CIE AS LEVEL History 9489: The League of Nations and International Relations in the 30s
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Course
International Option: 1870-1945 (9489)
Institution
CIE
In-depth notes about the CIE INTERNATIONAL OPTION HISTORY . This contains Unit 3 only, about the League of Nations and International relations in the 1930s. Has key dates, perspectives and significance
PAPER TWO: ESSAY PAPER
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 resulted in the Great Depression, which was a long
period of unemployment, recession, social unrest and political extremism
Caused because American industries wre heavily reliant on the export market but posed
protectionism and high tariffs on foreign imports which resulted in retaliatory tariffs. This
reduced foreign demand, which resulted in a period of investors rushing to sell their
shares on the stock markets, causing for thousands of businesses to become worthless.
This resulted in banks shutting down and the world’s economy suffering
Impacts of the Great Depression and WSC:
- Multiplier effect and dependence on American loans: an example of this being
Germany that was dependent on loans agreed upon in the Dawes Plan in which
Germany was unable to repay reparations to Britain and France
- Britain and France’s economies were affected by Germany’s inability to repay
loans due to the crash of the American economy and loans
- Spiraling deflation in Europe and Japan
- High unemployment and social unrest
- Political extremism and threat of revolution: as the poor believed that current
governments couldn’t solve their problems
- Democracy was unable to survive in Japan, Germany, the USSR and Italy
Dictatorships in the 1920’s: USSR, Japan, Germany, Italy
Maintained popular support through the use of censorship, propaganda and control with
armed forces over opposition
Nazism in Germany:
Hitler’s rise to power:
Adolf Hitler was heavily critical of the post-war democratic Weimar Republic and began
to give hypontic speeches in 1921 and became the leader of the Nazis. He blamed the
weakness of the governent on the:
- Inability for one political party to gain majority in the elections
- The politicians and ‘November Criminals’ that betrayed Germany in the Paris
Peace Conferences
- The Treaty of Versailles, which was the cause of all of Germany’s post-war
problems
In 1923 the Nazi party attempted a national revolution known as the Munich Putsch,
which resulted in Hitler going to prison, and when he came out he foud a somewhat
revitalised Germany as a result of Stressemann’s “Golden Era”
The Great Depression breathed new life into Hitler’s political career and rise in power
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The WSC resulted in massive unemployment and economic chaos due to the halt of
American loans
● In 1932 Hitler’s Nazi party gained 37% of total votes in the elections
● January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany
● Hitler aimed to have Germany restored to it’s rightful position as a major
European power, destroy the Treaty of Versailles and aquire Lebensraum (living
space)
French relations: France was particularly concerned as it aimed to keep Germany as
weak as possible to prevent any future attack by Germany. A rearmed and powerful
Germany would pose a threat to French security. As a result of Hitler’s rise to power,
France quickly changed it’s approach from the compromising attempts seen in the
Dawes plan and Locarno treaties to a hard line approach
Italian relations: Mussolini feared Hitler’s intentions with unification and Anschluss with
Austria. Austria was a weak ally and thus a revival of German rearmament and
unification seemed likely. The unification would result in Italy bordering Nazi Germany,
which was concerning to Mussolini. Mussolini provideed support and helped block
Anschlusss in 1934
USSR relations: Russia felt both isolated and vulnerable and the relationship
maintained with Germany in 1922 by the Rapallo Pact was under threat as Fascist Hitler
hated Communism. It was also clear according to Hitler’s plans in Mein Kampf that he
would attempt to acquire land in the USSR and Poland to expand Germany’s population
Military dictatorship in Japan:
The Japanese people had little respect for democracy as it had only been established
since 1889, prior to the traditional form of emperor holding supreme power. As a result
of unemployment, social unrest and poverty from the WSC, the government was
blamed and armed forces took control of the country and it became a military
dictatorship.
Actions taken:
- Against the wishes of the Japanese government, the army mobilised and took
control over Manchruia which showed clear intention of further expansion in Asia
- In March 1933, Japan withdrew from the LON and cancelled it’s agreements in
the Washington Five Power Treaty
- In 1936 Japan formed an alliance with Germany, the Anti-Comintern pact which
was a defensive alliance to provide mutual support against an attack from the
USSR
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- In 1937 Mussolini joined the Anti-Comintern pact, which increased alarm in
Britain, France and the USA as it posed a direct threat to international peace
Anti-Comintern pact: was a defensive alliance between Japan, Italy and Germany in which they
would provide mutual support against an attack from the USSR as the COMINTERN was
established by the Bolsheviks government and was percieved as a threat in these governments
Fascism in Italy:
As a result of the WSC, Italy was facing severe economic and social problems and
Mussolini’s popularity with the Italian people was declining. Mussolini needed a
propaganda boost. He had witnessed Hitler challenging the TOV and how it increased
his popularity in Germany and how weak the League’s responses were to Hitler’s
foreign policy. Mussolini was convinced that he would benefit more off of a relationship
with Hitler compared to B+F
Actions taken:
- In 1936 Italy invaded Abyssinia
- Formed the Rome-Berlin axis in 1936 which resulted in the Pact of Steel that was
a formal military alliance between Germany and Italy supporting eachother in
event of war
Civil War in Spain:
Spain’s government changed from being a constitutional monarchy with a king or queen
as head of state which came under threat as a result of political division and instability:
- Monarchists wanted to preserve the monarchy under the Roman Catholic Church
with support being divided upon two different branches of the royal family
- Liberals wanted reform to create democracy and that the power of the church
should be reduced
- Socialists wanted more rapid social and economic reform for democracy than the
liberals
- Communists wanted a Russian style revolution and government and
development of a classless society
- Anarchists rejected all forms of authority and supported the philosophy of having
no government
- Separatists wanted independence for their regions and regional identity
Background:
Army officers under the leadership if Primo de Rivera carried out a bloodless coup in
1923 and removed the parliamentary government and Rivera became a dictator. After
the WSC, Rivera lost the support of the public and army and was forced to resign and
turmoil arose in Spain, resulting in the abdication of King Alfonso in 1931
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