Disarmament

In 1920s League largely failed in bringing about it

failure was damaging League's reputation in Germany

it didn't seem to serious because some international agreements have been done

Germany had been forced to disarm and they had long been angry

No other country had done the same

They were not prepared to give up their own armies

many countries were actually spending more on their armaments

than they have done before the 1stWW

In the 1930s there was increased pressure for the League to do something about it

League realised the urgency of the problem

Reasons for its failure

It did not help that Britain and France were divided on this issue

British signed an agreement with Germany

It allowed Germany to build up a reduced navy

Got under way in February 1932

by July 1932 it had produced resolutions

prohibit bombing of civilian populations

but there was very little in the resolutions to show these limits would be achieved

ended in 1934

The conference have a big problem

What to do about Germany

Everyone should disarm to the level of Germany

Germans should be allowed to rearm

Most people thought the Treaty of Versailles was being unfair

Events related to Germany

July 1932

The conference failed to agree the principle of equality, the Germans walked out

September 1932

The British sent a note to the Germans to make an agreement

Their superior tone angered the Germans

December 1932

An agreement was finally reached to treat Germany equally

January 1933

Germany was coming back to the Conference

February 1933

Hitler became the chancellor of Germany and started to rearm secretly

May 1933

Hitler promised not to rearm if the others did the same

June 1933

Britain produced a disarmament plan but it failed

October 1933

Hitler withdrew from the Conference and took Germany out of the League

prohibit chemical warfare

limit the tonnage of tanks

limit the size of artillery