1. International relations 1919-1933
What happens to Germany and the Versailles-treaty?

2. International situation 1919
Same great powers as 1914 except _____
USA is strongest economically but decides to leave Europe to it self (isolationism)
Britain and France weak economically but still world powers
Russia weak and isolated but has potential. New government: Soviet socialist republic
Germany weak and isolated but revanchist and has potential. New government: Weimar republic
The eastern buffer zone: a power vacuum.

3. Prospects for the future
In 1919 we have a flawed peace settlement,
No agreed means of its enforcements
A weak international system
And then in 1930 we get the economic crisis

8. Key dates 1919-1933 1919 Paris Peace settlement
1921 Reparations fixed at 132 billion gold marks
1922 Treaty of Rapallo between Germany and USSR
1923 French occupation of the Ruhr
1924 Dawes Plan
1925 Locarno Treaty
1926 Germany enters the League of Nations
1929 Young plan, Wall Street Crash
1932 Reparations virtually abolished:
1933 Hitler comes to power.

9. USA European policy
USA did not become a member of the League of nations.
The Versailles treaty was not ratified and US withdrew its promise to help France in case of German attack.
In spite of isolationism USA participated in the Dawes plan (1924) and the Young plan (1929) so they could get some of their war loans back.
Did the US jump from its responsibilities?

11. British policy towards Germany
Attempt to reconcile France and Germany in Genoa 1922 fail.
Britain disapproves of the Ruhr occupation 1923
Britains policy victorious in the Locarno-Treaty, Belgium, France, Germany agree to respect their joint frontiers.

12. French policy towards Germany
Tough stand to Occupation of Ruhr
France did not get backing from Britain so they revert to policy of friendship:
Dawes, Locarno, Young.
Tough again after 1931
reject the German-Austrian customs union

13. USSR foreign policy Isolation 1919-22 Rapollo treaty with Germany
Western countries participated in Civil war
Russia not invited to Versailles
Bolsheviks instigated world revolution
Rapollo treaty with Germany
Diplomatic relations and Germans allowed to build and test weapons in Russia.
Cool relations with France and Britain.

15. What is the German Policy to 33
Germans had a hard time accepting a treaty that treated Germans as a defeated nation
Stresemann's primary goals were 1) the protection of Germans abroad; 2) the readjustment of the eastern frontiers and 3) a union with German Austria.

17. International relations 1933-39
Economic depression hits Europe hard 1930
Huge reduction in trade – customs barrier
Bancrupties and unemployment with accompanying social disruption
Nationalistic and fascist movements gather strength
Japanese expansion in Asia

18. German foreign policy after 33
Hitler comes to power in 1933
His popularity is not least due to his aggresive ideas about foreign policy. He wants to make Germany strong again by:
destroying the Versailles-treaty
build upp the army
unite Germans
accquiring lebensraum in the east
Dominance of the aryan race (space and race)
Historians do not agree if these are new in German policy and if he planned a major war to obtain these aims.
Brest-Litovsk was based on these principles

19. Breakdown of Versailles
Leaves disarmament conference and league of nations oct 1933
Anti-agression pact with Poland 1934
Dollfuss assassinated by Austrian Nazis 1934
Saar votes to return to Germany 1935
Reintroduction of conscription march 1935
Plans for rearmament extend back to Weimar (1932)
Oct 33 confirmed in a national plebiscite
Britain has regretts because of Versailles and suggested increase in german army and decrease in french army under international control – the french furious -

20. Weakness of France and UK
Depression, eight governments 33-35, the army was defensive, no offensive or bombing capacity, pacifism.
Britain
Small army busy overseas in empire, support for disarmament and league of nations. Taxes unpopular during depression.
Versailles unpopular
Britain wants to negotiate with Hitler

21. Anglo-German naval pact
Dollfuss assassination got Italy, France and Britain to condemn Germany April 1935 at Stresa
France and Russia sign a treaty of mutual assistance may 1935
Hitler made an naval pact with angry Britts, allowed 35% of British naval power – triple existing levels – France not consulted
So much for the united Stresa front
AGNP and the Abyssinian crisis alienated Mussolini

22. Mussolini and the Germans
In 1934 M stopped a Nazi putch in Austria.
Turning points in M attitude towards Germany:
Anglo-German naval agreement
M was displeased with the economic sanctions applied by the League of Nations after the invasion of Abbysina even if they were useless
Hitler did not criticize the invasion.
Both M and Hitler supported Franco in the Spanish civil war.
1936 Berlin-Rome axis Anti-comintern pact with Germany and Japan Pact of Steel.

23. Hitler takes action 1936-38 Mussolinis turn encourages Hitler
Remilitarisation of Rhineland march 1936
The western powers take no action
Olympic games in Berlin 1936
Hossbach memorandum
Anschluss with Austria march 1938
Schuschnigg chancellor of Austria had announced a plebiscite after Nazis staged demonstration in all major cities.
Hitler decided to invade Austria

25. Appeasement
Britain and later France try to avoid war with Italy and Germany by giving way to their demands.
Time: Locarno to German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 39.
Munich sept 1938 is the high point.
Why?
Avoid war at all cost (pacifism among the public)
Rearmament is to expensive in depression
The demands of Germany are reasonable
Hitler is better than Stalin
Use the peace for British rearmament

26. Munich: highlight of appeasement:
Demonstrations in Sudetenland –Hitler wants to invade Czechoslovakia
Sudetenland handed over to Germany at a four power conference in sept 1938
Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, Daladier
Czechs and Russians excluded
The effect of appeasement and Munich
Hitler convinced of British and French weakness
Stalin suspects that the Western powers are giving Germany free play in Eastern Europe

29. 1939 March - Germany occupies what is left of Czechoslovakia
Public opinion in the west turns
Britain promises to defend Pollands independence but are to slow to approach the USSR
Hitler wants Danzig and the Polish corridor
August 24 German-Russian non-agression pact
Sept. 1. German invasion of Poland
Sept. 3. Britain declares war against Germany.