9.3 Towards Improved Relations: A Shaky Peace

The end of World War I saw a Europe exhausted and shattered. The victorious Allies, especially France, sought to punish Germany for its aggression, while Germany yearned to regain its lost power and prestige. This mixture of resentment and fear created a volatile atmosphere, threatening another war.

1. The League of Nations: A Flawed Hope

The League of Nations, established in 1920, was a landmark attempt at international cooperation. Its goal was to prevent future wars through diplomacy, collective security, and disarmament. However, the League was hampered by several critical weaknesses:

⭐Lack of enforcement power: It relied on member states to enforce its decisions, but they often lacked the political will or resources to take action.
⭐Absence of major powers: The US, initially a champion of the League, refused to join, and the Soviet Union was excluded for its communist ideology.
⭐National interests over collective security: Member states often prioritized their own interests over the common good, leading to inaction in the face of aggression.

2. The Washington Naval Treaty (1922): A Brief Moment of Disarmament

In 1922, the major naval powers (the US, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy) signed the Washington Naval Treaty. This agreement limited the size and number of battleships each country could build, effectively slowing down the naval arms race. However, it did not cover submarines, aircraft carriers, or land-based air power, leaving room for further competition.

3. The Locarno Treaties (1925): A Pact for Stability

The Locarno Treaties were a series of agreements signed in 1925 that aimed to solidify peace in Western Europe. Germany, France, Belgium, Britain, and Italy agreed to:

⭐Guarantee the borders between Germany and its western neighbors.
⭐Settle disputes peacefully.
⭐Avoid aggressive actions.

These treaties marked a significant step towards reconciliation and cooperation. Germany was accepted back into the European community, and tensions between France and Germany visibly eased.

4. The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): A Global Attempt at Peace

In 1928, the US and France signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact (also known as the Pact of Paris), which outlawed war as an instrument of national policy. Over 60 countries eventually signed the pact, creating a powerful symbolic statement against war. However, it lacked any enforcement mechanism, making it largely ineffective in preventing actual conflict.

5. The Rise of Fascism and Nazism:

While the efforts for cooperation were underway, a dangerous new ideology was gaining ground in Europe: fascism. This nationalist, authoritarian movement, led by figures like Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany, glorified war, aggression, and racial supremacy.

6. Economic Crisis and Depression:

The Great Depression, which hit the world in the late 1920s and early 1930s, further destabilized Europe. Economic hardship and widespread unemployment created fertile ground for extremist ideologies like fascism and Nazism.

7. Japan's Aggressive Expansion:

In Asia, Japan embarked on a path of aggressive expansionism, fueled by its imperial ambitions. It invaded Manchuria in 1931 and launched a full-scale war against China in 1937.

8. The Failure of Collective Security:

Despite promises of collective action, the League of Nations failed to prevent Japan's aggression in Asia. The League's impotence in this situation further eroded its authority and demonstrated the limitations of international cooperation.

9. The Road Ahead: A Gathering Storm:

By the mid-1930s, the fragile peace built after World War I was crumbling. The rise of fascism and Nazism, Japan's expansionism, and the failure of the League of Nations paved the way for a new era of conflict. The world was hurtling towards a devastating global war.