How successful was British
foreign policy in containing
fascist aggression between
1935-38?
In this topic you will be asked to assess the
success of Britain's policy of appeasement
by looking at the various measures,
agreements and strategies Britain used to
appease Hitler and Mussolini.
The attack on Abyssinia by Italy
• How did Britain deal with this attack?
• In order to avoid war Britain decided to try and end
this conflict peacefully.
• The trade embargos, especially oil, were futile as
many nations continued to trade.
• Italy stated previously that any oil embargo would be
seen as a an act of war
• Britain were also very concerned about the prospects
of a war in Africa
• Britain and France were also trying desperately hard
to stop Mussolini and Hitler becoming a joint force
• Britain decided to act out with the League of Nations
and with France, offered a solution to war
Hoare/Laval plan
• Created by French and British Ministers
Pierre Laval and Sir Samuel Hoare
• Idea was to offer Mussolini parts of
Abyssinia if he agreed to withdraw
• Plan was not discussed with Abyssinia
• British public not happy with this policy as it
neglected the Abyssinians in favour of
Mussolini
• Public outcry leads to the resignation of
Hoare and the withdrawal of the offer.
• Mussolini continued with his plan and gained control
of Abyssinia.
• The League had shown weakness in dealing with this
aggression
• Britain and France were in no position to stop
Mussolini
• Collective security had failed to support a League
member
• Britain and France had shown their lack of support to
the League therefore everyone lost faith in it and
started to look after their own self interests.
German Rearmament
• Germany’s rearmament programme showed once again British
self interest
• Hitler began rearming which was against terms of T.O.V
• Britain, in order to protect her shores and colonial trade, signed
the Anglo-German Naval Agreement
• This was a clear sign of acceptance of the German programme
• Britain had after all just signed the Stresa Front agreement
condemning German rearmament
• British argument for this agreement was that it allowed them to
“control” the speed of the rebuilding programme
• However, many argue that it showed weakness and an
unwillingness to confront Hitler
The Remilitarisation of the
Rhineland
• In 1919 under the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles, the Rhineland area of Germany had
been demilitarised in order to offer France
the security they craved.
• In March 1936 Hitler ordered the
remilitarisation of this area, even though it
was against both the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles and the Locarno agreement
• What did Britain do????
British Reactions
• Firstly, the area was demilitarised for French
security.
• France were in no position to stop this
remilitarisation, they needed their allies Britain, Italy
and Belgium to offer their support.
• France also had in place the Franco/Soviet Treaty
1935
• Hitler believed this broke the terms of Locarno and
threatened Germany
• France was of the belief that the German armed
forces had become too strong.
• Many politicians in Britain believed Hitler was
right in entering the Rhineland
• No agreements had been broken as France
had in many opinions “provoked Hitler” by
their agreement with Russia.
• Britain were also wanting Hitler to return to
the L.O.N
• Therefore, attacking him for this seemingly
harmless invasion, seemed wrong.
• Public opinion in Britain was also in favour of Britain's
non intervention
• Germany it seemed had done no wrong by
remilitarising their own land.
• Public also felt the T.O V was too harsh on Germany
• Government felt this remilitarisation would pacify
Hitler and get him to agree to other more important
issues such as a limit on his aircraft and stop to
bombing
• He had also offered a 25 year non aggression pact
• The threat of Communism posed a much more serious issue to
Britain.
• Hitler had not committed any act of violence
• If instigated and possibly deposed WHO would be his
replacement
• Britain also found itself not to be in a position of strength,
Hitler had acted on a Saturday when government was on holiday
• By the time Britain reacted Hitler had completed his move
• The army was also not prepared to fight a resurgent German
army.
• For these reasons a policy of appeasement seemed the best way
forward for Britain
Spanish Civil War
• How did Britain deal with the outbreak of the Spanish
Civil War?
• As this war was one between people of the same
country and had less chance of escalating
• Britain decided to introduce a policy of nonintervention
• In 1936, led by Britain and France, 27 countries
signed this policy
• However, many people in Britain were unhappy with
the policy of non-intervention and joined “unofficial
armies” known as the International Brigades to go and
help fight.
• British government was criticised for not
becoming involved in the war by the Labour
government who stated they should become
involved to save democracy.
• They stopped arms sales to the rebels
• They supported the non intervention stance
of the L.O.N
• Even though Hitler used this war to get
practice for his new air force, Britain still did
not become involved.
The Anschluss
• How did Britain deal with the Anschluss?
• The creation of the Anschluss or merging of
Austria and Germany had been banned under
the terms of the T.O.V
• Hitler had previously attempted this and
backed down after Italy sent troops to her
borders
• This time however in 1938 Hitler completed
his mission
• How did Britain contain this part of Hitler’s
foreign policy?
• Prior to the Anschluss both Germany
and Austria were closely linked, they
shared the same foreign policy and
economic policies. There were also
leading Nazi’s involved in the Austrian
government.
• The Anschluss therefore did not come
as any great surprise
British reaction
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Britain's reaction to the Anschluss was one of acceptance.
Many people in Britain public and political, felt Austria was too far away too
bother about
Also, many viewed Austria and Germany as one
After a plebiscite held in Austria, returned an overwhelming 99% in favour of
German occupation it seemed to support Britain’s lack of intervention
Britain again, would have had to act on her own as the L.O.N was now
fragmenting and internally, French politics were ever changing
Germany again, in justification for her actions, could point to the Franco/Russian
agreement as breaking Versailles
Also, no invasion had taken place, as Hitler stated there was a possibility of civil
unrest developing, therefore he and his men were helping reduce this possibility.
Therefore, in British eyes, no foreign aggression had taken place.
However, this was just another step in Hitler gaining Lebensraum for the
German people
It also put him much closer to eastward expansion and the taking of
Czechoslovakia
Overview of how successful
Britain was in containing fascist
aggression!
• It could be argued that Britain was unsuccessful in containing
fascist aggression as both Hitler and Mussolini gained the land
they required
• However, a few factors must be considered – British public
opinion supported appeasement for many reasons…
• Britain’s economy was weak
• People still remembered the Great War and the misery it caused
• The L.O.N was failing in its idea of “collective security”
• Britain could not rely on any allies
• Hitler did not show any aggression in his taking of Austria or the
Rhineland
• Mussolini got Abyssinia but could Britain fight an African war?
• Nonetheless, by taking NO action it gave Hitler the power,
drive, determination and confidence to continue with his foreign
policy.