Origins WWII summary (page 54-64)

The League of Nations and the limits of international co-operation,1919-33: The League of Nations was created to create new international relations. 32 allies and 12 neutral countries were the 1st to be admitted. Described as a "victors club" by those who were not invited to join. No US entry, mixed success. The World Disarmament Conference: The League failed to achieve a reduction in armaments on land. 1933 Germany left League. No progress made in regards to disarmament. THE 'GERMAN PROBLEM' DURING THE 1920s The political climate of the Weimar Republic: The Weimar Republic formed out of unstable condition after German defeat. The Republic was deeply flawed, unstable, fights nightly. The 'great inflation' and reparations: Financial crisis in Germany was blamed on Allies, but it has been shown by some historians that the financial problem was the result of heavy German borrowing with the preconceived notion that Germany would be victorious. The German mark value dived: scam? The Germans then had a convincing reason not to pay reparations. The Dawes plan & Treaty of Locarno: German took a conciliatory approach that produced quick results. The Treaty of Locarno stated that Germany would accept the term placed on the Western frontiers and would win the immediate of the Allied occupation of the Rhineland city of Cologne. Germany joined the League of Nations. Privately Stressamann had expansionist motives. The threat to German democracy: Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party: 1924-1929 was called the Golden Age of the Weimar Republic, but there was still much budding trouble. Hitler (lurk lurk lurk) joined the Germany Army in World War I and found his two loves: army and war. When Germany lost he entered politics. Feb 1920 Nazi party formed. Jailed for 5 years for high treason. Wrote Mein Kampf and described his 4 goals: 1. Destruction of the Treaty of Versailles 2. Gain territory in Eastern Europe 3. Include all German speakers in to Third Reich 4. Create a 'racially pure' German state to be more powerful in Europe THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES The Wall Street Crash: The world economy was dependent on the US economy, when it crashed in 1929, so did European economy. The Manchurian Crisis: Sept 1931: Japanese army occupied Manchuria, a providence of China. Culmination of long standing dispute between China and Japan. Hitler's Rise to power: After stock market crash, Germany collapsed. Brüning lost support, called for popular election (total failure). Germans were afraid of Nazi or Communist dictatorship. When Hitler challenged von Hindenburg in the election, Hitler was a close second. 30 January 1933 - von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor. This ended illusions that the German problem had been solved.