Social Studies 10 Lessons

By: Gen L

Lesson 6: Road to War

Appeasement

• Sudden rise of dictatorships was a concern, little could be done
• Citizens scared to speak out, as secret police and informers result in a person's "disappearance"
• All countries were economically weak, not prepared to fight a war.
• Countries interested in managing peace, rather than taking stands.

1935: Appeasement

• Italy invades Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia)
• League of Nations imposes sanctions, but not on oil
• Not all members supported sanctions
• Later, the League suggests a plan that gives 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy.
• Secretly Britain & France agree: let Italy have Abyssinia
• A major failure of the league.
• Indication to Hitler that the world wasn't ready to oppose him!

1938: Appeasement

• Hiter demanded to take over the Sudetenland, a German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia
• September, at the Munich Conference, leaders of Britain & France met with Hitler.
• Hitler promised this would be his last territorial demand.
• British PM Neville Chamberlain returned to London proclaiming he secured "Peace for our time."
• Hitler thought Chamberlain was a push-over, appeasement only encouraged him!

Hitler's Progression

• Germany, according to the Treaty of Versailles:
  • restricted from having a significant army,
  • Rhineland (western segment) was disarmed,
  • was not allowed to unite with Austria.
• Unfortunately, Hitler wanted to expand Germany's borders to create "Living Space" (Lebensraum)
• He risked war, but successfully judged the timing of his actions & reactions of others.
• He finally guessed wrong in 1939.
• Britain threatened war if Germany invaded Poland.

Seven Steps to War:

1. March 1935 - Rearm & Reclaim Saar by election
2. March 1936 - Remilitarize Rhineland
3. March 1938 - Unite with Austria
4. Sept 1938 - Occupy Sudetenland
5. March 1939 - Germany annexes Czechoslovakia
6. Aug 1939 - Hitler & Stalin sign Nazi-Soviet Pact
7. Sept 1939 - Invade Poland

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