Chapter 3 - the league of nations and international relations in the 1930s
Note →
- Abbreviations included such as: Br = Britain, Fr = France, w = with
- Red = evidence and quotations
Introduction
- The gradual improvement of international relations from 1924 - 1929 owed much to the USA’s
economic strength: France accepted the Dawes Plan and withdrew from the Ruhr. Tensions were
gradually reduced, leading to agreements such as Locarno which seemed to guarantee future peace
in Eur. x
- 1929, the USA’s post WW1 economic boom ended and led to the great depression.
- Large scale unemployment led to social unrest and political extremism.
- Even in Britain, with its long tradition of constitutional govt, extremist groups posed a
threat to democracy: The communist party of Great Britain 1920, British Union of fascist
1932. Although democracy survived in Britain, other countries with less stable
constitutions were unable to resist the pressures of extremism.
- 1922, Benito Mussolini had led his fascist party to power in Italy. By 1933,c Hitler had gained
supremacy for his Nazi Party in Germany. Between 1936 - 1939, the rival forces of communism,
fascism and democracy fought out a long and bloody war for control over Spain (victory for
Francisco Franco’s nationalist and fascist forces). Mussolini, Hitler and Franco rapidly removed
political opposition, establishing dictatorships. By 1932, civilian and democratic forces had lost
control of the political system in Japan, and the army was in charge. Following Lenin's death in
1924, Joseph Stalin set about removing political rivals in Soviet Russia and made himself dictator.
The emergence of these dictatorships had adverse effects on international relations:
- Fear of communism spread
- Hitler and Mussolini’s aggressive foreign politics posed a threat
- Japanese expansion in Asia posed a threat to the interests of the USA and other western
powers
3.1 how did the rise of extremism affect international relations
Impact of the Great Depression on Political ideologies
- American industries were heavily dependent on the export market, their output vastly exceeding
what could be sold within the USA itself.
- The US practised protectionism, imposing high taxes on foreign imports in order to protect its
own industries from competition.
- This prevented other countries from making profits by selling goods within the US. Without these
profits, these countries were unable to afford American products → they imposed high taxes on
american imports → foreign demand for American goods fell. Investors realised the implications of
this, they rushed to sell their shares, creating a panic on the New York stock exchange on Wall
Street. Black Friday - shares in hundreds of businesses had become worthless. Banks were
forced to close because people withdrew their savings.
, - As demand for american products fell, manufacturers began to produce less → unemployment
- Other countries were affected as their prosperity was largely dependent on American loans: German
economy immediately collapsed → could no longer pay reparations to Br, Fr → they relied on these
reparations to repay their own debts to the USA to maintain economic stability.
- As international trade declined, countries suffered from spiralling deflation.
- In such circumstances, the threat of revolution seemed greater as political extremists thrived.
- As poverty and hardship inc, the poor became disenchanted w elected govts, which they believed to
be incapable of solving their problems or were even responsible for them.
Hitler’s rise to power:
- 1921: became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers
- Hitler was heavily critical of democracy. W so many political parties, none of them could gain an
overall majority in elections → weak govts and the growing threat of a communist revolution. He
claimed that the politicians (November Criminals) had betrayed the country by signing the TOV,
which he stressed was the cause of Germany's post war problems.
- Well organised and violent gangs of Nazi supporters, known as stormtroopers, attacked the
meetings of rival political parties, and in 1923 the Nazi Party attempted a national revolution
(Munich Putsch). This was put down easily and he was sent to prison.
- 9 months later, Hitler found Germany somewhat revitalised (Dawes Plan). There was less support
for an extremist political party → May 1928, Nazi PArty only gained 810k out 31 million.
- Post Wall Street Crash, ger was plunged back into economic chaos → support for the Nazis grew →
1932: 37% of total votes. They did not win a majority in the Reichstag, but they were the single
largest party. 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor.
- Hitler became chancellor through legal and constitutional means, by exploiting the very weaknesses
within the German constitution → became a totalitarian state founded on extreme nationalism and
the use of violence to maintain order and obedience.
Impact of the rise of dictatorships on relations between powers
- By 1933, Italy, USSR, Germany, Japan were dictatorships through which the state controlled all
aspects of life. Maintained popular support by the use of censorship and propaganda, crushing
opposition through control over the armed forces.
- They had an adverse effect on international relations and tensions were renewed in the wake of the
Great depression and the establishment of dictatorships.
Nazism in Germany
- Hitler had no intention of continuing the policies made in the late 20s to improve relations -
wanted Ger to be restored to its rightful position as a major power and to destroy the TOV.
- France reverted to its hard-line approach as Hitler’s statements caused alarm to security
- Italy also had a reason to fear Hitler’s intentions, particularly his desire to form a union between
Germany and Austria. As a neighbouring nation, Austria’s lack of political, economic and military
strength meant that it would provide Italy with little protection should Germany regain its power.
, - So, Mussolini provided support to the anti-Nazi Austrian govt of Chancellor Dollfuss.
When he was murdered by Austrian Nazis in 1934, he sent Italian troops to the border to
prevent a suspected German invasion of Austria. Increasingly viewed Mussolini as a vital
ally against Germany.
- Russia also had a reason to be concerned by Hitler’s rise to power. As the only communist power it
felt both isolated and vulnerable. Its only formal alliance was with Germany (Rapallo). Alliance +
national security under threat due to Hitler’s anti- communist views.
- 1923, Mein Kampf - Hitler argued that the German population was too large for its boundaries.
Solution = Lebensraum (living space) i.e eastwards expansion and take land from Pol + USSR
Military dictatorship in Japan
- A democratic govt had only existed since 1889. Accustomed to a system in which the emperor had
supreme power, the Japanese people had little respect for it; politicians were weak, corrupt.
- Wall street crash caused poverty + unemployment → japanese blamed govt for misfortunes →
armed forces took control over the country
- Collapsed democracy became evident in 1931 when they invaded Manchuria
- 1933: Withdrew from LON and cancelled arms limitations posed at the Washington Naval
conference
- 1936: Anti Comintern Pact w Germany. This was a defensive alliance to provide mutual
assistance in the event of an attack by the USSR. italy joined in 1937
- Caused alarm in Br, Fr, USA which perceived the pact as a direct threat to international
peace and democracy. Roosevelt concluded that the Pact aimed at ‘world domination.’
Fascism in Italy
- 1934: Mussolini was respected abroad - fostered good relations (Locarno) + prevented Hitler’s
desire for Anschuluss in 1934.
- In Italy, little progress was made towards achieving his ambitious aims. Italy was neither great nor
feared.
- The Great depression led to his popularity w the public to decline. He needed a propaganda boost,
an overseas success that would reunite the people behind him.
- Inspired by Hitler, who was defying the TOV and saw this inc his popularity
- Surprised by the weak response from the LON and realised there was more to gain out of
an alliance w Germany rather than Br and Fr.
- So, he reversed his foreign policy so that rather than fearing and resisting German power, he began
to support and imitate it.
- 1936: invasion of Abyssinia
- 1926: Rome-Berlin Axis, extended to the Pact of Steel 1939, military alliance pledging mutual
support in the events of a war.
Foreign responses to the civil war in Spain
Background before the Civil War - Since 1885, Spain had been governed under a constitutional
monarchy (King Alfonso XIII). It came under increasing threat due to political divisions, making it
impossible for any elected govt to provide Sp w effective leadership.
