From crisis to From crisis to crisis to World crisis to World

War IIWar II

Europe in 1937Europe in 1937

Collective Security in the Collective Security in the Interwar PeriodInterwar Period

The League of Nations:The League of Nations:• Possibility of sanctions and collective Possibility of sanctions and collective

action against aggressorsaction against aggressors France allies with countries France allies with countries

surrounding Germany: surrounding Germany: • Poland Poland • Little entente: Little entente:

Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Romania, YugoslaviaYugoslavia

UK doubtful: considers this provocativeUK doubtful: considers this provocative

The spirit of Locarno (1925) The spirit of Locarno (1925)

Locarno PactsLocarno Pacts:: Work of Gustav Stresemann & Aristide BriandWork of Gustav Stresemann & Aristide Briand Signed by France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Signed by France, Belgium, Britain, Germany,

Italy; also Poland, CzechoslovakiaItaly; also Poland, Czechoslovakia Accept Versailles frontiers & demilitarization Accept Versailles frontiers & demilitarization

of the Rhine (German territory bordering of the Rhine (German territory bordering France)France)

Guarantees of non-aggressionGuarantees of non-aggression Provision for arbitration, mutual assistance Provision for arbitration, mutual assistance Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact (Pact of Paris,1928) (Pact of Paris,1928) Signatories ban war as instrument of national Signatories ban war as instrument of national

policypolicy

Re-militarization of the Rhine Re-militarization of the Rhine (1936)(1936)

League takes no actionLeague takes no action Silently accepted by the BritishSilently accepted by the British France, France,

• preoccupied with internal concerns, preoccupied with internal concerns, unwilling to take action because unwilling to take action because League has not actedLeague has not acted

• Rely instead on Maginot Line Rely instead on Maginot Line

Anschluss (Anschluss (1938)1938) Austria, rump state, deeply divided Austria, rump state, deeply divided Brief civil war, 1934Brief civil war, 1934 Austrian Nazis undermine Dollfus gov’tAustrian Nazis undermine Dollfus gov’t Germany demands that Seyss-Inquart Germany demands that Seyss-Inquart

(Austrian Nazi leader) becomes chancellor(Austrian Nazi leader) becomes chancellor Seyss-Inquart requests assistance, troopsSeyss-Inquart requests assistance, troops Austria annexed Austria annexed Result endorsed in plebisciteResult endorsed in plebiscite

Sudetenland (1938)Sudetenland (1938)

Hitler condemns Czechs for allegedly mistreating the Hitler condemns Czechs for allegedly mistreating the Sudetenland Germans (3 of 13 million)Sudetenland Germans (3 of 13 million)

Demands self-determination for SudetenlandDemands self-determination for Sudetenland Neville Chamberlain, UK Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlain, UK Prime Minister

• meets with Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 Sept. 1938)meets with Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 Sept. 1938)• gains delaygains delay

Czech gov’t concedes self-determination in exchange for Czech gov’t concedes self-determination in exchange for British & French guaranteesBritish & French guarantees

Hitler increases demands at Bad Godesberg meeting:Hitler increases demands at Bad Godesberg meeting:• Immediate annexation of SudetenlandImmediate annexation of Sudetenland• Plebiscites in other German-speaking areasPlebiscites in other German-speaking areas• Polish and Hungarian claims to be metPolish and Hungarian claims to be met• Acceptance by Sept. 28Acceptance by Sept. 28thth

Czechs reject, mobilizeCzechs reject, mobilize British and French mobilizeBritish and French mobilize

Munich (1938)Munich (1938) Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, Daladier meet on Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, Daladier meet on

Sept 29Sept 29thth (Mussolini’s suggestion) (Mussolini’s suggestion) europeeurope 1937 1937 Agree that German annexation of Sudetenland, Agree that German annexation of Sudetenland,

Oct. 10Oct. 10thth

• Plebiscites to be held in other minority areasPlebiscites to be held in other minority areas• British and French will guarantee new frontiersBritish and French will guarantee new frontiers

Soviet Union offers to aid Czechoslovakia, but Soviet Union offers to aid Czechoslovakia, but • Poland and Romania object to Soviet troops crossingPoland and Romania object to Soviet troops crossing

Czechs must either accept or fight aloneCzechs must either accept or fight alone Slovakia secedes, becomes German satelliteSlovakia secedes, becomes German satellite Same fate awaits the Czechs.Same fate awaits the Czechs.

• Ruthenia is annexed by HungaryRuthenia is annexed by Hungary

Chamberlain’s positionChamberlain’s position Apparent sincere desire Apparent sincere desire

to work with Hitlerto work with Hitler Show that ‘legitimate’ Show that ‘legitimate’

claims could be claims could be achieved by diplomacyachieved by diplomacy

Leader of a country Leader of a country which was neither ready which was neither ready nor necessarily willing to nor necessarily willing to fight for a distant landfight for a distant land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAAqfS8lUQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAAqfS8lUQ

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/international_politics/clips/7http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/international_politics/clips/7057/057/

http://www.entertonement.com/clippr/349http://www.entertonement.com/clippr/349

Problems with UK position Problems with UK position Hitler not a ‘reasonable’ opponentHitler not a ‘reasonable’ opponent Nor necessarily appeased or Nor necessarily appeased or

appeasableappeasable Munich agreement surrenders Munich agreement surrenders

defensible bordersdefensible borders Prague invaded, March 15, 1939 Prague invaded, March 15, 1939 Britain declares guarantees invalid Britain declares guarantees invalid

because Czechoslovakia has because Czechoslovakia has disintegrateddisintegrated

Outbreak of war (1939)Outbreak of war (1939)

In aftermath, In aftermath, Britain signs treaties guaranteeing independence Britain signs treaties guaranteeing independence

of Poland, Romania, Greece, Turkeyof Poland, Romania, Greece, Turkey Germany begins making demands on PolandGermany begins making demands on Poland

• increased access across Polish corridor and Danzigincreased access across Polish corridor and Danzig April 6April 6thth: UK & France guarantee Polish borders: UK & France guarantee Polish borders Germany & USSR sign non-aggression pact:Germany & USSR sign non-aggression pact:

• interests prevail over ideologyinterests prevail over ideology Germany makes further demandsGermany makes further demands

• Invades, Sept. 1Invades, Sept. 1stst – pretext of fake Polish attack – pretext of fake Polish attack Britain & France demand withdrawal, declare warBritain & France demand withdrawal, declare war

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yENAzd3qesQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yENAzd3qesQ USSR attacks Poland from east, Sept. 17USSR attacks Poland from east, Sept. 17thth

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/euro1942.htmhttp://users.erols.com/mwhite28/euro1942.htm

Some considerationsSome considerations Absence of effective international institutionsAbsence of effective international institutions Failure of deterrence:Failure of deterrence:

• Britain and France unable to engage USSR against Britain and France unable to engage USSR against Germany: Germany:

Problem of PolandProblem of Poland Problem of mutual mistrustProblem of mutual mistrust

• Fail to enlist Italy against Germany:Fail to enlist Italy against Germany: Instead German Italian rapprochement from 1936Instead German Italian rapprochement from 1936 Pact of Steel. May 22, 1939Pact of Steel. May 22, 1939

Fundamental misperception of German aims by Fundamental misperception of German aims by the British?the British?

Or did anti-Bolshevism prevail?Or did anti-Bolshevism prevail?

Differences between WW I & WW IIDifferences between WW I & WW II

World War II more of a global conflictWorld War II more of a global conflict• Fought on two theatres:Fought on two theatres:

Europe and North Africa / Asia/PacificEurope and North Africa / Asia/Pacific More extensive engagement of 20More extensive engagement of 20thth c technologies c technologies

• Role of air powerRole of air power, radar, cryptology, radar, cryptology• Mechanized warfare and role of new strategies - blitzkriegMechanized warfare and role of new strategies - blitzkrieg

Greater involvement of civilian populations during & after:Greater involvement of civilian populations during & after:• WWI: borders invented & adjusted but people left in placeWWI: borders invented & adjusted but people left in place• WWII: WWII:

With exception of Poland, boundaries stayed broadly With exception of Poland, boundaries stayed broadly intactintact

But people were moved.But people were moved. The term ‘ethnic cleansing’ might not have existed but the The term ‘ethnic cleansing’ might not have existed but the

practice certainly did and nobody denounced it. practice certainly did and nobody denounced it. Staggering losses – 50 million deadStaggering losses – 50 million dead More extensive planning for peaceMore extensive planning for peace

For discussion:For discussion:

• Was this Was this • one continuous conflict, beginning in one continuous conflict, beginning in

1914, with a pause in between? 1914, with a pause in between? • or were these discrete wars?or were these discrete wars?

• Could World War II have been Could World War II have been avoided?avoided?

• If so, when and how?If so, when and how?