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Hopes for the League of Nations
What does this cartoon say about what the
hopes for the League of Nations
were? Be specific by referring directly to
the cartoon.
REAL EXAMPLES FROM THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Can YOU Resolve International Disputes?
CASE ONE
The Aaland Islands (1921)
The Aaland Islands (1921)
Islands located between Sweden and Finland
Finland possessed the islands but most people wanted to be governed by Sweden
Neither could come up with a decision that pleased both sides so they asked the League of Nations to intervene
The Aaland Islands (1921)
Do you:
a) Give the Island to Sweden since most people wanted to join that country
b) Do nothing and let Finland and Sweden settle the issue on their own
c) Let Finland keep the islands, but ensure that no weapons are ever placed there
The Aaland Islands (1921)
Answer:
c) Let Finland keep the islands, but ensure that no weapons are ever placed there
Both sides accepted the decision and this remains enforce to the present day
CASE TWO
Teschen (1919)
Teschen (1919)
Teschen was a small town between Poland and Czechoslovakia.
Its main importance was that it had valuable coal mines there which both the Poles and the Czechs wanted to make their newly formed economies strong.
January 1919: Polish and Czech troops fight in the streets of Teschen. Many died.
Teschen (1919)
Do you:a) Split the town so both the Czechs and the
Poles have access to the coalb) Place the town under the protection of the
League of Nations to administer the coal as it seems fit
c) Support the Poles by sending them reinforcements; after all, Teschen was part of Poland
Teschen (1919)
Answer:
a) Split the town so both the Czechs and the Poles have access to the coal
The League decided that the bulk of the town should go to Poland while Czechoslovakia should have one of Teschen’s suburbs. This suburb contained the most valuable coal mines and the Poles refused to accept this decision. Though no more wholesale violence took place, the two countries continued to argue over the issue for the next twenty years.
CASE THREE
Upper Silesia (1921)
Upper Silesia (1921)
The treaty that ended WWI gave the people of the region the right to a referendum in order to determine whether they wished to be part of Poland or Germany
In the vote 700,000 voted to join Germany and 500,000 opted for Poland
The close results sparked violent protestsThe League was asked to settle the dispute
Upper Silesia (1921)
Do you:a) Respect the results and hand over the
territory to Germanyb) Split the province in two parts, handing one
to Germany and another to Polandc) Decide to administer the region as a
protectorate of the League of Nations for 2 years until another vote is held
Upper Silesia (1921)
Answer:
b) Split the province in two parts, handing one to Germany and another to Poland
Both groups within the province and both countries involved accepted the ruling
CASE FOUR
Memel, Lithuania (1923)
Memel (1923)
Memel was an area and port in Lithuania that was to be administered by the League of Nations after WWI
Most people living there were Lithuanians and resented the fact that a French general was in charge of their territory
Lithuanians invaded the port and the League had to step in
Memel (1923)
Do you:a) Send in forces to squash the rebels and
reinforce the League’s control over the region
b) Return the area of Memel to Lithuania, but keep the port as an International Zone
c) Cede the port and all of the Memel region to Lithuania to satisfy the desire of the population
Memel (1923)
Answer:
b) Return the area of Memel to Lithuania, but keep the port as an International Zone
Lithuania accepted the decision, however how could the response of the League be viewed as a failure?
CASE FIVE
Greece & Bulgaria (1925)
Greece & Bulgaria (1925)
Bulgaria and Greece shared a borderIn 1925, sentries patrolling this border fired
on one another and a Greek soldier was killed. The Greek army invaded Bulgaria as a result.
Greece & Bulgaria (1925)
Do you:a) Tell Greece to leave and promise Bulgaria
that Greece will be punished by the League for the invasion
b) Send in forces to help Bulgaria defeat the Greeks
c) Support Greece by reprimanding Bulgaria and demanding that Bulgaria issue a public apology for the shooting
Greece & Bulgaria (1925)
Answer:
a) Tell Greece to leave and promise Bulgaria that Greece will be punished by the League for the invasion
The Bulgarians asked the League for help and the League ordered both armies to stop fighting and that the Greeks should pull out of Bulgaria. The League then sent experts to the area and decided that Greece was to blame and fined her £45,000. Both nations accepted the decision.
CASE SIX
Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Germany failed to make a payment on war damages owed to Allies because they simply did not have the money.
France and Belgium didn’t believe Germany and claimed it needed to be taught a lesson.
They invaded the Ruhr area, Germany’s most important industrial region.
Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Do you:a) Diplomatically negotiate a new payment
schedule between Germany and Belgium and France
b) Send troops to Germany to forcefully remove Belgium and France
c) Support Belgium and France because they are important League members
Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Answer:
c) Support Belgium and France because they are important League members
Within Europe, France was seen as a senior League member – like Britain . Here were two League members clearly breaking League rules. For the League to enforce its rules, it needed the support of its major backers in Europe, particularly Britain and France. Few countries criticised what France and Belgium did. How do you think these actions were viewed internationally?
CASE SEVEN
Corfu (1923)
Corfu (1923)
5 Italian surveyors, working for the League of Nations to map the unclear border between Albania and Greece, were killed on the Greek side of the border.
Mussolini, the Italian dictator, demanded compensation from Greece.
When Greece refused, Mussolini bombarded and occupied Greek island of Corfu.
Corfu (1923)
Do you:a) Support Italy by forcing Greece to pay the
compensation demandedb) Place economic sanctions on Italy to
persuade it to leave Greece alonec) Invite both sides to a conference in
Switzerland to negotiate a peaceful solution
Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Answer:
a) Support Italy by forcing Greece to pay the compensation demanded
Even though the League wanted to condemn Mussolini’s aggressive actions, France and Britain did not want to upset the new Italian dictator. Therefore, they put pressure on Greeks to accept Mussolini’s demands. Mussolini only withdrew his forces once the Greeks had apologised and paid.
CASE EIGHT
Manchurian Crisis (1931-
1933)
Manchurian Crisis (1931-1933)
Japan invaded Manchuria, which was part of China, to expand its living space and to get more resources.
Japan already claimed special interests in the area because Japan ran the South Manchuria Railway and controlled some cities along its route.
Japan blew up a section of the Rail-way and accused China of being responsible for the sabotage.
China denied.Japan invaded.
Manchurian Crisis (1931-1933)
Do you:a) Condemn Japan’s actions and order the
withdrawal of troopsb) Send a coalition force to forcefully remove
Japan from Chinac) Impose economic sanctions to persuade
Japan to hand over Manchuria
Manchurian Crisis (1931-1933)
Answer:
a) Condemn Japan’s actions and order the withdrawal of troops
Japan kept Manchuria and left the League of Nations in 1933. League members did not want to impose economic sanctions because the Great Depression had already damaged the world economy too much. Britain and France did not want to use military action because they feared Japanese reprisals against their colonies in the Far East.
CASE NINE
Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
Abyssinia was the only independent black African state.
Italy wanted Abyssinia because it already had land along Abyssinia’s borders and because it wanted to show the world its newfound strength and power.
Italy invaded.
Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
Do you:a) Give certain areas of Abyssinia in return for
Italy’s withdrawal of troopsb) Impose economic sanctions by cutting off
trade with Italy.c) Offer to act as an arbitrator between Italy
and Abyssinia to come to a peaceful resolution
Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
Answer:
All of the aboveThe League of Nations attempted all these solutions. However, non-League nations continued to trade with Italy. The economic sanctions did not include oil, coal or iron. The Abyssinian public refused to accept a concession of land to the Italians. The Italians refused to negotiate, knowing that they had military strength and that Britain and France were very reluctant to go to war again.
Italy-Ethiopia War (1935)
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the League
of Nations
Country Membership
Had 42 founding members, but throughout its existence many members joined and left the League of Nations
Britain and France considered most powerful both wanted to avoid war at all costs.
Which important country was NEVER part of the League of Nations?
Member Joined Left
Japan 1919 March 1933
Germany 1926 October 1933
Italy 1919 December 1937
USSR 1934 December 1939
France 1919 June 1940
Britain 1919 April 1946
Discussion Question
How do you think the effectiveness of the League of Nations was hampered by the absence of the United States?
League of Nations Summary
1. After considering the examples given, what do you think was a serious weakness of the League of Nations?
2. What do the following cartoons tell us about the successes and/or failures of the League of Nations?
Cartoon 1
China
Japan
Cartoon 2
Cartoon 3
Hitler & the League of Nations
Hitler’s Aims
1. Reverse the Treaty of Versailles2. Unite all German speaking peoples
Greater Germany including all Germans into one homeland Germans in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, etc...
3. Lebensraum (“living space”) Greater Germany would include +85 million people
would need more land to provide enough food and raw materials
4. German rearmament
Hitler’s Land Gains
Hitler’s Successes
Reoccupation of the Saar region Saar under occupation of the League of Nations for
15 years after WWI Vote held in 1935 90% of population voted to be
reunited with GermanyReoccupation of the Rhineland
1936: Hitler marches troops into Rhineland; takes control back from the French who had received Rhineland under the Treaty of Versailles
Met with no resistance – French unwilling to fight Later 98% of population voted for German
reoccupation
Hitler’s Successes
Anschluss with Austria 96% of Austrians spoke German; Hitler was born in
Austria; strong Nazi party in Austria March 1938: German troops march into Austria;
Austria made a province of Germany Nazis later claimed that 99% of Austrians voted for
AnschlussSudetenland
Hitler’s Successes
Mainly a German –speaking area given to Czechoslovakia upon its creation post-WW1
Pro-Nazi Sudeten leader strongly supported Hitler told this leader to demand separation from
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia refused needed fortifications to prevent German invasion thought they would be supported by the League of Nations
British Prime Minister (Chamberlain) did not want a war over Sudetenland met with Hitler, Mussolini and French Prime Minister in Munich and they agreed that Hitler would have the Sudetenland if he promised to stop expanding
Chamberlain met privately with Hitler and they promised never to go war with each other again
Poland
Demanded the return of Danzig and Polish Corridor.
Signed a treaty with Italy to help each other should there be a war.
Signed a pact with Russia prevent war on 2 fronts Russia would not object to a German invasion of Poland Russia and Germany would divide Poland between them
Germany invaded Poland British and French issued an ultimatum that Germany must leave or risk war Germany did not reply Britain declares war on Germany
What do these
cartoons tell us
about the successes
and/or failures of
the League of Nations?
