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Conflict and Tension 1918-1939Key Facts

Territorial Disputes — Successes

Part of League Successes · GCSE GCSE History revision

This key facts covers Territorial Disputes — Successes within League Successes for GCSE History. Revise League Successes in Conflict and Tension 1918-1939 for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 3 of 14 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 3 of 14

Practice

8 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

📊 Territorial Disputes — Successes

DisputeDateWhat HappenedWhy It Worked
Aaland Islands 1921 Sweden and Finland both claimed these islands. League decided they should belong to Finland. Both accepted the decision. Small countries, no major power interests at stake.
Upper Silesia 1921 Germany and Poland disputed this industrial region. League held a plebiscite (direct public vote on which country to join), then divided it. Both accepted. Economic links maintained between the two parts of the region.
Bulgaria 1925 Greece invaded Bulgaria after a border incident. League ordered Greece to withdraw and pay compensation. Greece obeyed. Shows the League could stand up to a member state — when it was a smaller power.
Mosul 1926 Turkey and Iraq disputed the Mosul region. League ruled in Iraq's favour (under British mandate). Turkey accepted the ruling. Another small-scale territorial success.

Humanitarian Successes — Often Overlooked!

The League did valuable work beyond settling disputes — these are tested in "describe two features" questions:

  • Refugees: Helped 400,000 prisoners of war return home after WW1. Created the "Nansen passport" — the first internationally recognised identity document for stateless people.
  • Health Organisation: Fought diseases like malaria, leprosy, and typhus. Launched global health campaigns; became the model for the World Health Organisation (WHO) after 1945.
  • Working conditions: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) improved workers' rights — banned lead in paint, campaigned for maximum working hours, improved conditions in industries.
  • Slavery: Freed approximately 200,000 enslaved people in Sierra Leone. Attacked forced labour practices in Burma and other colonies.
  • Drugs: Blacklisted companies involved in illegal drug trade. Created an early international framework for drug control.
  • Women and children: Worked to end child labour and improve conditions for women in the workplace across League member states.

    • Exam tip: Don't just focus on failures! These successes show the League COULD work — it just failed when major powers with vital interests were involved.

    Keep building this topic

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

    League Timeline: Successes and FailuresWhy These Worked — The Pattern to NoticeThe Day the League Actually WorkedWhy Did the League Succeed in the 1920s? — Connected Causation

    Practice Questions for League Successes

    In 1921, who did the League of Nations decide should control the Aaland Islands?

    • A. Sweden
    • B. Finland
    • C. Norway
    • D. Denmark
    1 markfoundation

    How did the League of Nations resolve the Upper Silesia dispute between Germany and Poland in 1921?

    • A. It awarded all of Upper Silesia to Poland
    • B. It awarded all of Upper Silesia to Germany
    • C. It held a plebiscite and divided the region between both countries
    • D. It imposed military occupation until both sides agreed
    1 markfoundation

    Quick Recall Flashcards

    Upper Silesia?
    1921 — Germany vs Poland. Plebiscite then division. Both accepted.
    Bulgaria 1925?
    Greece invaded, League made them withdraw and pay compensation.

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    League Timeline: Successes and Failures

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    Why These Worked — The Pattern to Notice