ANSWERING HSC EXAM QUESTIONS ON THE
“CONFLICT IN EUROPE 1935-45”
Focus: outbreak of war
By Ken Webb
Assess the view that the collapse of collective security was responsible for the breakdown of European peace by 1939.
- Avoid:
– Straight narration of the events dealing with the collapse of collective security from 1935
– Going back to 1919 in detail giving a jog trot
- Even the best of these won’t go beyond 15/25
– Ignoring the issue and discussing your question, eg “war had nothing to do with the collapse of CS, it was all due to Br’s appeasement policy”
- Very dangerous, might be heading for a low result
- Agree with the statement (1) – agree with the assumption in the question – gradual process
Conclusion:
The collapse of collective security was the fundamental reason for the outbreak of war in 1939. The Japanese had proven its ineffectiveness over Manchuria in 1931. Hitler and Mussolini quickly took advantage of its demise in the 1930s. In the face of fascist opportunism, Britain had no alternative but to pursue appeasement which merely emboldened the dictators. Frustrated by western weakness, Stalin was forced into the Nazi-Soviet Pact which gave Hitler the green light to attack Poland and thus place the final nail into the coffin of European peace.
- Attempt an argument (2) – disagree with the assumption in the question - long gone
Result: war in 1939
- Collective security has long been dead
- The dictators pursue policy in a kind of international vacuum
- Br/ Fr/ R: concerns are domestic
- War by default?
Assess the view that it was appeasement rather than the collapse of Collective security that led to the breakdown of peace by 1939.
- Argument (1)
- Appeasement caused the collapse of Collective Security and it was this that led to war
– British attitude to the League/ awareness of French weakness
– Other reasons for appeasement
– Link appeasement and rejection of CS
– Impact of this on G, It and SU: result war
Conclusion:
- Appeasement led to the breakdown of peace in 1939 because:
– It emboldened Hitler and gave him dominance over his generals
– Left Britain (and France) with no alternative
– Arguably forced Stalin into the Nazi-Soviet Pact
– Which finally brought about war in September 1939
The following link takes you to Neville Chamberlain’s famous “Peace in our time” moment after the Munich Conference
- Argument (2)
- Appeasement was the result of the collapse of Collective Security and it was this that led to war
– State of the League and CS by mid-1930s: explain
– Appeasement the logical alternative (+ other reasons)
– Impact of this on G, It and SU
– Result war
Conclusion:
- Appeasement was the result of the breakdown of collective security, not its cause:
– Britain was left with no alternative
– Pressures all round for appeasement
– Arguably forced Stalin into the Nazi-Soviet Pact
– Which finally brought about war in September 1939