REVISION IGCSE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY: STRESA FRONT. Stresa Front, coalition of France, Britain, and Italy formed in April 1935 at Stresa, Italy, to oppose Adolf Hitler’s announced intention to rearm Germany, which violated terms of the Treaty of Versailles. When Italy invaded Ethiopia later that year, France and Britain tried to reconcile the action with the need to remain united against Germany, but the coalition soon dissolved.

1. STRESA FRONT
1935
IGCSE HISTORY
REVISION

2. DEFINITION
Stresa Front was an attempt by the leaders of France, Britain and Italy
to block growing German militarisation.

3. Question 1
Name the three events closely tied to
German foreign policy that led to the
Stresa Front.

4. Answer 1
The attempted coup by Austrian Nazis.
The Saar plebiscite.
The open reintroduction of conscription by Hitler.

5. Question 2
What was the outcome of the meeting of
the leaders at Stresa?

6. Answer 2
The three countries condemned the reintroduction of conscription and
agreed to stand together against German aggression.

7. Question 3
Two events caused the front to
collapse quickly. What were they?

8. Answer 3
Britain upset France by signing the Anglo-German Naval Treaty (1935).
Italy invaded Abyssinia (1936).

9. Question 4
Which treaty between Hitler and
Mussolini demonstrated the failure of
the Stresa Front?

10. Answer 4
The Rome-Berlin Axis (October 1936).

11. Important
The Stresa Front provided an early and real opportunity to block the
aggressive expansionism of Hitler.
The reasons behind its short life help to explain how and why future
attempts to do the same proved unsuccessful.