Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe Notes

Changing Diplomatic Alignments in Europe

1. The 1930s also impacted the political alignments in Europe, with the decadence of the League of Nations and the growing affinity between Hitler and Mussolini.
2. The alignment between Italy and Germany also impacted Britain and France, as their power to stop aggression was severely undermined.

Italy realigned with Germany

1. In 1934, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss had asked Mussolini for help to prevent Hitler from completing the Anschluss.
2. At that time, Mussolini supported Austria in clear opposition to Hitler, and in 1935 signed the Stresa Front (1935) with Britain and France.

1. In October 1935 Mussolini thought he had support from the Stresa Front members and also from the League, and he invaded Abyssinia.
2. Nevertheless, Mussolini was dissatisfied with the international response to his move into Abyssinia, and he changed sides in favor of an approach to the Nazis.
3. In October 1936, in the context of German and Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War, HItler and Mussolini will sign the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Poland's Non-Aggression Pact with Germany in 1934

1. In January 1934, Poland and Nazi Germany agreed to resolve disputes peacefully and not attack each other for 10 years.
2. For Germany, it helped break its diplomatic isolation and weaken France's alliance system, for Poland, it aimed to secure its western border and balance relations with both Germany and the Soviet Union.
3. This non aggression pact was a way to tell France that Poland would not support the Western powers if Hitler continued his expansion.

Belgium Renounced Its Military Pact with France and moved to Neutrality in 1936

1. In 1920, France had signed a Pact with Belgium to strengthen security along the western frontier after World War I.
2. It was signed as part of France’s strategy to contain Germany and maintain a buffer zone in Western Europe following the Treaty of Versailles.
3. But in 1936 Belgium declared its neutrality, leaving the Franco-Belgian border as a potential gateway for a German invasion of France.

The Oscillating Role of Stalin

1. Stalin got to power in the USSR in late 1928, and he emphasized the need to protect the Revolution and foster its development.
2. He spoke about “socialism in one country” and sought to sustain an isolationist policy.
3. Nevertheless, with the advances of Hitler he changed this position and joined the League of Nations in 1934 and signed treaties with France and Czechoslovakia in 1935.
4. Later, frustrated with the lack of efficacy of the Western democracies in dealing with Hitler’s expansion, he changed sides and signed the Nazi Soviet Pact in 1939.