International Relations in WWII

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Chantel Pomerville

International Relations in WWII

After World War I, Europe wanted to remain at peace. The economies of Europe in the 1930's had fallen into a depression, with stripped Germany feeling the strongest blow. This diminution of German liberties issued in the Treaty of Versailles lead to a strong urge for nationalistic unity among Germans alike. Hitler took on this role as a strong leader, willing to unify all German-speaking people and rebuild Germany to his former glory. In Hitler's plan, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were to be unified in Anschluss with the Reich. The idea of an incursion of these independent countries was cause for alarm to pacifists France and Britain. International relations began to materialize as treaties, pacts and agreements among European countries - once again dividing the continent. The prime objective of Britain and France's diplomacy was to evade another war with Germany - a war that could not be paid for in their current economic status. This attempt at circumventing warfare developed into a policy of appeasement, essentially giving the Füher everything he desired.

Hitler's assent to power struck fear into the Soviets, Italians, French and British people. The USSR dreaded a threat to destroy Bolshevism with a German invasion. Mussolini knew that a powerful Reich could be advantageous in disbanding the Paris Peace Settlement. But a powerful Reich could also invade southern lands such as Austria, which the Duce considered in his own sphere of influence. France, as always, was conscious of an attack on the Rhineland, especially since the Maginot Line was still under construction. Britain did not want to meddle with 'European' affairs again, but did want to play and active role in international war prevention. The problem was how to avert war with Germany.
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A first alternative was to stage their own war on Germany. France and Poland would attack the Fatherland on each side. The only setback is that they did not have a legitimate reason to attack - Hitler came to power legally, the government was reasonable, and another attack would leave Germany infuriated once more. Another option was an immense rearmament of threatened nations. However, the cost of this would be substantial and difficult to maintain. The third choice was to disarm, making war less probable with fewer machines and soldiers. Lastly, problems could be settled through the League ...

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