Unit 3: Between the Wars
The experiences of the war did not automatically lead to a lessening of international tensions and disagreements. Indeed, in some instances, pre-war politics still seemed to guide national policies. In this unit, we will discuss the following:
The future of Germany was one issue which caused dissension among the victorious wartime allies.
France feared that Germany would pose a military threat in the future. It was determined to keep Germany weak.
The terms of the peace treaty held Germany solely responsible for the war, angering Germans. Germans resented the guilt placed on their nation, the territorial losses, and the reparation payments.
The new League of Nations did not receive meaningful support from the major world powers, including the US.
A sustained world-wide economic depression provided a force which destabilized existing governments in the 1930’s.
Many traditional values of European society were now being questioned by people who until now were not considered to have the right to do this.
Women, skilled labour, and unions who made important contributions to the war effort were not willing to go back to the traditional order of society.
The British were suspicious of France’s insistence on keeping a large army. The British thought was that making Germany a second rate country would hurt all the countries due to lack of trade.
