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Difficulty: HardCauses of World War II

Source: French Government memorandum to the League of Nations, March 8, 1936

'The German Government has cast aside the obligations of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Locarno by sending military forces into the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland. This action is not merely a violation of bilateral agreements, but a direct challenge to the system of collective security established in Europe after the Great War. If such unilateral repudiations of treaties are permitted to stand without collective action by the League of Nations, the very foundation of international law will be destroyed, and Europe will once again slide toward general conflict.'

The French government's response to the remilitarization of the Rhineland, as expressed in the memorandum, most directly highlights which of the following causes of the Second World War?

  1. A
    The escalation of regional conflicts triggered by the assassination of political leaders in disputed border territories
  2. B
    The establishment of direct colonial administration by the League of Nations over industrial border regions under the mandate system
  3. The collapse of the post-First World War treaty system and the failure of collective security institutions to deter aggressionAnswer
  4. D
    The growth of economic imperialism as industrialized nations sought direct territorial control over raw materials in Eastern Europe

Answer

The collapse of the post-First World War treaty system and the failure of collective security institutions to deter aggression
The correct answer is correct because the German remilitarization of the Rhineland directly violated both the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. The inability of the French government and the League of Nations to coordinate a military or diplomatic response demonstrated the systemic weakness of post-First World War collective security structures, encouraging further aggression that led to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of the stimulus document
The French government memorandum from March 1936 is protesting Germany's remilitarization of the Rhineland, which violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact.
Understanding the specific event mentioned in the source establishes the historical timeline and the treaties involved.
2
Identify the primary argument made in the text
The French government warns that failing to enforce treaty obligations collectively through the League of Nations will undermine international law and lead to general conflict.
This links the specific German expansionist action directly to the systemic failure of the interwar peace structure.
3
Evaluate the options against the primary argument and historical causes of World War II
The option focusing on the failure of collective security and treaty structures correctly synthesizes the French warning with the historical reality that unchecked German expansionism led to World War II.
This selects the historically accurate and textually supported option while discarding distractors that represent other eras or concepts.

Key Concept

Causes of World War II
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Causes of World War II

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