League of Nations

General

100

What was the aim of the League of Nations?

To ensure war never broke out again.

200

When was the League of Nations formed?

1919

300

Who did not join the League of Nations?

USA, Germany and USSR

400

What is the Covenant of the League?

26 articles of the League that all members had to agree to.

500

Name 3 weaknesses of the League of Nations.

Withdrawal of the USA. Neither France or Britain were prepared to play a leading role. No standing army. Depended on goodwill of its members. All memebers had the right of veto.

Manchurian Crisis

100

What country invaded Manchuria?

Japan

200

When did the Manchurian Crisis take place?

September 1931

300

Where is Manchuria?

Small area of China.

400

What did the League of Nations do in response?

They published a report a year later, saying Japan had no right to invade. Japan simply left the League and no action was taken against them.

500

How did this crisis effect the League of Nations?

The League had failed. One of it's members had left, weakening the League. The League was percieved by other states as being weak.

Abyssinian Crisis

100

Who invaded Abyssinia?

Italy

200

When did the Abyssinian Crisis take place?

3rd October 1935

300

What continent is Abyssinia located on?

Africa

400

What was the response of the League of Nations to the invasion?

Condemned invasion as an act of aggression. Sanctions ended trades in arms. Very little was actually done.

500

What was the effect of the Abyssinian Crisis on the League?

Italy left the League in May 1936. Marked the end of the LEague as a means for keeping peace.

People & Places

100

The League of Nations' home is this European city.

Geneva, Switzerland

200

Was Vilna Dispute (1920) a success? Explain it.

The Vilna Dispute (1920)

• Crisis: The city of Vilna (modern-day Vilnius) was claimed by both Poland and Lithuania. Polish forces occupied Vilna in 1920, and Lithuania appealed to the League for help.
• League's Response: The League intervened and attempted to mediate the dispute, proposing a plebiscite. However, Poland refused to withdraw its troops, and the League was unable to force compliance.
• Resolution: Vilna remained under Polish control, and Lithuania was forced to accept this through diplomatic means. The issue lingered unresolved until World War II.

Significance: This crisis showed the League’s limited influence over smaller regional conflicts, particularly when one of the disputing parties refused to cooperate.

300

Explain the role of The World Disarmament Conference in international Diplomacy?

• Crisis: The World Disarmament Conference, convened by the League from 1932 to 1934, aimed to reduce global arms and prevent future conflicts. However, the conference faced difficulties, particularly with Germany, which demanded military equality with other European powers.
• League's Response: Negotiations failed due to conflicting national interests. France wanted guarantees of security before disarming, while Germany, under Hitler’s leadership from 1933, withdrew from both the conference and the League, signaling its intent to rearm.
• Resolution: The conference collapsed without achieving any significant disarmament. The rise of militarism in Germany and Japan further eroded the League’s influence.

400

This region, taken from Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, was one of the first to be invaded by Hitler.

Rhineland

500

This event was considered the first real "test" for the League of Nations when Greece and Italy seemed on the brink of starting war in the 1920's.

Corfu Incident

Foreign Policy of Germany in 1920-s

100

What were "The Fourteen Points"?

A list of key ideas of how the world should be governed by Woodrow Wilson.

200

When and why did Germany join the League of Nations?

• In 1926

• Diplomatic Rehabilitation: Germany sought to regain its status as a major European power. By joining the League, it aimed to show that it was committed to peace and to cooperating with other nations.

• Locarno Treaties (1925): The Locarno Treaties were crucial in paving the way for Germany’s entry. These agreements, brokered by the major European powers, including Germany, France, and Britain, were aimed at ensuring peace in Western Europe. The treaties included guarantees of Germany's borders with France and Belgium and helped ease tensions. As part of these diplomatic successes, Germany was invited to join the League.

• Improved International Relations: Joining the League signified Germany’s desire to reintegrate into the international community and to work for collective security, which was a key aim of the League of Nations.

• Economic and Political Stability: For Germany, being part of the League also meant access to international economic assistance and the possibility of resolving disputes diplomatically, both of which were seen as ways to stabilize the country after the post-war turmoil.

300

Which pact saw 62 countries promise not to use military force?

Kellogg-Briand Pact

400

What were the reforms of Gustav Stresemann and what was their improtance on Germany?

In foreign policy, Gustav Stresemann's reforms were aimed at stabilizing Germany’s international relations, securing peace, and revising some of the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles. His approach is often referred to as the "policy of fulfillment" (Erfüllungspolitik), which sought to improve Germany’s diplomatic position by cooperating with the Allies and using diplomacy to achieve long-term goals. Here are the key aspects of Stresemann’s foreign policy reforms and their importance:

1. Ending Passive Resistance in the Ruhr (1923)

• Reform: Stresemann ended passive resistance against the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr, which had been Germany’s response to the occupation after it failed to make reparation payments.
• Importance: This decision helped stabilize the economy by allowing for renewed production in the Ruhr and improved relations with France, setting the stage for future negotiations on reparations.

2. The Dawes Plan (1924)

• Reform: Stresemann supported the Dawes Plan, an international agreement that restructured Germany’s reparations payments and provided loans from the United States to help stabilize the German economy.
• Importance: The Dawes Plan reduced the economic strain on Germany and facilitated economic recovery, while improving relations with the Allied powers. It also secured much-needed foreign investment, which helped revitalize the Weimar economy.

3. Locarno Treaties (1925)

• Reform: Stresemann was instrumental in negotiating the Locarno Treaties, which guaranteed Germany's western borders with France and Belgium but left the eastern borders open for future negotiation.
• Importance: These treaties improved Germany’s relations with its western neighbors and eased tensions in Europe, securing peace in the short term. It marked a shift toward reconciliation and cooperation between Germany and the Allied powers.

4. Germany’s Admission to the League of Nations (1926)

• Reform: Stresemann’s diplomacy culminated in Germany being invited to join the League of Nations in 1926.
• Importance: Germany's admission to the League signaled its return to the international community and its acceptance as a legitimate, peaceful player in global politics. It also gave Germany a platform to voice concerns and negotiate further revisions to the Treaty of Versailles.

5. The Treaty of Berlin (1926)

• Reform: Stresemann signed the Treaty of Berlin with the Soviet Union, reaffirming the neutral relationship between Germany and the USSR and ensuring mutual non-aggression.
• Importance: This treaty helped maintain Germany's geopolitical balance, allowing it to maintain good relations with both the Western powers and the Soviet Union, which provided flexibility in foreign policy.

6. The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

• Reform: Stresemann signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, an international agreement that sought to renounce war as an instrument of national policy.
• Importance: Although largely symbolic, the pact reflected Germany's commitment to peaceful diplomacy and helped further restore its international reputation as a responsible nation.

7. The Young Plan (1929)

• Reform: Stresemann supported the Young Plan, which further reduced Germany's reparations payments and extended the payment schedule.
• Importance: This plan provided long-term relief for Germany's economy by easing the reparations burden, and it was a diplomatic success that showed how Stresemann’s cooperative approach could yield positive results for Germany.

500

What was the attitude of the USA towards international affairs after WW1?

They took a policy of isolationism, believing that Europe's issues should be left to Europe.