WORLD WAR TWO IN EUROPE
WEAKNESS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
LEARNING TARGETS:
Students will be able to:
1. State what the League of Nations was.
2. State why was the League of Nations based in Switzerland.
3. Describe the aims of the League of Nations when it was formed.
4. Explain how the failure of disarmament became a cause for World War II to break out in Europe?
5. Explain how the failure to check Italy’s aggression in Abyssinia became a cause for World War II to break out in Europe?
Watch this video to recall what you have learned from Chapter 1 about the League of Nations.
BACKGROUND TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS
•The outbreak of World War II in Europe was due to the weaknesses of the League of Nations which played a part in motivating Hitler in starting a war in Europe.
•So what is League of Nations and what were its aims?
PRE-ACTIVITY
After watching the video... Use a word to describe the League of Nations...
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Type it in the Link below:
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https://answergarden.ch/493866
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WHAT IS LEAGUE OF NATIONS?
•The League of Nations was formed after the end of World War I. The League of Nation was created to ensure nations strive together for peace to avoid another war. After the turmoil caused by the Versailles Treaty, many looked to the League to bring stability to the world.
WHY WAS THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS BASED IN SWITZERLAND?
The League of Nations was based in Geneva, Switzerland. Switzerland was chosen as its location as Switzerland was a neutral country and had not fought in World War One. So the other countries felt that Switzerland would be a neutral country and also Red Cross was already based in Switzerland.
WHAT WERE THE AIMS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS?
To maintain world peace through collective security
The Allied Powers were keen to avoid the repetition of another major war and wanted to preserve peace so that the countires could rebuild from the devastation of war. Thus the League of Nations was set up based on collective security whereby members agreed not to attack each other and to defend each other against any attack.
WHAT WERE THE AIMS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS?
To maintain world peace through disarmament
One of the reasons why World War I broke out was because of the arms build-up among countries, which gave them the military capability to wage wars and threaten peace. Thus the League of Nations was set up to bring about disarmament, which would reduce the military capability of countries to wage wars.
ACTIVITY TIME
CHALK TALK!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Choose the school for your respective Chalk Talk Activity.
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Evergreen Sec -
https://padlet.com/mr_caleb_cheong/evgn5LON
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Marsiling Sec -
https://padlet.com/mr_caleb_cheong/msln5LON
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Riverside Sec -
https://padlet.com/mr_caleb_cheong/rssn5LON
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Woodlands Sec -
https://padlet.com/mr_caleb_cheong/wdln5LON
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TAKE TIME TO THINK THROUGH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS...
1) What were the aims of the League of Nations? Was it a success or failure? Explain your answer.
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HOW DID THE FAILURE OF DISARMAMENT BECAME A CAUSE FOR WORLD WAR II TO BREAK OUT IN EUROPE?
•Disarmament would make the country vulnerable to foreign attacks and thus the major powers were determined to protect their national interests. It also highlighted the importance of commitment of the main members of the League – Britain and France. However, both nations were weakened by World War I and the Great Depression and thus placed national interests and survival above the League’s interests. They were unwilling to sacrifice national interests in order to ensure the success of the League’s work. Ultimately, the League’s failure at disarmament contributed to an atmosphere of distrust and tension which led to World War II.
HOW DID THE FAILURE OF DISARMAMENT BECAME A CAUSE FOR WORLD WAR II TO BREAK OUT IN EUROPE?
•The League of Nations failed in achieving its aims of disarmament and collective security.
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•Events that made the League of Nations ineffective in the 1930s:
a. 1931 Japan walked out of the League of Nations
b. 1932 World Disarmament Conference
c. 1933 Germany walked out of the League of Nations
d. 1935 Italy walked out of the League of Nations
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•The League failed in getting major powers to disarm. The major powers were unwilling to cooperate.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
The League also failed to intervene in the Abyssinian Crisis in 1935 by responding to Abyssinia’s appeal for help. The League took ages to make its decision, and, eventually, decided to try sanctions. This did not work as the League did not ban oil and steel. Italy could also still trade with the USA, which was not a member of the League. While all this was happening, Hitler gathered his forces and rearmed the Rhineland as part of his plan to militarise Germany for war. This move was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Yet his men faced no resistance.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
The League also failed to intervene in the Abyssinian Crisis in 1935 by responding to Abyssinia’s appeal for help. The League took ages to make its decision, and, eventually, decided to try sanctions. This did not work as the League did not ban oil and steel. Italy could also still trade with the USA, which was not a member of the League. While all this was happening, Hitler gathered his forces and rearmed the Rhineland as part of his plan to militarise Germany for war. This move was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Yet his men faced no resistance.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
The League of Nations thus contributed to WWII in Europe due to its ineffectiveness to promote peace and punish aggressors, but this was an effect of the appeasement policy taken by the LON leaders. The League’s failure to act against Italy showed Hitler that there is no country or organisation which could stop him if he were to act on his ambition. This emboldened Hitler to carry out his aggressive foreign policy aims which showed that the outbreak of war in Europe was inevitable.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
In conclusion, the outbreak of World War II in Europe was largely unavoidable given the fact that Hitler was emboldened by the failure of the League of Nations and the policy of appeasement adopted by Britain and France. Thus, Hitler was able to pursue his aggressive foreign policies without fear of reprisal and retaliation from the other European countries.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
The League of Nations thus contributed to WWII in Europe due to its ineffectiveness to promote peace and punish aggressors, but this was an effect of the appeasement policy taken by the LON leaders. The League’s failure to act against Italy showed Hitler that there is no country or organisation which could stop him if he were to act on his ambition. This emboldened Hitler to carry out his aggressive foreign policy aims which showed that the outbreak of war in Europe was inevitable.
"FAILURE TO CHECK ITALY’S AGGRESSION IN ABYSSINIA" AS A CAUSE...
Finally, the outbreak of World War II in Europe was largely unavoidable given the fact that Hitler was emboldened by the failure of the League of Nations and the policy of appeasement adopted by Britain and France. Thus, Hitler was able to pursue his aggressive foreign policies without fear of reprisal and retaliation from the other European countries.