Germany wanted equal treatment over weapons; France feared becoming less safe. They did not agree on rules that satisfied both.
Disarmament means reducing armed forces and weapons, also called armaments. The World Disarmament Conference opened in 1932 to negotiate wider limits. Germany argued that Versailles had restricted its military more severely than those of other powers. It demanded equality: other countries should reduce their forces, or Germany should be allowed more.
France feared another German attack. If Germany rebuilt its forces while France cut its own, France could be more vulnerable. French leaders therefore wanted security guarantees: dependable promises of help if France was attacked, before accepting changes. Both sides could talk about security while wanting different things. They still needed to agree on actual limits, how to check compliance and what would happen if a country broke the rules.
The talks did not produce a workable general agreement. Hitler used the continuing equality dispute to leave the conference and announce Germany's withdrawal from the League in October 1933. He then pursued rearmament, building up Germany's armed forces. In 1935 he openly restored conscription, compulsory military service, in breach of Versailles. Failed negotiations weakened the hope of controlling arms through agreement and made it easier for military competition to grow.
Worked example: Why an agreement on equality was not enough
In December 1932, the powers recognised equality of rights within a system that would provide security. The practical arrangements remained unsettled.
- Germany wanted to end its unequal restrictions. France wanted to know what would protect it from a stronger German military.
- Saying both should have security did not fix the number of weapons allowed or decide how the rules would be enforced.
- Because these differences remained, Hitler could use the equality dispute as a reason to walk away. Shared words had not produced shared rules.
Watch out for this
Germany broke a new disarmament treaty that all the countries completed in 1932.
The conference did not reach a general settlement. The existing Versailles restrictions were a separate set of rules that Hitler later broke.
Check your understanding
Why did Germany's demand for equality create a problem for France?
- Equal treatment could allow a stronger German military, while France still lacked the protection it wanted.
- Equality meant Germany had already agreed to keep the Versailles limits permanently.
- Recognising equal rights settled how many weapons each country could keep.