The League of Nations and the Second World War

League of Nations

• The major powers that did not join the League of Nations were Germany, the United States, and the Soviet Union.

Failure of the League of Nations

• One of the key reasons for the League's failure was its inability to enforce its decisions due to the lack of a standing army.
• The League failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Limitations of the League of Nations

• One of the limitations of the League was its reliance on the consent of the member states to take action, which often led to inaction.

Events that Weakened the League

• The Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 weakened the League's ability to enforce its decisions, as it failed to impose effective sanctions on Italy.
• Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 also weakened the League, as it failed to take decisive action against Japan.

Responses to Aggression

• The League of Nations responded to Italy's invasion of Ethiopia by imposing ineffective economic sanctions.
• The League responded to Japan's invasion of Manchuria by condemning the action but failing to take decisive action.
• Germany remilitarized the Rhineland in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, and the League failed to respond effectively.

Significance of the League's Failure

• The failure of the League of Nations serves as a reminder of the importance of a strong and effective international organization to prevent war and maintain peace.