Yugoslavia Kingdom year 1937 Small Entente foundation MNH

Yugoslavia Kingdom year 1937 Small Entente foundation MNH

The Small Entente was a political alliance formed in 1920 between Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia, with the aim of mutual defense against potential threats from revisionist powers in the aftermath of World War I. The alliance was established to counterbalance the influence of Hungary and its irredentist claims, as well as to promote stability and security in Central and Eastern Europe.

While the Small Entente was officially founded in 1920, its origins can be traced back to bilateral agreements between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia in 1920, followed by the inclusion of Romania in 1921. The alliance was motivated by shared concerns over territorial disputes and the desire to maintain the territorial integrity and independence of its member states.

The Small Entente faced various challenges during its existence, including tensions with Hungary, which felt aggrieved by the treaties that had led to the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hungary sought to revise the post-World War I borders and regain territories that had been ceded to Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia.

The alliance was also tested by internal disputes and conflicting interests among its member states. However, despite these challenges, the Small Entente succeeded in maintaining a degree of stability in the region and preventing Hungarian revisionism during the interwar period.

The effectiveness of the Small Entente waned in the 1930s due to changing geopolitical dynamics, the rise of Nazi Germany, and the appeasement policies pursued by Western powers. Ultimately, the alliance dissolved in 1938 with the signing of the Munich Agreement, which led to the disintegration of Czechoslovakia and the annexation of parts of its territory by Nazi Germany. Romania and Yugoslavia subsequently pursued their own foreign policies, and the Small Entente ceased to exist as a formal alliance.