World War 2 (Revision)

​Background to World War Two

​Reasons for World War Two

There were many reasons that led up to the outbreak of World War Two. There were 2 main contributors to the war i.e. Rise of Fascist Powers as well as the weakness of the League of Nations in the 1930s. In particular, the weakness of the League of Nations resulted in the inability to manage the Fascist Powers in the 1930s.

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Multiple Choice

Select the years that World War Two took place in.

• 1931-1945

• 1937-1942

• 1939-1945

• 1941-1945

Multiple Choice

Select the event that officially led to the declaration of World War Two.

• Italy attacked Abyssinia

• Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour

• China was invaded by Japan

• Germany invaded Poland

Open Ended

Explain w the lack of commitment amongst the League's members that led to World War Two.

​Weakness of the LON

​Non-Commitment of the members

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The League of Nations was the main organization set up after World War One to monitor international relations as well as to ensure peace in the world. However, its members, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan respectively contributed to its weakness. They failed to remain committed to the organization and did not contribute to the well-being of it. One way in which the members were not committed was the lack of firm and stern actions against violations of peace. This was seen in the non-committal action against Germany's expansion in the 1930s.

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Subject | Subject

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Multiple Choice

When was the LON founded?

• 10 January 1919

• 10 January 1920

• 10 January 1921

• 10 January 1922

Multiple Choice

Pick the correct sentiments towards the LON in its beginning.

• Countries were skeptical that it would be useful at all to maintain peace.

• Countries ignored and hated the League as they didn't believe in it.

• Countries celebrated that US joined the organization and led as its leading member.

• Countries were hopeful that the League would be able to help in ensuring world peace.

Multiple Select

Which of these countries were the main Allies fighting against the Axis powers? (You may select more than 1 answer)

• United States

• China

• Great Britain

• Italy

• Soviet Union

Disarmament was a significant effort by the LON to promote peace through security and improve international relations.

It was however, a difficult aim to achieve.​

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​Disarmament

Open Ended

Define 'Disarmament'

​Disarmament

Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. An example of disarmament effort post World War One was towards Germany. The latter was disarmed / demilitarized to a level that she could barely defend herself.

History

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Multiple Select

Which of the following was the League's disarmament effort? (You may choose more than 1 answer)

• Washington Naval Conference (1921)

• Locarno Treaties (1925)

• World Disarmament Conference (1926)

• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

Open Ended

Explain why the failure of disarmament contributed to the outbreak of World War Two.

​Appeasement Policy

Another weakness of the League was the members' lack of commitment to its aims. This arose due to members' internal / domestic problems / challenges that they had to deal with. As such, Britain chose to appease Germany that resulted in emboldening Hitler leading to World War Two.

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Multiple Choice

Pick the BEST definition of the Appeasement Policy.

• It was a policy to ensure that the aggressors are not punished for their deeds so that war would not happen.

• Appeasement was to ensure that the Fascist powers feel safe.

• A diplomatic policy of making political, material, or territorial concessions to an aggressive power in order to avert a possibility of war.

• The policy of making concessions to dictatorial powers in order to avoid conflict.

​Evaluation of the Appeasement Policy

The policy is deemed to be a weak policy that had directly contributed to the outbreak of World War Two. Due to how the Fascist powers were repeatedly given in to their demands, it made the world view the LON and its members as weak and incapable of dealing with the Fascist Powers. As such, it (1) emboldened the Fascist Powers and (2) created a tense environment where other countries began to rearm themselves in order to defend themselves in the near future against an outbreak of war.

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​Genuine sympathy for Germany over the Treaty of Versailles

Lots of the things that Hitler asked for seemed quite reasonable. For example: German people in the Saar region wanted to live in Germany, plebisites proved this, whats unreasonable about allowing it to happen?

Moreover, Hitler had merely demanded ​for things that reasonably belonged to Germany such as the Rhineland. Disappointingly, France did not respond strongly against Germany's outright violation of the TOV. It therefore allowed Hitler to be emboldened and to demand even more subsequently.

This was even extended to Hitler's rearmament that appeared reasonable as the TOV had weakened Germany significantly while other European countries were allowed to arm themselves.​

History

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Open Ended

What was the Munich Conference?

​The Munich Conference

It was a meeting held in Munich on September 28-29, 1938, during which the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Italy agreed to allow Germany to annex certain areas of Czechoslovakia.

​The Munich Conference came as a result of a long series of negotiations. Adolf Hitler had demanded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia; Chamberlain decided to follow a policy of appeasement and give in to Hitler on this issue, in the hope that Hitler would not make any more demands.

Subject | Subject

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Open Ended

What was a significant outcome of the Munich Conference?

​The Munich Agreement

Subject | Subject

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The significant outcome of the Munich Conference was the signing of the Munich Agreement. Britain and France officially agreed to the annexation of the Sudeten region to Germany. Chamberlain returned to Britain and announced that he had achieved "peace in our time."

Multiple Choice

Which country was not present at the Munich Conference?

• Britain

• Czechoslovakia

• France

• Germany

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​‘Neville Chamberlain was fundamentally to be blamed for the outbreak of World War Two.’ How far do you agree with this statement?  Explain your answer.  [12m]