Germany wanted equal treatment on weapons, France wanted to feel safe first, and they never agreed on rules that satisfied both.
Disarmament means reducing armed forces and weapons, also called armaments. The World Disarmament Conference opened in 1932 to agree wider limits. Germany argued that the Treaty of Versailles limited its military far more than other countries'. It demanded equality: either other countries should cut their forces, or Germany should be allowed more.
France feared another German attack. If Germany rebuilt its forces while France cut its own, France would be more at risk. So French leaders wanted security guarantees, reliable promises of help if France was attacked, before agreeing to any change.
Both sides talked about security, but wanted different things. To reach a deal, they still had to agree actual limits, how to check countries kept them, and what would happen if a country broke the rules.
No workable agreement was reached. In October 1933, Hitler used the equality dispute as his reason to walk out of the conference and announce that Germany was leaving the League of Nations. He then pursued rearmament, building up Germany's armed forces. In 1935, he openly brought back conscription, compulsory military service, breaking Versailles. The failed talks ended hopes of controlling weapons by agreement and made an arms race easier.
- 1932
- World Disarmament Conference opens.
- October 1933
- Germany leaves the conference and the League.
- 1935
- Hitler brings back conscription, breaking Versailles.
Worked example: Agreeing on words, not rules
In December 1932, the powers agreed Germany should have equal rights within a secure system. The details were never settled.
- Germany wanted its unequal limits removed.
- France wanted to know what would protect it.
- Shared words did not fix actual limits, so Hitler could walk away.
Watch out for this
Germany broke a disarmament treaty that all countries signed in 1932.
No general disarmament treaty was agreed. The talks failed, and Germany left in 1933.
Check your understanding
Why did France resist giving Germany equal weapons?
- It wanted to invade Germany.
- It had already disarmed completely.
- It feared a stronger Germany would attack it again.