League of Nations & Weimar Republic

• Germany from the End of World War I to the Start of World War II (1918-1939)

Aftermath of World War I (1918-1919)

• Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918, ending World War I.
• Post-war Germany faced political and economic turmoil due to the war destruction.
• The German Revolution (1918–1919) resulted in Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicating on November 9, 1918.
• A provisional government was established with the Weimar Republic, led by President Friedrich Ebert.
• In June 1919, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, with severe consequences.
  • Germany was blamed for the war, under Article 231, the "War Guilt Clause".
  • Germany had to pay 132 billion gold marks in reparations.
  • Germany lost 13% of its territory, including Alsace-Lorraine (to France) and parts of Prussia (to Poland).
  • The military was reduced to 100,000 soldiers, and the navy and air force were heavily restricted.

The Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

• It faced numerous challenges despite being a democratic government.

Economic Crisis and Hyperinflation (1919-1924)

• The cost of reparations led to economic hardship.
• In 1923, Germany failed to pay reparations, leading to the French occupation of the Ruhr region.
• The German government printed excessive money, leading to hyperinflation.
• The Dawes Plan (1924) stabilized the crisis by providing loans from the U.S. to rebuild the German economy.

Political Instability and Extremism

• Faced various political uprisings, including:
  • The Spartacist Uprising (1919), a Communist revolution attempt
  • The Kapp Putsch (1920), a right-wing coup attempt
  • The Beer Hall Putsch (1923) led by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, which failed
• Rise of radical political parties, including the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers' Party, NSDAP).

Period of Stability (1924-1929)

• Germany experienced economic recovery due to the Dawes Plan and international diplomacy.
• The Locarno Treaties (1925) improved relations with France and Britain.
• In 1926, Germany joined the League of Nations.
• The economy grew, and Germany entered the "Golden Twenties."

The Great Depression and Collapse of the Weimar Republic (1929-1933)

• The Wall Street Crash (1929) led to an economic crisis in Germany.
• U.S. loans were withdrawn, unemployment soared, and businesses collapsed.
• The public lost faith in democratic leadership, turning towards extremist parties like the Nazis and Communists.
• In January 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor.

The Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany (1933–1939)

Establishment of a Dictatorship (1933-1934)

• February 1933: The Reichstag Fire occurred, blamed on Communists.
• Hitler used this to justify emergency powers.
• March 1933: The Enabling Act was passed, giving Hitler dictatorial powers.
• June 1934: The Night of the Long Knives—Hitler purged political opponents, including members of the Nazi SA.
• August 1934: Hindenburg died; Hitler declared himself Führer (Leader), merging the roles of Chancellor and President.

Nazi Policies and Totalitarian Rule

• Gleichschaltung (Coordination): Nazis controlled all aspects of life—media, education, and police.
• Gestapo (Secret Police) and SS (Schutzstaffel) suppressed opposition.
• Anti-Semitic laws, such as the Nuremberg Laws (1935), stripped Jews of citizenship and rights.
• Economic recovery was achieved through autarky (self-sufficiency), public works (e.g., Autobahns), and military expansion.

Nazi Foreign Policy and the Road to War (1936-1939)

• Hitler pursued aggressive expansionism, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

Remilitarization and Expansion

• 1936: Germany remilitarized the Rhineland, violating the treaty.
• 1938: The Anschluss (Annexation of Austria)—Germany took over Austria without resistance.
• 1938: Munich Agreement—Britain and France allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) to avoid war.
• 1939: Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, showing Hitler would not stop.

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (August 1939)

• Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union (Nazi-Soviet Pact).
• Secretly, they agreed to divide Poland between them.

Invasion of Poland and Start of World War II

• On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
• Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, marking the start of World War II.

The League of Nations (1920-1946)

Introduction and Purpose

• The League of Nations (LON) was established in 1920 after World War I as part of the Treaty of Versailles.
• It was the first global intergovernmental organization aimed at maintaining world peace.
• The League's main goals:
  • Prevent future wars through collective security.
  • Settle international disputes peacefully.
  • Encourage disarmament.
  • Improve global cooperation in economic and social issues.

Structure of the League

• The League had a complex organization with different bodies:
  • The Assembly:
    • Included all member states, each had one vote
    • Met once a year to discuss global Issues
  • The Council:
    • Four permanent members: Britain, France, Italy, Japan, later Germany & USSR
    • Could impose sanctions or military actions
  • The Secretariat:
    • Managed administrative work, reports, and communication
  • The Permanent Court of International Justice:
    • Resolved disputes legally between nations
  • Special Agencies:
    • Handled labor rights (International Labour Organization), refugees, health, and human trafficking

Strengths of the League of Nations

First Attempt at Global Peace Organization

• It was the first international organization dedicated to world peace.
• It established the concept of collective security, where nations acted together against aggression.

Humanitarian and Social Successes

• Made important contributions in:
  • Refugee Aid: Helped 400,000 prisoners of war return home after WWI
  • Disease Control: The Health Organization fought malaria, leprosy, and typhus
  • Drug and Human Trafficking: Fought the illegal drug trade and slavery
  • Workers' Rights: Improved working conditions through the International Labour Organization

Prevented Some Conflicts

• Solved small border disputes between countries:
  • 1921 Aaland Islands dispute (Sweden & Finland)
  • 1925 Greece-Bulgaria border conflict

Weaknesses of the League

No Real Power

• The League had no military force of its own.
• It relied on member states to enforce sanctions, which many ignored.

Lack of Major Powers

• USA never joined, weakening the League's authority
• Germany was banned until 1926, and USSR joined late (1934).
• Japan and Italy left when criticized for aggression.

Decision-Making Was Slow and Ineffective

• Unanimous voting required in the Assembly and Council led to delays.
• Some powerful nations ignored the League's decisions.

Economic Sanctions Were Weak

• Many countries refused to apply sanctions since they hurt their own economies.
• The Great Depression (1929) made nations focus on their own survival, weakening global cooperation.

Failures of the League

Manchurian Crisis (1931-1933)

• Japan invaded Manchuria (China) and set up a puppet state.
• The League condemned Japan, but Japan left the League and kept Manchuria.
• No military action was taken, proving the League was weak.

Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)

• Italy (Mussolini) invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
• The League imposed weak sanctions but didn't stop oil sales to Italy.
• Britain and France secretly made a deal (Hoare-Laval Pact) to appease Mussolini
• Italy left the League and conquered Abyssinia.

Failure to Prevent World War II

• The League failed to stop Germany, Japan, and Italy's aggression in the 1930s.
• Germany began rearming in 1933 and left the League.
• Events such as Spain (Spanish Civil War), Austria (Anschluss, 1938), and Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland Crisis, 1938) showed how powerless the League was.
• In 1939 Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II, proving the League had failed.

Successes of the League

Border Disputes Resolved Peacefully

• 1921 Aaland Islands settled a dispute between Sweden and Finland.
• Upper Silesia (1921): Resolved a dispute between Germany and Poland.
• Mosul (1924) Resolved a dispute between Turkey and Iraq.
• Greece–Bulgaria conflict (1925): Stopped an invasion diplomatically.

Humanitarian Achievements

• Made great progress in health, refugees, labor rights, and drug control.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) improved work conditions worldwide.
• The Health Organization laid the foundation for the World Health Organization (WHO).

Conclusion: Why the League Failed

• The League lacked real enforcement power (no army, weak sanctions).
• The absence of major powers (USA, Germany, USSR) weakened it.
• Economic crises (Great Depression) led nations to focus on their own interests.
• Appeasement encouraged aggressors like Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan.
• By 1939, the League had collapsed in authority, leading to World War II.
• After WWII, the League was replaced by the United Nations (UN) in 1946, which had stronger enforcement mechanisms.

Examine the failures of the League of Nations, its successes, and its impact during the Interwar Period. Learn about the factors leading to the Weimar Republic's economic crisis and collapse, including hyperinflation and the Dawes Plan.