The road to war

Britain signed it without consulting France or Italy, effectively accepting German rearmament

Step 1: The question asks why the Anglo-German Naval Agreement was damaging. Step 2: In June 1935, Britain signed a naval agreement with Germany allowing a ratio of 35% to 100% in Britain's favour for future naval construction. Step 3: Crucially, Britain did not consult France or Italy before signing, which fatally undermined the newly formed Stresa Front and the principle of collective security. Step 4: The agreement also effectively acknowledged that Germany could rearm, despite the Versailles Treaty explicitly forbidding this — a huge diplomatic signal. Step 5: Germany did not gain naval su

That the League of Nations was fatally weak and could not enforce international law

Step 1: The question asks about the significance of Italy's invasion of Abyssinia. Step 2: The League imposed economic sanctions on Italy, but these were deliberately limited — most importantly, oil was excluded from the list of prohibited items to avoid further antagonizing Mussolini. Step 3: Without the United States and Germany as members, sanctions were inevitably ineffective. A faction within Britain's Conservative Party also warned against harsh sanctions fearing it would push Mussolini closer to Hitler. Step 4: By April 1936, Abyssinia was defeated and the League had suffered terminal d

They protested but took no direct military action to stop Hitler

Step 1: The question asks about the Western response to the remilitarization of the Rhineland. Step 2: Hitler sent troops into the demilitarized Rhineland on 7 March 1936, clearly breaching the Versailles Treaty. Step 3: Britain and France protested but did not take any direct military action. Britain made clear it could offer only moral support to France but no practical or armed assistance. Step 4: France was psychologically unwilling to act alone, and Britain viewed German troops entering 'their own backyard' as insufficient reason to risk war. Step 5: No war was declared, no sanctions were

1936

Step 1: The question asks for the year the Rome-Berlin Axis was created. Step 2: According to the chapter, the links between Italy and Germany were growing stronger, marked by the creation of the Rome-Berlin Axis in October 1936. Step 3: This followed the remilitarization of the Rhineland (March 1936) and Italy's conquest of Abyssinia (completed April 1936), events that pushed the two Fascist powers closer together. Step 4: 1933 is when Hitler came to power. 1935 is when the Stresa Front briefly united Britain, France, and Italy. 1939 is when the full military 'Pact of Steel' was signed betwee