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Conflict and Tension 1918-1939Key Facts

Key Failures — 1920s

Part of League Failures · GCSE GCSE History revision

This key facts covers Key Failures — 1920s within League Failures for GCSE History. Revise League Failures in Conflict and Tension 1918-1939 for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 2 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 2 of 13

Practice

8 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

📊 Key Failures — 1920s

CrisisDateWhat HappenedWhy It Failed
Vilna 1920 Poland seized Vilna (capital of Lithuania). League told Poland to withdraw. Poland refused. League couldn't force them — no army. France supported Poland as an ally against Russia.
Corfu 1923 Italian officials killed on Greek border. Mussolini bombarded and occupied Corfu. League condemned Italy. Mussolini refused to accept ruling. Conference of Ambassadors overruled the League — Greece had to apologise AND pay Italy 50 million lire! Major power gets its way.
Disarmament 1932–33 World Disarmament Conference tried to get countries to reduce weapons. Complete failure. Germany wanted equality with France. France refused to disarm. Hitler used the deadlock as an excuse to begin German rearmament and walked out in 1933.

The Corfu Crisis — A Blueprint for Disaster (1923)

This showed dictators exactly how to defy the League and get away with it:

  • August 1923: Italian officials mapping the Greek-Albanian border were killed — probably by Greek bandits, possibly by Greeks.
  • Mussolini's response: Demanded massive compensation AND the execution of the killers — without waiting for evidence. When Greece refused, Italy bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu.
  • League response: Condemned Italy, told them to withdraw from Corfu and submit to arbitration.
  • Mussolini: Refused to accept the League ruling. Appealed directly to the Conference of Ambassadors (Britain and France).
  • Result: The Conference of Ambassadors overruled the League's own decision. GREECE — the victim — had to apologise and pay Italy 50 million lire in compensation. Italy kept Corfu until it chose to leave.

    • Lesson learned by dictators: If you are a major power, you can ignore the League. Britain and France will back down rather than confront you. This lesson was absorbed by both Mussolini and Hitler.

    Keep building this topic

    Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in League Failures. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

    The Day the League Backed DownWhy Disarmament FailedWhy Did the League Fail at Collective Security? — Connected Causation⭐ Why Does This Matter?

    Practice Questions for League Failures

    What happened at Corfu in 1923?

    • A. Greece invaded the Italian island of Corfu
    • B. Mussolini bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu after Italian officials were killed
    • C. The League of Nations sent troops to Corfu to restore order
    • D. Poland seized Corfu against the wishes of the League
    1 markfoundation

    In the Vilna crisis of 1920, which country seized Vilna against the League's wishes?

    • A. Russia
    • B. Lithuania
    • C. France
    • D. Poland
    1 markfoundation

    Quick Recall Flashcards

    Corfu crisis?
    1923 — Italy invaded Greek island. League overruled. Greece had to pay Italy!
    Vilna crisis?
    1920 — Poland seized Lithuanian capital. League powerless. France backed Poland.

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    Why Disarmament Failed