What were the failures of peacemaking in the interwar period?

The failures of peacemaking in the interwar period were largely due to the punitive nature of the Treaty of Versailles and the lack of enforcement mechanisms.

The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, was seen by many, particularly in Germany, as overly punitive. The treaty imposed heavy reparations on Germany, which crippled its economy and led to widespread resentment. This resentment was a key factor in the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who promised to restore Germany's honour and reverse the terms of the treaty. The treaty also redrew the map of Europe, creating new states and altering borders, which led to ethnic tensions and territorial disputes that would later contribute to the outbreak of World War II.

Another major failure was the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. The League of Nations, established in the aftermath of World War I to maintain peace, was weak and ineffective. It lacked the power to enforce its decisions and was often ignored by the major powers. The United States, one of the world's most powerful nations, did not even join the League, further undermining its credibility. The League's inability to prevent the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 were clear indications of its impotence.

The policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France in the 1930s was another failure. In an effort to avoid another war, they allowed Hitler to annex Austria and the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. This policy only emboldened Hitler and convinced him that the Allies were weak and would not stand up to his aggression.

Finally, the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s also undermined peace efforts. The Great Depression led to economic hardship and political instability, making it more difficult to maintain peace. In many countries, this economic crisis led to the rise of extremist political movements that were hostile to the democratic, liberal order that the peacemakers had tried to establish.

In conclusion, the failures of peacemaking in the interwar period were due to a combination of punitive peace terms, weak enforcement mechanisms, misguided policies, and economic instability.