Early Acts of Appeasement
The Failure of the League of Nations
- USA does not join
- Germany joins 1926 - pulls out in 1933
- Lack of enforcement (only economic sanctions)
- Too closely linked with the Treaty of Versailles
- Nationalism too strong (big guys don't want little guys to tell them what to do)
- Makes the aggressor more aggressive (because they know they will get what they want)
Japanese Occupation of Manchuria, 1931
- Japan owns South Manchurian railway
- Military operation in 1931 claiming Manchuria (renamed Manchukuo)
- 1932 – League’s Lytton commission decides Japan to leave
- Japan quits the league - invades northern China, 1933
- League ignores this because they decide this conflict has no effect on Europe
- Hitler and Mussolini take notice
Italian Occupation of Abyssinia, 1935 (Ethiopia)
- Italy had interest in colony since 1895
Mussolini wanted to expand his empire (imperialism)
In 1934 a staged incident is set up resulting in Italians being killed (so that Italy can "have a reason to get revenge")
The End of the League of Nations
- League does not respond- Italy Invades
- Economic sanctions threatened by League
- Hoare-Laval plan gives most of Ethiopia to Italy if fighting stopped
- Plan undermines the League
- People lose interest- Mussolini completes conquest
- Signals end of the League (still exists until 1945)
Germany Rearms (Rearming of the Rhineland)
- 1935 - Hitler introduces conscription in Germany (military service is compulsory)
- France, Britain, and Italy form the Stressa Front to condemn Hitler's actions
- No action was actually taken
- No action was actually taken
- 1935 Mussolini's signs Naval Agreement with Hitler
- Hitler remilitarizes the Rhineland (Breaking the Locarno Pact)
Summary
The League of Nations lack of enforcement is revealed and occupation of Manchuria ensues, beginning the early acts of appeasement. Appeasement only makes Hitler more aggressive. Germany begins to rearm forces, (breaking the Locarno Pact) and change begins to happen.