Germany and Russia, both outcasts after the war, signed
the treaty. Germany agreed to recognize the Soviet Union
and the canceled their prewar debts. Germans secretly
trained troops and tested and developed weapons on Soviet
soil to avoid the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. In
return the Germans provided the Soviets with technology
Results and Consequences
• Both Germany and the USSR break out
of their isolation
• Germany begins to rearm and violate
the treaty (long before Hitler comes to
power)
• Russia is able to modernize more
quickly
Ruhr Invasion
•
In 1922 Germany failed to meet the full sum required in gold and
material. Britain suggested a revision of payments. France demanded
compensation and along with Belgium, sent troops into the Ruhr. The
German govt. advised Ruhr workers not to cooperate with the French.
Results and Consequences
• The German government pays striking workers and this
makes inflation even worse.
• This increases tensions between Germany and France. It
adds greatly to the bitterness felt by Germans towards the
Treaty
• Creates disunity among allies as both the USA and Britain
oppose this invasion
DAWES PLAN
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Two reps. from US, UK, Fr., and Bel., with American Charles Dawes as Chairman recommended:
- the Ruhr evacuated by Fr. & Be. troops
- the Reichbank (Central Bank) reorganized with equal foreign reps. on Board of Directors
- Central Bank to issue new currency
- foreign loan of 800 mil. gold marks (200 mil. US) granted to Germany
- first year reparation payment to be 1 billion gold marks & rising slowly over four years to 2.5
billion gold marks in 5th year.
- annual reparation payment could vary according to German economic prosperity
- reparations paid from revenue of railway bonds, transport taxes, industrial debentures, and
revenues of alcohol, tobacco, beer and sugar
Reduced annual reparation payments, but not the total sum owed.
Results
• Decreases tension in Europe
• Begins of period of political and economic
stability in Germany
Locarno 1925
•
Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium and Czechoslovakia
met in the Swiss town of Locarno. Guaranteed the border between France and
Germany and Belgium. The pact did not gurantee Germaniy’s Eastern border
with Poland. Germany also pledged to fulfill its Treaty obligations. All
signatories also agreed that all territorial disputes would be settled by
arbitration.
Results
• Germany takes its place in the International community as a
rehabilitated country.
• Germany is made a permanent member of the League of
Nations Council (like the UN Security Council)
• This is the beginning of a 5 year period of peace and
stability in Europe.
Allied Withdrawal from the Rhineland
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Jan1927 the Allied Disarmament Commission was withdrawn from Germany.
In August, Britain, France and Belgium withdrew a further 10,000 troops from
their garrisons in the Rhineland.
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In 1928 Germany launched a major initiative for France and Britain to
evacuate the Rhineland, and with America agree to revision of Dawes Plan.
RESULTS
France still worried about the possibility of future
German aggression and would like guarantees from
USA and Britain. Both these countries are reluctant
to make a commitment to France
Briand Kellog Pact 1928
Initially 15 nations signed including US, UK, Ger., Fr. and It. By 1933, 50
more nations adhered to it.
1. “. . . condemn recourse to war for the solution of
international controversies, and renounce it as an
instrument of national policy in their relations with
one another.”
2. “. . . settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts
. . . shall never be sought except by pacific means.”
3. This treaty . . . shall remain open . . . for adherence
by all the other Powers of the world.
Result
This turns out to be a meaningless statement of good
will. There is no provision to enforce this agreement
Young Plan 1929
American bankers desired a revision of Dawes Plan as Germany was unable to meet
interest payments of 1924 US loans. Briand wanted to link revision and further
Rhineland withdrawal with greater assurances of Rhineland demilitarization.
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chaired by American banker Owen Young
reparations amount set at $8 billion US to be paid over 58-59 years. (1988)
Int. Bank of Switzerland to administer program.
greatly reduced the system of ‘payment in kind’.
allies agreed to end Rhineland occupation by 1930
RESULTS
This plan is never fully implemented because the stock market
crash in 1929 creates an economic crisis
Hoover Moratorium 1931
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Hoover Moratorium 1931 - Germany was suffering through the economic
and social problems of the deppression. Hoover declared a one year
moratorium (suspension) of reparation payments.
RESULT
• No further reparations will be made by Germany.
When Hitler comes to power in 1933 he
repudiates the Treaty of Versailles
ATTEMPTS AT DISARMAMENT
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Washington Treaty (1921) froze the number of ships for 10 years - the ratio was Britain
and USA 5, Japan 3, Italy and France 1.67
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Nine Power Treaty (1921 -22) respect for China’s territorial integrity and an open door
policy that allowed access to trade with China
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London Naval Conference 1930 - extended the naval reduction aggreements but
included an escalator clause allowing coutnries to exceed their limits if facing a security
threat.
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Four Power Pact 1933 - Britain, France, Germany and Italy agreed to respect the
covenant of the League , the Locarno Treaties and the Brian-Kellog Pact.
RESULT
Japan views themselves as a first rate power on par with the
US. Japan feels they have been treaty unfairly.
Although there is a slowing of military expansion there is no
actual reduction in arms
Hitler’s Rise
The Weimar Republic is Established
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1919-1933
Germany became a republic of federated states. Constitution is drawn up in city
of Weimar because of left wing disturbances in Berlin. Provided Germany with an almost ‘perfect’
democracy with elections for the Reichstag (Lower House) every four years based on universal
suffrage, secret ballot and proportional representation. President was the head of state and elected
every seven years. President appointed the Chancellor who was required to secure a majority.
According to size, German states sent representatives to the Reichstrat (Upper House) which had
legislative delaying powers.
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Proportional representation allowed for numerous splinter parties. Securing a majority was difficult,
and Reichstag was characterized by many coalition governments.
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A liberal democracy emphasizing guarantees of basic human rights and plebiscites on matters of
grave importance. Ebert, a socialist, was first President. The young republic was attacked first from
the left by the Spartacists (1919), and then from the right during the Kapp Putsch (1920).
Third crisis was Invasion of the Ruhr (1923).
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Results
• German government is known as the Weimar
Republic
• Although democratic, the German
government is unstable with many elections.
Smaller parties are forced to form coalition
governments. There are many elections.
• During the economic crisis of the Great
Depression many began to lose confidence in
democratic institutions.
Crash of Oct. 29, 1929 The Great Depression
Crash of Oct. 29, 1929 The Great Depression
W.W. I caused dislocation in agriculture and industry.
- lost markets, new labor patterns
Over production & falling prices in agriculture as European agriculture recovered and began to
produce. Farmers in US (1/3 of pop.) did not share in economic boom of the 20’s – could
not afford to consume
Over production of goods in many countries – hard to sell on the world market.
Trade barriers – high tariffs
Unequal distribution of income – large segments of US pop. could not afford consumer goods.
Reparations triangle – countries had war debts owed to the US. Strength of many economies tied
to the US economy.
Speculation on the stock market pushed stock prices to highly inflated prices. People could buy on
‘margins’.
Little government regulation of banking and securities industries.
Manufacturers continued to overproduce, warehouses full of unsold product. Finally in 1929
threelarge American companies went bankrupt in a week and panic set in - the crash was
on
This famous picture
from the 1930s
shows a women with
two young children
and a baby. She is
stranded by the side
of the road with a
broken down truck
for shelter. The
despair and
hopelessness is
etched on her face
Some Results of the Economic Depression
• Economic Crisis in US spreads to the rest of
the world because US provides loans to many
other countries and is the biggest buyer of
products produced by other countries
• Economic crisis leads to the rise of radical
politics of both the right (fascist) and left
(communist)
• Countries like Britain feel they are unable to
afford to build up their military even though
the situation in Europe is becoming unstable
Hitler Assumes Power in Germany January, 1933
Hitler Assumes Power in Germany January, 1933
After a series of govts., Chancellors and coalitions fail to gain majority
support in the Reichstag, Hindenburg asks Hitler to become Chancellor
- Reichstag Fire – blamed on communists
- March Elections – Nazis get 40% of vote
- Enabling Act – gave unrestricted power to Hitler for 4 years
- Hitler eliminates the SA in 1934 and gains support of the army.
- Hindenburg dies Aug. 1934 and Hitler becomes President, Chancellor
and then dictator.
RESULT
Hitler is now the undisputed ruler of Germany and any opposition
has been disabled. Democracy has been effectively destroyed
End of Disarmament Talks 1933 October
Hitler takes Germany out of the disarmament talks at Geneva. He would return to
conference only when promised equality in a system that would give security
to all.
Hitler also withdrew Germany from the League of Nations
RESULTS
Hitler successfully eliminates all international
restrictions imposed on Germany by the
Treaty of Versailles
German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact1934
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A bi-lateral agreement of peace between two nations that was to last 10
years
German & Polish security against Bolshevism, and Poland felt her
territories taken from Germany through Versailles were more secure.
• RESULT
• Hitler successfully weakens the web of alliances
that surrounds Germany. He successfully offers
a series of carrots and sticks to the countries of
the Little Entente. The carrot is economic trade
deals with an economically powerful Germany.
The stick is the threat of war with the militarily
powerful Germany.
German Rearmament March 1935
Hitler, using the excuse that other states had failed to disarm,
declared that Germany would no longer observe the military
restrictions of Versailles.
- Conscription reintroduced
- Formation of armored divisions
- Announced the formation of an air force
- New Naval construction announced
RESULT
Hitler’s gamble that the Western powers will not take
action to stop him pays off. He successfully violates
the Treaty of Versailles.
1930’s International Instability and Indecision Contributing factors:
p.29 Student book
1.
Nationalism:
problems with the successor states regarding minorities struggling for
recognition or relocating. ie. Germans in Czech, Poland etc.
nations pursuing policies that emphasized their goals or methods in
resolving conflicts rather than following internationalism. ie. France
(alliances / Maginot Line vs. League of Nations / collective security)
2.
Militarism:
nations again respond to internal / external challenges with
rearmament programs. Some pursue expansionist foreign
policies. ie.
Germany - expanding into successor states
Austria and Czechoslovakia
Japan - Manchuria
Italy - Abyssinia
3. Security Issues: Some nations continued to view the actions / policies of
other countries as potential national threats.
4.
Economic Concerns: Depression of 1930’s - further complicated the
issues of war debts, reparations and reconstruction of nation’s economies
- increased friction between nations.
5. Political Extremism:
some nations, due to extensive social / economic hardship, experienced
the rise of political movements based on extreme left / right ideological
positions.
U.S.S.R. - communism under Stalin
Germany - fascism under Hitler and Nazi party
Italy - fascism under Mussolini
Rise of Hitler - Germany’s Foreign Policy Prior to WWII
- Under Hitler, Nazi Germany’s foreign policy centred on “Lebensraum”
(living space) in the east,
• - spread the Aryan (pure) German race. Hitler had witnessed, Britain,
France not willing or in no position to resist his expansionist aims.
U.S.A. was abiding by its isolationist stance.
- The Foreign Policy of Hitler as outlined in “Mein Kampf” were as
follows:
• rearmament of Germany, which would result in the expulsion of
Germany from the League of Nations - Hitler did not care.
• expand eastward, at the expense of Russia
• establish a cordial relationship with Italy and Britain
• avoid a 2 - front war
• new Germany must include ALL Germans and promote them as a
superior race (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland.....look out!)
Inside Hitler’s Germany Maintaining power through Totatalitarian Rule
1. Nazification
• denial of civil rights, one party government, political
opposition banned. Eliminate traces of democracy /
choice.
• massive political / propaganda movement (“it was
everywhere”)
• party discipline. The Fuhrer was to be obeyed.
2. Indoctrination (education in schools / propaganda)
• Goebbels lead massive campaign through
newspapers/radio/schools.
• Hitler Youth - the future generation controlled by Nazis.
• glorification of anything Aryan
3. Force and Terror / Intimidation
• Night of the Longknifes (SS, SA, Gestapo) “supervise”/
spy on the political health inside and outside the party
4. Racism / Direction of Popular Discontent
• concentration camps to house ethnic / political prisoners
• Nuremburg Laws of 1935 - general denial of basic rights to
Jews
• “The Final Solution” - rid Germany of all undesirables.
5. Aggressive Foreign Policy
• Lebensraum - living space in the east - Czechoslovakia,
Poland and USSR
• Anschluss - Union with Austria forbidden by Treay of V.
• Self-determination for Germans - take over all German
speaking areas i.e. Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, Polish
Corridor (formerly West Prussia)