Key Events

League of Nations

1919 - 1939

Vilna

1920

Poland invaded Lithuania and occupied Vilna. The League was unwilling to get involved due to, Britain and France who wanted 8908 to remain friendly with Poland as an ally against Russia. Poland kept Vilna.

Austria's economic problems

1922

The League managed to help prevent the collapse of Austrias economy after the war due to their financial experts.

Corfu

1923

5 Italian surveyors shot in Greece. Mussolini demands compensation from the Greek government but is ignored. Mussolini invades Corfu. Greece appealed to the League. The League failed to condemn Italy's actions. Instead it put pressure on the Greek government to accept Mussolini's demands. When the Greeks paid, Mussolini withdrew.

Greek-Bulgarian Dispute

1925

Greece invaded Bulgaria over border disputes. The League condemned Greece and forced them to withdraw.

Locarno Treaties

1925

Representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Italy Belgium Poland and Czechoslovakia met in Locarno. The Locarno Treaties were received with great enthusiasm, especially in France. The Locarno Treaties paved the way for Germany to join the League in 1926. The Locarno Treaties began a short phase of international cooperation between the major European powers.

Germany joined the League

1926

Germany had proved it was a peace loving country and so was allowed to join the League of Nations

The Kellogg-Briand Pact

1928

France and USA created a pact and it was signed by 65 other nations.The countries that signed it agreed to condemn war as a way of solving international disputes. This was the high point of international relations during the 1920's

Wall Street Crash

1929

The economic boom in USA came to an end. Wall Street crash meant millions of Americans lost everything in stock markets. America needed the money they had lent to European countries earlier in the 1920's, back. This triggered a worldwide depression. Many countries tried protectionism (charging tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries to make people buy goods from their own country). In the long term, this made the effects of the depression worse. People were now more likely to vote for radical politicians who vowed to fix their countries problem whatever it takes, instead of taking notice of the League attempting to keep world peace.

Germany leave the League

1933

Russia joined the League

1934

Abyssinian Crisis

1935

Italy had tried to invade Abyssinia in 1896 but was humiliated by the poorly equipped African tribes. In 1935, Italy tried to invade Abyssinia again led by Mussolini. Abyssinia appealed to the league. The league condemned Italy for being the aggressor and imposed economic sanctions. The sanctions were ineffective because they did not include oil (a vital war commodity). Britain and France did not want to upset Mussolini for fear he would join up with Hitler. The British foreign secretary worked out a pact with the French to secretly give Mussolini half of Abyssinia (the Hoare-Laval Pact) , but the plans were leaked to the press and he was forced to resign due to public uproar. It had appeared as though Britain and France were rewarding Mussolini for his aggression. Mussolini continued his invasion of Abyssinia and left the league. The Abyssinian crisis was the fatal blow for the league; they were powerless. Everyone had lost faith in the league.