Axis Background Guide · 1938- Hitler has annexed the Sudetenland (a major portion of...
Transcript of Axis Background Guide · 1938- Hitler has annexed the Sudetenland (a major portion of...
1
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
AKAHMUN 2014
Axis Background Guide
2
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction - 4
Background to the Time Frame - 5
Character Description - 9
Suggested References - 17
Bibliography – 18
3
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Dear Delegates,
We take immense pleasure in welcoming you all to the Axis Cabinet being simulated here at
AKAHMUN 2014. You have been chosen because you possess the ability, talent and
integrity to further the motives of the mighty Nazi empire, which has promised to conquer the
European continent under the leadership of Führer Hitler. Hail Hitler!
It is 15th October, 1938 – one of the most defining periods in the history of the world. Hitler
has annexed Sudetenland after an agreement with France and Britain at the Munich
Conference. Though Hitler has conceded to the terms of the agreement, which state that he
shall conquer no more land, he holds very strongly, the ultimate desire to conquer the
European continent. Thus, we meet today to further the aims of our beloved Führer. We have
our allies from all over Europe - Germany, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Bulgaria and Finland. This
Cabinet demands that delegates are thorough with their foreign policy and the historical
period the cabinet is set in. The functioning of this committee will require not only the
knowledge of European foreign policies, but also the individual policies you, as the most
influential politicians of the period, hold.
We urge you all, to conduct your research conscientiously. Only then, will you be able to
conduct yourself properly and ensure the success of the Axis powers. Do not restrict yourself
to this study guide because while it is a platform for you to begin your research, it does not
contain enough information to fully prepare you for committee. Furthermore, although we
suggest that you come well-prepared with an understanding of your policy, it is equally
important that you research that of the various people represented in the Cabinet.
Even though both Binoy and I have different backgrounds and rarely meet common grounds
in terms of our interests, we promise to leave no stone unturned in making this cabinet a great
success. We at all times will try our level best to help you deepen your understanding of this
crucial period in History and in return also learn a lot from you. We look forward to three
days filled with passionate debate, high drama, lots of laughter and cherishable memories.
Best
Aashish Dhammani (Director)
Binoy Pattharwala (Assistant Director)
4
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Important note to the Delegates: Knowledge from the period 1930-1937 will not be our agenda
in force, but the Chair would highly smile upon the delegates possessing pre-1938 knowledge
as it might influence our idea of the time frame which is in order: 15th of October 1938. The
Chair would highly recommend that you research the background of this committee from
Treaty of Versailles (1919) onwards. Yet, do not forget our committee focuses on post 1938
proceedings only. You are also expected to be thorough with the characters that you have been
assigned and to place yourself into their boots to make your presence more significant in this
cabinet. This committee will not tolerate anachronisms.
Introduction
During the 1930s, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy became increasingly belligerent in their
foreign policies- Germany within Europe and Italy in Africa. Since then, the world has
experienced a chaotic history and numerous paradigm shifts. The repercussions of the Great
War were faced by Germany, who after facing immense humiliation, promised to rise. This
was later termed as “The Rise of Extremism”. The economic hardships and national
humiliation drove the Germans to elect Adolf Hitler as the Chancellor of Germany. He
promised to restore the national pride and prosperity and re-establish the supremacy of the
Aryan race [1]. He wanted to bring a change to the position of Germany on the international
platform and prove himself as the rightful dictator of Europe in history.
After coming to power, Hitler began planning for the conquest of the European continent. Thus,
Hitler formed an alliance with the equally powerful Benito Mussolini (fascist dictator in Italy).
In due course of time, various events moulded the casket of Europe (filled with bloodshed and
extreme chaos) significantly, destabilizing the balance of power in the early 20th Century.
The post-war memories are fresh and cause great tremors, till date. It is the 15th of October
1938- Hitler has annexed the Sudetenland (a major portion of Czechoslovakia) on ethnic
grounds. The majority of the population in Sudetenland is German. This gave Hitler strong
grounds on which to demand Sudetenland. The Allied powers are in great worry, as the Axis
powers have posed a great threat to their existence and working. The aim of this cabinet
[1]Willmott, H. P., Robin Cross, and Charles Messenger. World War II. 2nd ed. New York: DK Pub.,
2009. Print. (p.g. 10)
5
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
hereafter will be to undertake all possible measures to further Hitler’s motives and ensure the
victory of the Axis powers.
On an informal note: The framework is in the form of a timeline, which makes the series of
events easier to understand.
Background to the Time Frame
1919
The European economy after November 1918 was in ruins and the social structure was severely
disrupted. The peace treaties did not seem to bolster the development of the economy either.
Hence, the “peacemakers” of the world had some crucial decisions to make. This led to
formulation of the Treaty of Versailles on 28th June, 1919. The Treaty was drawn up by three
statesmen (in the Versailles Palace, Paris): Georges Clemenceau (French Prime Minister),
David Lloyd George (British Prime Minister) and Woodrow Wilson (President of the United
States). The Germans were not invited to discuss the terms of the treaty. This treaty was thus
condemned by the Germans and was termed diktat (dictated peace). It held Germany solely
responsible for the war under Article 231 - the war guilt clause. The clause clearly stated that,
"The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of
Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated
Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed
upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.” Germany was forced to pay
reparations, disarm their forces and demilitarize their colonies. They lost control over all their
African colonies.
The Treaty of Versailles also established a common body as an international platform for
discussion- The League of Nations. This body was established in accordance with Wilson’s 14
points. Though Wilson didn’t obtain the agreement of the other two parties on many of his
points, he managed to gain agreement to set up the League. The biggest failure of the League,
though, was the United States’ inability to join or even ratify the Versailles treaty. The turmoil
6
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
exacerbated when Germany and Soviet Union [2] were excluded from the member list of the
League.
Meanwhile, the Italian government was preparing to welcome a saviour - Benito Mussolini,
who formed the Italian Fascist Party and took charge of Italy. [3] Additionally, the introduction
of the right-wing fascism caused the downfall of the republic in Italy.
1921
A Reparations Commission was set up that directed Germany to pay a total of €6,600 million
as fine for the instigation of the Great War. The rise of political extremism in Italy, aided the
rise of Mussolini, creating radical programs and promising to restore national pride. In
Germany, the German Workers’ Party was renamed as the Nazi Party. Hitler was now officially
the leader of the party. The Nazi Party, with Hitler’s ideology of the reconstruction of Germany,
aimed to restore the lost prestige of Germany.
1925-26
The failure of the Munich-Beer hall putsch [4] and the subsequent imprisonment of Hitler gained
him a popular fan following because of which he soon became a national icon. While in the
prison, Hitler dictated his autobiographical manifesto, Mein Kampf, to his loyal follower
Rudolf Hess. This was later published in 1925.
Hitler wanted a compensation for the ill-treatment done to Germany at the Treaty of Versailles;
thus Germany was added to the League of Nations in 1926.
[2] Present day Russian Federation [3] This happened later in 1922. [4] Refer to the following website for more information
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58410/Beer-Hall-Putsch>
7
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
1929-30
In the global scenario, the year 1929 was referred to as the year of “Great Depression”. The
United States’ stock market majorly crashed, leaving the world economy shaken and causing
economic stalemate. The effect on Germany was devastating more than ever [5].
Later in 1930s, the Nazi Party became the second largest party in Germany and was famous
for the leadership of Hitler. Hitler began using propaganda as a means to spread the motives of
the party throughout Germany.
1933
On January 30, 1933 Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany immediately turning his
attention towards three foreign policies, which he thought would help him restore national
prestige. His policies included:
1) Lifting the military restrictions on Germany, as posed by the Treaty of Versailles.
2) Restoring Germany to its rightful place in Europe and the annexation of German speaking
Austrian land and Czechoslovakian Sudetenland.
3) Expansion of German boundaries towards Poland and Soviet Russia.
By this time France and Britain both had lost their military means, economic standards and
morale to fight Hitler’s regime. The turning point in the fate of Germany came with the burning
down of Reichstag (the German parliament). The Nazi’s used this fire as a pretext to suspend
the civil liberties of people and mould the election campaign according to their own interests.
All this was followed by Germany’s exit from the League of Nations.
[5] For detailed and further reading look up:
<http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/the-great-depression/>
8
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
1935 onwards
Hitler, before coming into power, was bent upon destroying the Treaty of Versailles, seeking
revenge and conquering back the lost German lands. He constantly violated the Treaty of
Versailles on a number of occasions.
1. Remilitarization of Rhine in 1936: In 1936, Britain and France were both
economically weak and felt that any action against German forces would require
prodigious amount of funds. Thus, they didn’t prevent remilitarisation of the
region. Though, Hitler was anxious about the outcome, the inaction of the Allies
empowered him to think of further European conquests.
2. Anschluss with Austria in 1937: Anschluss in German means political annexation,
which was Germany’s biggest motive of annexing Austria and adding it to the Nazi
empire. Austria was annexed into the German Third Reich on 12th March, 1938.
On a rampage to acquire the German land and slaughter the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler reached
Sudetenland. Sudetenland was a German dominated part of Czechoslovakia. Hitler had been
trying to annex Sudetenland in order to:
1. Acquire Lebensraum (living space)
2. Reunite the Germans
Hitler claimed that the Sudeten Germans were being deprived of their rights and mistreated.
This led to riots and curfews demanding the annexation of Sudetenland. The President of
Czechoslovakia, Edward Benes, was highly reluctant to give in to the German demands of
unifying Germany with Sudetenland. In response, Hitler sent German troops to the border,
compelling the Czechs to dispatch an attack on the troops, thus exacerbating the situation.
However, looking at Hitler’s demands, Neville Chamberlain (Prime Minister of Britain) and
Edouard Daladier (Prime Minister of France) began negotiating with Hitler to avert a war,
which none of the nations were prepared for. This resulted in Munich Conference, where
Britain, France, Germany and Italy were the only parties present. Benes (The president of
Czechoslovakia) had resigned before the conference took place. The outcome of this
conference was that Sudetenland was given to Hitler on a condition that he will make no further
territorial demands in Europe. This policy of conceding to the demands of the other party
(Hitler) was termed as “appeasement”. Appeasement was a diplomatic policy of political
9
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
concession where British Prime Minister agreed to Hitler’s demands in order to avert a war.
The Allies were proud to have averted a war and ensured European pacifism. Little, do they
know that the Axis powers are bent upon achieving absolute authority over Europe.
This committee allows each country to share their current sentiments on these recent events
(through delegate representatives) and try to come to consensus on decisions that will shape
the future of Europe.
Character Descriptions
Heinrich Himmler
Joseph Goebbels
Heinrich Himmler was Reichsführer of the
Schutzstaffel (SS), a military commander, and a
leading member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP)
of Nazi Germany.
Joseph Goebbels was born in 1897. Goebbels
was Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda and one of
the most important and influential people
in Nazi Germany. He had not served in the
German Army during the Great War, as he was
disabled by a clubbed foot, which hindered his
ability to walk. Goebbels was given the task of
building up Nazi support in Berlin.
10
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Joachim Von Ribbentrop
Rudolf Hess
Alfred Jodl
Joachim von Ribbentrop was a German
diplomat and foreign minister under the Nazi
regime. Ribbentrop met Adolf Hitler in 1932
and joined the National Socialist Party the
same year, becoming the Führer’s chief
adviser on foreign affairs after the Nazi
accession to power. Ribbentrop maintained
himself only through Hitler’s backing.
After hearing Adolf Hitler speak in a small
Munich beer hall, Hess joined the Nazi Party
on July 1st, 1920. Hess was arrested and
imprisoned along with Hitler at Landsberg
prison. While in prison, Hess took dictation for
Hitler's book, Mein Kampf. On April 21st,
1933, he was made Deputy Führer, a
figurehead position with mostly ceremonial
duties.
Alfred Jodl, German General, was head of the
armed forces and operations staff. Served as
Head of the Department of National Defence
in the war ministry from 1935. He became a
key figure in Hitler’s central
military command and was involved in
implementing all of Germany’s campaigns.
11
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Martin Bormann
Benito Mussolini
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Martin Bormann was a powerful party leader
in Nazi Germany, one of Adolf Hitler’s closest
Lieutenants. In 1933, he became Chief of Staff
to the deputy Führer, Rudolf Hess. He
controlled all acts of legislation and all party
promotions and appointments, and he had a
broad influence on domestic policy questions
concerning internal security.
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini rose to power in the
wake of the Great War as a leading proponent of Fascism.
He condemned the Great War as workers being forced to
fight other workers while the factory bosses got richer at
their expense. A mortar bomb wounded him in February
1917 and this put an end to his military service. Mussolini
allied himself with Hitler, relying on the German dictator
to prop up his leadership.
When an anarchist assassinated his father (in July
1900 in Monza), Victor Emmanuel succeeded his
father. When Italy emerged from the Great War
impoverished and torn, Victor Emmanuel III came
to be a tool used in forestalling the rise of
Bolshevism.
12
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Ugo Cavallero
Italo Gariboldi
He was an Italian military commander. He was also a
recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by
the Third Reich to recognize extreme battlefield bravery
or successful military leadership .Cavallero re-joined the
army for the third and final time in 1937.
Italo Gariboldi was a senior officer in the
Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito). He was
awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by
German Führer Adolf Hitler, for his leadership of
Italian forces in the Battle of Stalingrad
13
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Galeazzo Ciano
Hirohito
Mitsumasa Yonai
A Great War hero in the Royal Italian Navy, founding
member of the National Fascist Party and re-organizer of
the Italian Merchant Marine in the 1920s. On April 24th,
1930, he married Benito Mussolini's daughter Edda
Mussolini, with whom he soon left for Shanghai, where he
served as Italian Consul. Back in Italy, a few years later
(in 1936), he became the Minister of Press
and Propaganda.
Hirohito (1901-1989) was the Emperor of Japan since
1926. He took over at a time of rising democratic
sentiment. Japan attacked nearly all of its Asian
neighbours and allied itself with Nazi Germany.
Hirohito later portrayed himself as a virtually powerless
constitutional monarch.
He was an Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy,
and politician. As, Navy Minister, Yonai was alarmed
by the growing tension between Japan and Great
Britain and the United States, at a time when the bulk
of the Imperial Japanese Army was tied down in an
apparently unending quagmire in China.
14
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Sadao Araki
Miklós Horthy
Araki Sadao, was a Japanese general, statesman, and a
leader of the Kōdō-ha (Imperial Way) faction, an ultra-
nationalistic group of the 1930s.He was promoted
to Lieutenant general in 1927. He was the choice of
zealous young officers to head a new cabinet. In 1938,
the Prime Minister, Konoe Fumimaro, appointed Araki
Minister of Education in an effort to balance the
growing domination by the Tōseiha.
With the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Horthy returned to Hungary, where he
successfully led an uprising against the Communist
government of Bela Kun. His forces entered Budapest
in November 1919.
Adolf Hitler hosted Hungarian Regent Miklós Horthy
at Kiel, Germany in an attempt to recruit him to assist
in the aggression against Czechoslovakia; Hitler
offered him Czechoslovakian territory for his help.
15
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Döme Sztójay
Iván Hindy
Boris-III (The Tsar)
After the war, Sztójay served in Admiral Miklós
Horthy’s counter-revolutionary army, specializing in counter-
espionage. After Horthy became Regent of Hungary, Sztójay
was promoted to General and served as a military
attaché in Berlin from 1925 to 1933. From 1933 to 1935,
Sztójay served in the Ministry of Defence. In 1935, Prime
Minister Gyula Gömbös named Sztójay as
Hungarian Ambassador to Germany. Sztójay formed strong
ties with the Third Reich and often voiced support for German
policies to his superiors in Hungary.
In the era of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, he was
sent into temporary retirement. After its collapse in
February 1920 and the restoration of the Kingdom of
Hungary, he was ordered back by March 1st, as the new
army leadership to active duty and was in 1929,
a Major . In 1934, he was promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel.
He was the King of Bulgaria from 1918, who, during the
last five years of his reign, headed a thinly veiled
royal dictatorship. Boris’s marriage to Princess Giovanna
of Italy (1930) temporarily cemented Bulgarian-Italian
relations, but during the late 1930s he passed more into the
German orbit and sought rapprochement with Yugoslavia.
16
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Risto Ryti
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Closing Remarks: Hitler once said, “Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage
war is senseless and useless”. It is time that we come together and make the most of this
opportunity and ensure the victory of this Cabinet.
Heil Hitler!
Heil, mein Führer!
Sieg heil!
In the politics of the 1930s, Ryti was an important
background figure. His social policy was two-minded.
Ryti opposed work programmes for
the unemployed and spending on assistance for poor.
Ryti participated in the activities of the League of
Nations as a member of many committees dealing with
economic questions and monetary policy.
Finnish military leader and conservative Statesman, who
served as country’s conservative aristocrat and monarchist,
Mannerheim assumed command of the “White” (anti-
Bolshevik) forces, in January 1918. Hoping to win back some
territory regarded by some as historically Finnish, Finland
successfully joined Nazi Germany.
17
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Suggested References
<http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/nazi-germany>
<http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/the-great-depression/>
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58410/Beer-Hall-Putsch>
Refer to World War II by H. P.Willmott and Robin Cross (Willmott, H. P., Robin Cross, and
Charles Messenger. World War II. 2nd ed. New York: © DK Pub., 2009. Print.)
Refer to Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe (Lowe, Norman. Mastering
Modern World History. Third ed. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1997. Print.)
18
© AKAHMUN | Axis Background Guide
Bibliography
*Willmott, H. P., Robin Cross, and Charles Messenger. World War II. 2nd ed. New York: ©
DK Pub., 2009. Print.
*Lowe, Norman. Mastering Modern World History. Third ed. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1997.
Print.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58410/Beer-Hall-
Putsch><http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/the-great-
depression/><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Himmler#CITEREFManvellFraenkel20
07><http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/joseph_goebbels.htm><http://www.britannica.com
/EBchecked/topic/502062/Joachim-von-
Ribbentrop><http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/biographies/apr-hess-
cal.htm><http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/304372/Alfred-Jodl>
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362528/Carl-Gustaf-Mannerheim>
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/74204/Boris-III>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risto_Ryti>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9za_Lakatos>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iv%C3%A1n_Hindy>
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/31978/Araki-Sadao>
<http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/horthy.htm> <http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/hirohito>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsumasa_Yonai> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Gariboldi>
<http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Galeazzo_Ciano.html>
<http://modern_italy.enacademic.com/443/Victor_Emmanuel_III>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugo_Cavallero>
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/74248/Martin-Bormann>
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/benito-mussolini>
*Image Courtesy: ©Google Images.