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IB DP HISTORY STUDY NOTES

3.2.7 International Response to

German Aggression
Study Notes IB DP History
3: The Move To Global War 3.2 German And Italian Expansion (1933–1940)
3.2.7 International Response To German Aggression

Between 1933 and 1938, Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, pursued aggressive
expansionist policies. The international community's reactions to this aggression varied widely,
ranging from appeasement to growing alarm, fundamentally altering the landscape of global
politics.

Varied International Responses to Early

German Expansion (1933–1938)
Appeasement:

Rationale: The traumas of World War I lingered in European consciousness. Many believed
that avoiding another large-scale conflict was paramount, even if it meant compromising
on some principles.

British Perspective: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed in addressing some of

Germany's grievances to maintain peace. He argued that certain provisions of the
Treaty of Versailles were too harsh and needed revision.

Munich Agreement: In 1938, Britain and France permitted Germany to annex the
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Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in return for a promise of no furtherAccept
territorial
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expansion. This epitomised the appeasement policy.

Economic Relations:

International trade continued with Germany, and some nations actively pursued stronger
economic ties, either to bolster their own economies or in the hope of moderating
German ambitions.

Anglo-German Naval Agreement (1935): This accord allowed Germany to maintain a

navy up to 35% of the size of the British navy, undermining Versailles' provisions.

Soviet Union’s Stance:

Distrust and Tentative Overtures: The USSR was wary of Germany's ambitions but was
also concerned about potential encirclement. They sought agreements with France and
Britain but felt that their concerns weren't adequately addressed.

Stalin's Diplomacy: Stalin, viewing the West's appeasement policy with suspicion, began
to consider alternative diplomatic options, fearing isolation in a conflict against Germany.

Role of Major Powers and International Bodies

in Addressing Aggression
Britain:

Defensive Preparations: Alongside appeasement, Britain discreetly intensified its

rearmament programme. The Royal Air Force expanded, and Britain's naval capabilities
received significant investment.

Public Opinion: The British public, haunted by memories of WWI, initially supported
appeasement. However, as German aggression persisted, a shift towards a more
confrontational stance emerged.

France:

The Maginot Line: France heavily invested in this line of fortifications along its border with
Germany. However, its defensive focus made proactive action against Germany difficult.

Alliance
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counterbalance against German ambitions.

League of Nations:

Created to prevent conflicts, the League was hampered by its lack of enforcement power
and the absence of the US as a member.

Ineffectual Sanctions: The League did impose sanctions on aggressor nations but
lacked the clout to enforce meaningful penalties. Germany's departure from the
League in 1933 further weakened its influence.

Shift in International Policy and Alliances as

War Approached
End of Appeasement:

The annexation of the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, after the Munich Agreement, starkly
highlighted the failure of appeasement. This act directly contradicted German
assurances and signalled to Britain and France that Hitler could not be trusted.

Guarantee to Poland: Britain, alongside France, guaranteed military support to

Poland if it faced aggression, marking a definitive end to appeasement.

The US Perspective:

Isolationism: The US initially maintained a stance of isolationism, focusing on domestic

issues after the hardships of the Great Depression.

However, President Roosevelt grew increasingly wary of the Axis powers. While not yet
involved, the US started aiding potential allies through programmes like the "Lend-
Lease" scheme.

Axis Powers Formation:

Germany's alliances with Italy, after the Rome-Berlin Axis declaration in 1936, and later
with Japan in 1939, solidified the Axis Powers' alignment, posing a significant global threat.

Nazi-Soviet
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In 1939, the world was shocked when Germany and the USSR, seemingly ideological
enemies, announced the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.

This pact had a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. The
pact ensured that when Germany invaded Poland, the USSR would not interfere,
leading directly to World War II's onset.

By the end of the 1930s, the diplomatic landscape had undergone seismic shifts. While
appeasement dominated the initial responses to German aggression, the world's major
powers began to realign as the shadows of a new world war lengthened.

Mock Questions

Evaluate the effectiveness of the League of Nations in addressing German

aggression between 1933 and 1938.

The League of Nations, formed after World War I, was designed to maintain peace and
resolve international disputes. However, its response to German aggression from 1933 to
1938 can be categorised as largely ineffective. One of its primary shortcomings was its
lack of enforcement power. While it did impose sanctions on aggressive nations, it lacked
the ability to enforce meaningful penalties. Additionally, Germany's decision to exit the
League in 1933 considerably weakened its authority. The League's inability to deter
German ambitions, combined with key nations prioritising appeasement, rendered it
largely impotent in face of the growing threat.

How did the policy of appeasement shape international relations between

Britain, France, and Germany in the lead-up to World War II?

The policy of appeasement, prominently pursued by Britain and to an extent France, was
pivotal in shaping international relations in the 1930s. Aimed at preventing another
catastrophic war, appeasement involved conceding to some of Germany's territorial and
diplomatic demands. Examples include Britain's and France's acceptance of Germany's
annexation of the Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement. However, this policy,
rather than ensuring peace, emboldened Hitler, leading him to further transgressions,
such
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conflict and is seen by many historians as having inadvertently encouraged German

aggression, hastening the onset of World War II.

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Past Papers

Q&A Forum

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1. MILITARY LEADERS

2. CONQUEST AND ITS IMPACT

3: THE MOVE TO GLOBAL WAR

3.1 Japanese Expansion in East Asia (1931–

1941)

3.2 German and Italian Expansion (1933–

1940)

3.2.1 Fascism and Nazism: Ideological

Foundations

3.2.2 Domestic Economic Drivers

3.2.3 Diplomatic Alignments and

Appeasement

3.2.4 German Challenges to Post-War

Settlements

3.2.5 Italian Expansion and Aggression

3.2.6 German Expansion and Pre-War

Alliances

3.2.7 International Response to German

Aggression

3.2.8 International Response to Italian

Aggression

3.2.9 Combined International Response

(1940)

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4: RIGHTS AND PROTEST
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5: CONFLICT AND INTERVENTION

6: SOCIETY AND ECONOMY (650–1400)

7: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF WARS (750–1500)

8: DYNASTIES AND RULERS (750–1500)

9: SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION (1400–1700)

10: EARLY MODERN STATES (1450–1789)

11: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF EARLY MODERN

WARS (1500–1750)

12: ORIGINS, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT OF

INDUSTRIALISATION (1750–2005)

13: INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS (1800–2000)

14: EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF

DEMOCRATIC STATES (1848–2000)

15: AUTHORITARIAN STATES (20TH CENTURY)

16: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF 20TH CENTURY

WARS

17: THE COLD WAR: SUPERPOWER TENSIONS

AND RIVALRIES (20TH CENTURY)

18: HISTORY OF AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

(HL)

19: HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS (HL)

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20. HISTORY OF ASIA AND OCEANIA (HL)
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21. HISTORY OF EUROPE (HL)

Written by:
Maddie

Oxford University - BA History

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FAQ

What role did the US's policy of isolationism play in the international
response to German aggression during this period?

Why was the Munich Agreement initially seen as a diplomatic success?

How did Germany's economic situation influence its aggressive foreign

policies during 1933-1938?

Did any nations openly support Germany's early aggressive actions? If so,
why?

What prompted Britain and France to guarantee military support to

Poland in 1939?

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