1920's Peace
League of Nations
Based on cooperation, but with two big countries missing
USA and USSR
Washington Conf. 1921
Limits naval power
USA allowed 10 billion tonnage of navy
UK same
Japan 7
France 1.67
Italy 1.67
Countries had to destroy navy
US and UK destroyed 5 billion tons
Japan 3
Fr and It 1.75
Power Pact-1921 in China
Reflects on the integrity of China
Sun Yat Sin overthrown in China, with jostling for power
Mao Zedong vs. Chiang Kai Shek
Shek allows US into China, so he gains US support
Lacarno Pact
1925
Germany told they needed approval from the League of Nations to annex any German speaking country
Prevents Austria/German joining
Kellogg-Briand Pact
1928
Outlaws war
London Naval Conference
1930 and 1934
Sets the rules for maritime battles
1934, Japan removes themselves from the Washington and London Conference Pacts
First signs of Japans coming agression
Steps of Aggression
1931, Japan's only sphere of influence is Korea
Justified with "New Asian Order"
Instigates public opinion with the Muckden Incident
Japanese RR tracks stretch into China
China destroys RR
Japan invades
League of Nations decrees that Japan is the aggressor
Japan blew up their own railroad tracks
Japan leaves the League of Nations and invades Manchuria
US Sec of State Stipson steps in and decrees Japanese controlled Manchuria needs Chinese representation
Japan institutes a puppet governor
Ethiopia
Represents of two land masses not colonially held
Conference in Berlin is debating Ethiopian border with no Ethiopian influence
Ethiopia was originally an agricultural power
King Selassie controls Ethiopia
Joins League of Nations and gains a military
Fears Italian attack
Italy does attack and conquers Eth easily
League of Nations determines that Italy was the aggressor, needs to leave Ethiopia and pay fine
Italy leaves League of Nations
US
Pro-Neutrality Legislation
35, 37, 39
US has too many of its own problems
Can't give loans and war materials
Most European nations defaulted on loans to US, one of the causes of the Great Depression
No Americans on passenger liners
No American merchant ships
Germany 1935
Hitler rises to power
Nuremberg Laws
Conscription Act
Drafts young men
Germany remilitarizes and gains huge military
Violates Treaty of Versailles
1936 Militarized Rhineland
Spanish Civil War
Francisco Franco: Fascist
Opposed by Democratic Party
Also opposed by Int'l Brigade
Helped by Germany and Italy
Most help of the war provided by USSR
Opposed to Fascism
Also helped by the US, Fr, GB
Lincoln Brigade
Franco wins because Hitler creates the first Blitzkrieg
All out offensive
1937, US declares Neutrality
1937, Japan begins all out invasion of China
Begin of World War 2
Rape of Nanjing
Unit 751
Medical experiments on Chinese prisoners
At the end of the war, US forgives Japan in return for medical information gained by Unit 751
1938 Gr and Austria combine
1938 Hitler invades Sudetenland, border between Gr and Czechoslovakia
Cz applies to League of Nations
Munich Conference
LoN tries appeasement, gives Gr Sudetenland for an end to aggression
Hitler agrees and reneges and invades Cz
Then invades Poland
1 comment:
For a compelling look at the Treaty of Versailles and its immense consequences down to the present day (including a detailed section on Sykes-Picot and the entire Middle East), DO have a look at my fascinating new book -- "A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today" published by Wiley and available at Amazon.com and most bookstores !
The author (myself) -- executive editor of Forbes.com and a veteran foreign correspondent for The New York Times and CBS News is also available for speeches and lectures! I've done many at schools and colleges -- often by speaker- or video-phone!
Best,
David A. Andelman
david@ashatteredpeace.com
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