OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
The changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation…
Full specification wording
International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: Tension in Europe in the 1930s, including the failure of the League of Nations, the policy of Appeasement and outbreak of war in 1939.
This topic covers three connected strands of 1930s tension.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic covers three connected strands of 1930s tension. First, the failure of the League of Nations: it lacked its own army, the USA never joined, and it could not stop aggression such as Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 or Italy's invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. Second, the policy of Appeasement, pursued especially by Britain under Neville Chamberlain, which conceded to Hitler's demands, for example at the Munich Agreement of 1938, in the hope of avoiding war. Third, the outbreak of war in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland in September and Britain and France declared war. Learn how these strands interlock: League weakness encouraged aggression, appeasement failed to satisfy Hitler, and war followed. Keep every example inside the 1930s.
What earns the marks
- Explains that the League of Nations failed because it lacked enforcement power, the USA never joined and it could not stop aggression such as in Manchuria and Abyssinia.
- Describes the policy of Appeasement as conceding to Hitler's demands, for example at the Munich Agreement of 1938, to avoid war.
- Explains that appeasement failed because Hitler's demands continued beyond each concession.
- Connects the invasion of Poland in September 1939 to Britain and France declaring war, marking the outbreak of war.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assumes the League of Nations had its own army.
Put it right: Explain instead that it relied on member states and could not enforce decisions.
Treats appeasement as a single event.
Put it right: Describe instead a continuing policy with several concessions across the 1930s.
Dates the outbreak of war to the wrong year.
Put it right: Place the invasion of Poland and the declarations of war in 1939.
Exam tips
- Identify which of the three strands the question targets before reading the options.
- Reject options that confuse the League's weaknesses with the causes of appeasement.
- Check dates against the 1930s window to eliminate out-of-period options.
Try the lesson
The start of the International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: Tension in Europe in the 1930s, including the failure of the League of Nations, the policy of Appeasement and outbreak of war in 1939. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which event directly triggered Britain and France declaring war on Germany in September 1939?
Listen
This topic covers three connected strands of 1930s tension. First, the failure of the League of Nations: it lacked its own army, the USA never joined, and it could not stop aggression such as Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 or Italy's invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. Second, the policy of Appeasement, pursued especially by Britain under Neville Chamberlain, which conceded to Hitler's demands, for example at the Munich Agreement of 1938, in the hope of avoiding war. Third, the outbreak of war in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland in September and Britain and France declared war. Learn how these strands interlock: League weakness encouraged aggression, appeasement failed to satisfy Hitler, and war followed. Keep every example inside the 1930s. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that the League of Nations failed because it lacked enforcement power, the USA never joined and it could not stop aggression such as in Manchuria and Abyssinia. Describes the policy of Appeasement as conceding to Hitler's demands, for example at the Munich Agreement of 1938, to avoid war. Explains that appeasement failed because Hitler's demands continued beyond each concession. Connects the invasion of Poland in September 1939 to Britain and France declaring war, marking the outbreak of war. Exam tip: Identify which of the three strands the question targets before reading the options.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Germany invades Poland and Britain and France declare war
- 2. Japan invades Manchuria
- 3. Munich Agreement concedes to Hitler's demands
- 4. Italy invades Abyssinia
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Failure of the League of Nations
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The policy of Appeasement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The outbreak of war in 1939
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Failure of the League of Nations
- It lacked its own army, the USA never joined, and it could not stop aggression such as Japan's invasion of Manchuria or Italy's invasion of Abyssinia.
- The policy of Appeasement
- Pursued especially by Britain under Neville Chamberlain, it conceded to Hitler's demands, for example at the Munich Agreement, in the hope of avoiding war.
- The outbreak of war in 1939
- Germany invaded Poland in September and Britain and France declared war.
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