THE ROAD TO WAR 1939 - CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURES OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Manchuria, Abyssinia, the failure of the League of Nations and rearmament, The failure of the League of Nations and the appeasement.

1. CONTENT
ROAD TO WAR
CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE
OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
PLUS HOMEWORK
3

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
JAPAN
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria brought the first major failure of
the League of Nations.
It showed that the LON was weak in the face of aggression by a
great power, encouraging further acts of aggression.
It also showed the Eurocentric nature of the LON.
Japan withdrew from the League and moved closer to Hitler and
Mussolini, through the Anti-Comintern Pact.
The results of the invasion of Manchuria encouraged Italy and
Germany to think that their territorial ambitions were achievable.

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
JAPAN WITHDREW FROM THE LEAGUE
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hStmrz3N46U

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
ITALY
The League would have to take action against Italy’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but this depended on Britain and France.
Both countries needed Mussolini’s friendship as they saw him as an ally
against Hitler.
When Italy invaded Abyssinia in October 1935, the League took action
by imposing economic sanctions. These sanctions failed to include
essential commodities such as oil and coal.
League members (Britain and France) were incapable of putting
internationalism before national interests.
Hitler was delighted. He continued to take steps to destroy the Treaty
of Versailles, knowing he would not face opposition.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
ITALY WITHDREW FROM THE LEAGUE
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlPCZ_9T490

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
DISARMAMENT
One of the aims of the LON was to persuade countries to disarm and so
reduce the chance of conflict.
At the Disarmament Conference of 1932-1933 the Germans stated they
would disarm if every nation disarmed.
The French would not accept this.
This gave Hitler the excuse he needed.
He left the conference while at the same time pretending that Germany
wanted peace.
Hitler had rearming almost from the time he came to power.
Germany left the League.

7. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
APPEASEMENT
The failure of the League led to intensive rearmament programmes
for Britain and France.
Following the recession neither of these countries had spent enough on
their defences.
By summer 1936 it was clear that rearmament was a priority.
As it would take several years to fully rearm, a short-term approach was
required.
Both countries adopted a policy of appeasement towards the dictators.

8. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
HOMEWORK
Mussolini speaking in 1935.
The League is very well when sparrows shout, but no good at all when eagles
fall out.
What point do you think Mussolini is making in this source?