100. The weakness of the
democracies: again to war
The Pacifism and Disunity of the West
the pacifism in western Europe
People in the US and the UK came to believe that the First World War only
caused chaos and didn’t bring any good. → led to pacifism
But pacifism also had other roots:
half of all French males between 20 and 32 in 1914 were killed → not
wanting to repeat that
The loss and bloodshed of the First World War caused mourning and
anger in the UK. → no more war → appeasement policy.
The US followed a policy of rigid isolation → Neutrality legislation. →
period 1935-1937: forbade loans, export of mutitions, use of American
shipping facilities
Russian resentment
The Russians didn’t accept the new frontiers of Eastern Europe and wanted
their grounds back. Russia was obsessed by the fear of further foreign
intrusions and attacks. In the 1930s they were scared of Hitler, who
promised to obliterate communism.
The Soviets became interested in collective security and so they joined the
League of Nations in 1934. The Soviets made many alliances, but the
Europeans still were skeptical about the soviets. → no effective coalition
against the Germans could be formed.
The March of Nazi and Fascist Aggression
Hitler’s triumphs
Hitler employed tactics of gradual encroachment that played on the hopes
and fears of democratic people.
Each year, Hitler precipated some kind of emergency, each time the French
and British let him, have his way.
100. The weakness of the democracies: again to war 1
democracies: again to war
The Pacifism and Disunity of the West
the pacifism in western Europe
People in the US and the UK came to believe that the First World War only
caused chaos and didn’t bring any good. → led to pacifism
But pacifism also had other roots:
half of all French males between 20 and 32 in 1914 were killed → not
wanting to repeat that
The loss and bloodshed of the First World War caused mourning and
anger in the UK. → no more war → appeasement policy.
The US followed a policy of rigid isolation → Neutrality legislation. →
period 1935-1937: forbade loans, export of mutitions, use of American
shipping facilities
Russian resentment
The Russians didn’t accept the new frontiers of Eastern Europe and wanted
their grounds back. Russia was obsessed by the fear of further foreign
intrusions and attacks. In the 1930s they were scared of Hitler, who
promised to obliterate communism.
The Soviets became interested in collective security and so they joined the
League of Nations in 1934. The Soviets made many alliances, but the
Europeans still were skeptical about the soviets. → no effective coalition
against the Germans could be formed.
The March of Nazi and Fascist Aggression
Hitler’s triumphs
Hitler employed tactics of gradual encroachment that played on the hopes
and fears of democratic people.
Each year, Hitler precipated some kind of emergency, each time the French
and British let him, have his way.
100. The weakness of the democracies: again to war 1
