History SL
5
Chapters
187
Notes
Case study 1: Japanese Expansion In East Asia 1931-41 (The Global War)
Case Study 2: German & Italian Expansion 1933-40 (The Global War)
Part 1 - Rivalry, Mistrust & Accord (The Cold War)
Part 2 - Leaders & Nations (The Cold War)
Part 3 - Cold War Crises (The Cold War)
History SL
Case Study 2: German & Italian Expansion 1933-40 (The Global War)
Hitler's Ascent: Impact on 1930s Europe
597 words
3 mins read
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024
Table of content
Key terms
- Hitler: German politician who became chancellor of Germany in 1933.
- Mussolini: Italian politician who was the leader of Italy during WWII.
- Four-Power Pact: A treaty signed in 1933 between Italy, Germany, France, and Britain for cooperation and maintenance of peace.
- Anschluss: The political union between Germany and Austria.
- Stresa Front: A pact signed in 1935 by Italy, Britain, and France to counter German revisionism.
Summary
- Hitler's Rise to Power
- Hitler’s appointment as chancellor of Germany in 1933 was a turning point in European diplomatic alignments.
- Many countries responded by reinforcing collective security measures.
- Mussolini, concerned about Hitler's ambitions, proposed the Four-Power Pact, which was signed in June 1933. However, it didn't last long as Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations and Disarmament Conference in October that year.
- South Tyrol and Italy's concerns
- South Tyrol, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was given to Italy under the Treaty of St Germain in 1919.
- The rise of Hitler and nationalism in Germany posed a threat to Italy’s control of the largely German-speaking South Tyrol.
- In the 1920s, Mussolini attempted to ‘Italianize’ the region with measures such as banning the German language, but had limited success.
- Austria and Italy's Stance
- In July 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was murdered by Nazi agents attempting to initiate an Anschluss.
- Italy threatened to defend Austrian independence and mobilized troops to the Austrian border.
- Germany, not yet strong enough, backed down. This was a diplomatic victory for Italy and showcased the strength of the Italian military.
- However, the murder exposed the vulnerability of Austrian independence.
- The Stresa Front
- When Hitler announced rearmament in 1935, Mussolini proposed a conference with Britain and France.
- The Stresa Front, a pact signed by the three countries, aimed to preserve the 1919 German western frontiers, reinforcing their commitment to the 1925 Locarno Pact.
- The countries also pledged to consult each other if Austria’s independence was threatened.
- Failure of the Stresa Front
- The Stresa Front, the last attempt to use collective security against German revisionism, collapsed.
- This was due to national interests being prioritized over collective security.
- Before the Stresa Front, Mussolini had mobilized troops in his African colonies for an invasion of Abyssinia.
- Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935, allowing Germany's navy to be one-third the size of Britain’s without consulting France and Italy, which outraged them.
Real-world examples
- The Four-Power Pact is similar to the formation of the United Nations, where countries come together to promote peace and cooperation.
- Italy's attempts to 'Italianize' South Tyrol are similar to efforts by countries throughout history to assimilate minorities into their dominant culture.
- The Stresa Front’s failure mirrors the breakdown of diplomatic efforts and the emergence of national interests during periods of tension, such as during the Cold War.
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History SL
Case Study 2: German & Italian Expansion 1933-40 (The Global War)
Hitler's Ascent: Impact on 1930s Europe
597 words
3 mins read
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024
Table of content
Key terms
- Hitler: German politician who became chancellor of Germany in 1933.
- Mussolini: Italian politician who was the leader of Italy during WWII.
- Four-Power Pact: A treaty signed in 1933 between Italy, Germany, France, and Britain for cooperation and maintenance of peace.
- Anschluss: The political union between Germany and Austria.
- Stresa Front: A pact signed in 1935 by Italy, Britain, and France to counter German revisionism.
Summary
- Hitler's Rise to Power
- Hitler’s appointment as chancellor of Germany in 1933 was a turning point in European diplomatic alignments.
- Many countries responded by reinforcing collective security measures.
- Mussolini, concerned about Hitler's ambitions, proposed the Four-Power Pact, which was signed in June 1933. However, it didn't last long as Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations and Disarmament Conference in October that year.
- South Tyrol and Italy's concerns
- South Tyrol, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was given to Italy under the Treaty of St Germain in 1919.
- The rise of Hitler and nationalism in Germany posed a threat to Italy’s control of the largely German-speaking South Tyrol.
- In the 1920s, Mussolini attempted to ‘Italianize’ the region with measures such as banning the German language, but had limited success.
- Austria and Italy's Stance
- In July 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was murdered by Nazi agents attempting to initiate an Anschluss.
- Italy threatened to defend Austrian independence and mobilized troops to the Austrian border.
- Germany, not yet strong enough, backed down. This was a diplomatic victory for Italy and showcased the strength of the Italian military.
- However, the murder exposed the vulnerability of Austrian independence.
- The Stresa Front
- When Hitler announced rearmament in 1935, Mussolini proposed a conference with Britain and France.
- The Stresa Front, a pact signed by the three countries, aimed to preserve the 1919 German western frontiers, reinforcing their commitment to the 1925 Locarno Pact.
- The countries also pledged to consult each other if Austria’s independence was threatened.
- Failure of the Stresa Front
- The Stresa Front, the last attempt to use collective security against German revisionism, collapsed.
- This was due to national interests being prioritized over collective security.
- Before the Stresa Front, Mussolini had mobilized troops in his African colonies for an invasion of Abyssinia.
- Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935, allowing Germany's navy to be one-third the size of Britain’s without consulting France and Italy, which outraged them.
Real-world examples
- The Four-Power Pact is similar to the formation of the United Nations, where countries come together to promote peace and cooperation.
- Italy's attempts to 'Italianize' South Tyrol are similar to efforts by countries throughout history to assimilate minorities into their dominant culture.
- The Stresa Front’s failure mirrors the breakdown of diplomatic efforts and the emergence of national interests during periods of tension, such as during the Cold War.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of History SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟