Rise of Dictatorships and Hitler's Expansion

• The Great Depression led to increased support for radical political movements and fascism, particularly in Germany.
• Economic issues, like "Black Friday," and the introduction of unemployment benefits arose.
• The rise of Hitler occurred during this period.

Rise of Dictatorships

• By 1933, Italy, the USSR, Germany, and Japan were under dictatorial rule.
• Problems from the 1920s resurfaced due to the Great Depression and the emergence of new dictators.

Hitler’s Expansionist Policies

• Hitler aimed to expand German territory through various means.

Rearmament

• This involved developing Germany's armed forces.
• Hitler sought to overturn the Treaty of Versailles.
• Response to rearmament was the Stresa Front, where France, Britain, and Italy expressed concerns about Germany.

Militarization of the Rhineland (1936)

• Hitler deployed German troops to the Rhineland, bordering France.
• This was seen as a challenge to the Treaty of Versailles, which demilitarized the area.
• Hitler gambled that France would not resist, and he was ultimately successful.

Anschluss (1938)

• The goal was to reunite German-speaking people, gain Austrian resources, and undermine existing treaties.

Sudetenland (1938)

• Hitler aimed to incorporate more German-speaking people into the Third Reich.
• Czechoslovakia resisted, as losing the Sudetenland would leave them vulnerable

Czechoslovakia (1939)

• The Four Power Conference led to Germany gaining the Sudetenland.
• The Czech government was excluded from the meeting.
• Hitler seized territory without justification, breaking promises made in Munich, ending any pretense of peaceful intentions.

Poland (1939)

• Hitler demanded the return of Danzig (Gdansk) and German access across the Polish Corridor.
• These demands defied the Paris peace settlement and Germany's non-aggression treaty with Poland.

Foreign Responses to the Spanish Civil War

• Germany and Italy supported Franco’s Nationalists with troops, weapons, and air power.
• The Soviet Union aided the Republicans with arms and advisors.
• Britain and France remained neutral under the non-intervention agreement.

Failure of Disarmament in the 1930s

• By 1939, the League of Nations was clearly failing, with its inability to secure disarmament evident long before.

League of Nations Crises: Abyssinia

• Aim: To address Italy's aggression towards Abyssinia, a weaker member of the League.
• Impact: Italy's aggression was blatant and unjustified.

League of Nations Crises: Manchuria

• Aim: To address Japanese expansion in East Asia, threatening the trading rights of the USA and European nations.
• Impact: Japan invaded Manchuria, leading China to appeal to the League.
• The League ordered Japan to leave, but Japan refused and continued its attack.
• Other powers investigated but Japan continued.
• Britain and France were unable to intervene, rendering the League ineffective.

Attitudes Toward the League of Nations by 1939

• The League became less active and committed during the 1930s.
• The absence of the USA placed the burden on Britain and France, who viewed it as a burden.
• The Great Depression weakened the League, and its failure to help countries led to perceptions of weakness.
• Germany, Italy, and Japan had left the League, leaving Britain and France unable to lead effectively.

Policy of Appeasement

• Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement during the 1930s amid the decline of the League of Nations.

Position of the USSR in the 1930s

• The USSR grew concerned and eventually sought closer ties with Britain and France, despite prior suspicions

Suspicion of the USSR in Europe

• The USSR was distrusted due to its perceived unreliability.
• Concerns existed regarding Stalin's closeness to Hitler, which eventually led to an alliance.

Involvement of the USSR in European Relations

• The USSR's involvement was marked by attempts to align with Britain and France.

Reactions to Hitler’s Actions: Rearmament

• Initially, Britain and France formed the Stresa Front to uphold the Paris Peace Settlement.
• Britain later signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, violating the Treaty of Versailles, angering France.

Reactions to Hitler’s Actions: Rhineland

• France viewed the invasion of the Rhineland as a threat but lacked financial stability to respond.
• Britain lacked resources, faced anti-war sentiment, and believed appeasement was the best approach.

Reactions to Hitler’s Actions: Austria

• Both Britain and France conceded to Hitler's demands, prioritizing avoidance of conflict over decisive action.

Chamberlain’s Statement on Hitler

• Chamberlain attributed the catastrophic situation to Hitler's senseless ambitions.
• The assessment agreed that before Hitler, things were at the very least "better".

Rearmament of Britain in 1936

• Triggered by growing concerns over Germany’s aggressive actions in Europe.

Britain's Guarantee to Poland

• Intended to deter Hitler from starting a war.

Reasons for the Nazi-Soviet Pact

• Germany and the USSR agreed not to attack each other.

Outbreak of World War II in 1939

• Caused by the invasion of Poland, unresolved issues from the Paris Peace Settlement.
• Harsh terms from the Treaty of Versailles, failure of the League of Nations, rise of dictators.
• Policy of appeasement, fear of communism, the Nazi-Soviet Pact, and Hitler's actions all contributed.

The Great Depression fostered radical politics and fascism, especially in Germany, alongside economic challenges and new welfare measures. By 1933, several nations were under dictatorial regimes. Hitler's expansionist agenda included German rearmament, Rhineland militarization, and overturning the Treaty of Versailles.