Germany On the Rise

• Western European are concerned about German aggressions because of
  • German rearmament
  • They have left the League of Nations, and along with it, the idea of collective security
  • Austrian Anschluss/ Murder of Dollfus
  • Germans softened the blows with the Polish Non-aggression Pact, Anglo German Naval Agreement (AGNA), and Hitler's repudiation of the Nazi-led attempted Anschluss.
  • Though the Germans soften the blows, there are still concerns directed towards them.
• French Policy
  • France during the mid 30's completed their anti-German defense system called the Maginot Line. This emboldens their foreign policy a little bit.
  • Aristide Briand has aged out and been replaced by shady, back door dealing politician called Pierre Laval.
  • Laval was eventually executed for collaborating with the Germans during WW2.
  • Laval in 1935, will sign an alliance with the USSR. The Franco-Soviet Alliance was ratified in March 1936. This activates the old two-front war threat.
  • The Franco-Soviet Alliance is only activated if Locarno signatories agree, so that the treaties are interlocking.
  • Stalin, fearful of aggressive Fascism, has opened communications with the West and through the Comintern construct domestic Communist Parties to cooporate against Right/Fascists.
  • By 1936 the French Government will be led by a leftist coalition of Socialists, Radical Socialists (Centrist) and Communists called the Popular Front.
  • There is a reaction against leftist policies in France. The French rightists think, "Better Hitler than Leon Blum."
  • Leon Blum is socialist and Jewish, and concludes the Soviet pact. Hitler takes notice.
• Great Britain, France, and Italy decide to bond together to resist German Aggression
  • In 1935, the three will meet at Stresa front in Northern Italy and form the Stresa Front. This reaffirms
    • The Locarno obligations
    • All pledge to protect the integrity of Austria
    • Territorial changes in Europe via the League of Nations
  • During Stresa, Mussolini is playing a secondary game. He informs the British about his intended expansion in East Africa.
  • Recall- Italy's empire dreams in Africa focus on the horn of Africa. Italy wants Somalia, Eritrea, with Ethiopia in between.
  • Ethiopia/Abyssinia had defeated Italy in am Imperial War in 1896 at Battle of Adowa/Adwa.
  • Massacre British do not respond and Mussolini takes it as approval.
• Ethiopian Crisis (1935-1936)
  • The fighting beings as a border dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia. Italians with Somalian troops build a fort on the disputed border at Walwal (called the Walwal incident). They were fighting and 150 are killed in military action. Ethiopia is a League Member and appeals to the League. So the League sends a commission.
  • The Ethiopian King's name is Ras Tafari.
  • The Manchurian Crisis 1931 with Japan has lead the League to establish the machinery of economic sanctions against the next offender, which is Italy.
  • The conundrum is upholding the League or maintaining the Stresa Front.
  • If they sanctions are applied by the League against Italy (clearly aggression against another member) and risk losing Italy in the Stresa Front against Germany
  • Or they could not apply the sanctions and cause the League to loose credibility, but GBR and France try to humor Italy.
  • The decision is to not deny them Suez canal access. GBR and France try to "have their cake and eat it too" and do both.
• Hoare-Laval Plan
  • French and British foreign ministers meet to try to find an amicable solution.
  • Pierre Laval (Popular Front) and Samuel Hoare create the Hoare-Laval Plan
  • The premise is that France wants to empower the League but do not want it to appear that they are manipulating League policy.
  • They also want to mollify Mussolini for Stresa and Locarno. The Plan is to have the agreement put forth by the League.
  • Details
    • Mussolini will be given Ethiopian territory, but Ethiopia will remain independent Ethiopia will be compensated with territory from British Somalia with access to the sea. Called the "Corridor for Camels"
    • Mussolini accepts the terms
  • Before the League announces "their solution," the French Right Wing press leaks the details of the deal embarasses the Leftist Popular Front.
  • The British is outrages as well, as is the general public in both countries Both Hoare and Laval resign in the midst of the public furor.
  • The British revisionist historian AJP Taylor claims the Hoare-Laval is the clear fault of Britain and France. He thinks it paved the way to war.
• The Pact of Steel
  • Ethiopia is conquered and incorporated into Italy
  • The League is no longer respected as an instrument of peace
  • Italy withdraws form the League and Stresa Front and repudiates Locarno
  • Italy in 1936 sings an alliance with Germany, called The Pact of Steel. Also called an anti-Comintern Pact.
  • Italy for the Minister of Ciano Pact forms "the Axis around which Europe must revolve"
• Remilitarization of the Rhineland
  • In May 1936, Leon Blum Popular Front Government formally ratifies the Franco-Soviet Alliance.
  • Hitler, sensing the division in Europe, violates another part of the Versailles Treaty.
  • Hitler sends troops back into the Rhineland: Remilitarization of the Rhineland
  • France wants to go to war, but will not without the assistance Great Britain.
  • Great Britain demurs on the issue, since they think that the Germans send troops into their "own backyard." Yes this violates Versailles, but Versailles was a bad treaty.
  • This is Germany's first overt act of aggression, which drives him closer to Italy. After 1936, Hitler becomes aggressive in order to get ACP!