Why the League of Nations failed Spanish civil war

-The League of Nations was formally established on January 10th 1920 and
headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The League originally consisted of 42 countries.
At its largest, 57 countries were members. The League was founded on four primary
goals or ideas. In place of competing empire, the principle of self-determination would -devastated Spain from 17th July 1936 to 1st April 1939
create independent states and the outside world would not interfere
-politics in Spain in the early 1930's were extremely
- With the absence of the United States the League of Nations lacked morale sense that complex. There existed deep-seated rivalries between the
everyone was involved so other countries like Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy were also various political parties, between different regions and
not members at various times so the League of Nations relied mostly on Britain and
France as they were the core nations in the League of Nations, as such, they are usually between church and its opponents.
the countries which can determine the outcome of decisions made by the League as a
whole but both France and Britain had their own problems and made decisions based on On the 'left', supporting the newly elected popular front
their self interest, Britain and her empire and France was in need of security against government were communists, socialists and anarchists.
Germany this is argued that it was Britain and Frances fault that lead to the Leagues Loosely known as republicans. They sought more equitable
failure.
distribution of the nations wealth.
- The league was slow to react and had no military presence of its own and countries did
not want to send troops and die in other countries when their own interest where not at On the 'right' opposing the government were landowners,
stake businessmen, devout Catholics, military officers and the
Spanish fascist party, the Flange. Loosely known as
1931 Japan invades Manchuria- Japan used a excuse that China had sabotaged their rail
lines and in retaliation occupied Manchuria and the reason why Japan actually went "nationalists" they opposed the policies of the government
through with the invasion was that they considered themselves the most powerful in the and sought to maintain a much more traditional,
east Asian region. Chinese authorities approached the League of Nations for help and a conservative Spain.
group of officials were led to study the problem that took a year for them to study the
situation taking as much time as possible in order to avoid sending there own troops. Spanish morocco rose up in revolt against the government.
Once the report had been given the League then ordered Japan to leave Manchuria but General Franco assumed the leadership of the nationalist
Japan refused and instead left the League of Nations. The League of Nations could not rebels. He rallied claiming the republicans were "godless
agree on sanctions or even a ban on weapon sales. Britain and France did not want a war, and communist government.
so nothing was done.
By late 1936 Francos forces controlled half of Spain until
Reasons for Failure
Weak the Leagues powers were little more than going tut-tut. Sanctions did
1939 when he took complete control of Spain.
not work. It had no army.
America the strongest nation in the world never joined. Britain and France were Most significant aspect of the civil war lay in the
not strong enough to impose pace on their own. international aspect.
Structure the League was muddled, so it took ages to do anything. Members
couldnt agree but decisions had to be unanimous. This paralysed the League. Mussolini sent large numbers of arms and aircrafts to help
Depression the world-wide Depression made countries try to get more land and the nationalist;
power. They were worried about themselves, not about world peace.
Unsuccessful the more the League failed, the less people trusted it. In the end,
At one stage there were 60000 Italian volunteers fighting in
everybody just ignored it.
Members the Leagues main members let it down. Italy and Japan betrayed the Spain;
League. France and Britain did nothing to help it.
Big bullies in the 1920s, the League had dealt with weak countries. In the Hitler also sent troops to help Franco, e.g. the condor
1930s, powerful countries like Germany, Italy and Japan attacked weaker legion;
countries. They were too strong for the League to stop them.
The German oar force also known as the Luftwaffe used
the Spanish civil war its Me-109 fighters and Junker ju 52
transport bombers.

The Spanish civil war was seen as the rehearsal for conflict
Europe. Fascism vs. the enemies of fascism.

Germany used the Spanish civil war to test out their

weapons.

Hitler intervened due to a number of reasons he had

an eye on Spains valuable raw materials