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Appeasement

Appeasement. Appeasement. The diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor Appease – to bring to a state of peace and quiet. Recap: Aggression in the 1930s. Japan conquers Manchuria and invades China in 1937 Italy invades Ethiopia and conquers it by 1936

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Appeasement

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  1. Appeasement

  2. Appeasement • The diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor • Appease – to bring to a state of peace and quiet

  3. Recap: Aggression in the 1930s • Japan conquers Manchuria and invades China in 1937 • Italy invades Ethiopia and conquers it by 1936 • Germany reoccupies the Rhineland in 1936 • Germany occupies Austria in 1938 • Germany demands the Sudetenland in 1938 • Munich Agreement signed in September 1938 • March 1939 Germany invades the rest of Czechoslovakia • The League of Nations, Britain and France do virtually NOTHING

  4. Neville Chamberlain • Prime Minister of Britain from 1937 to 1940 • Reputation as a tough politician • Little foreign policy experience prior to becoming Prime Minister • Best known for his appeasement policy http://www.history.co.uk/explore-history/ww2/appeasement.html

  5. Reasons for British Appeasement

  6. War-Weariness • It had been less than 20 years since the War to End All Wars • The British Public did not want another war • They had suffered great losses during World War I • Approximately 100,000 killed • Approximately 1.7 million injured • “peace at any price”

  7. War Readiness • Depression still taking its toll across the world • War is expensive • Britain could not afford to rearm • They needed more time • “We cannot foresee the time when our defence forces will be storng enough to safeguard our trade, territory and vital interests against Germany, Italy and Japan at the same time” • British Chiefs of Staff 1937

  8. Threat of Communism • “Our government is much more afraid of Communism than it is of Fascism” • British Journalist 1936 • Britain under Chamberlain saw Hitler and Mussolini not as dangerous fascists, but as strong patriotic leaders • These strong leaders were actually seen as a deterrent to the spread of Communism across Europe

  9. German Grievances • Many British politicians believed that Germany had genuine grievances with the Treaty of Versailles • The Rhineland was Germany’s “backyard” they should be able to have full control • They also agreed to the occupation of Austria and the Sudetenland • National self determination

  10. Trust in Hitler • Chamberlain believed that by appeasing Germany and Italy they would be content with the negotiated concessions • Hitler promised he would not invade the rest of Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain believed him • The Sudetenland is “the last claim I have to make” claimed Hitler • He lied • “I can well understand the reasons why the Czech Government have felt unable to accept the terms which have been put before them in the German memorandum. Yet I believe after my talks with Herr Hitler that, if only time were allowed, it ought to be possible for the arrangements for transferring the territory that the Czech Government had agreed to give Germany to be settled by agreement under conditions which would assure fair treatment to the population concerned”

  11. Neville Chamberlain, 1939 • “However much we may sympathize with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbor, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve the whole British Empire in war simply on her account. If we have to fight it must be on larger issues than that. I am myself a man of peace to the depths of my soul. Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me; but if I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate the world by fear of its force, I should feel that it must be resisted. Under such a domination life for people who believe in liberty would not be worth living; but war is a fearful thing, and we must be very clear, before we embark upon it, that it is really the great issues that are at stake, and that the call to risk everything in their defense, when all the consequences are weighed, is irresistible.”

  12. French Appeasement • War-weariness • Approximately 1.7 million killed, 4.3 million injured • Wanted peace just as much as Britain • France was struggling through the depression • 1934 a riot took place which led to the fall of the French government • Internal political strife led to strikes, and many changes in government

  13. Canadian Appeasement • Prime Minister King supported Chamberlain in his policy of appeasement • Believed that war could be avoided by giving into Hitler and Mussolini’s demands • Canadian did not want to relive the war either • When the Munich Agreement was signed in 1939 King send a message to Chamberlain thanking him on behalf of the Canadian people for his “unremitting efforts for peace”

  14. United States Isolationism • After World War I the U.S. favored a policy of isolationism, they did not want to be involved in European or Asian conflicts • U.S. did not enter the League of Nations • Refused to be entangled in wars that had nothing to do with them • As Japan, Italy and Germany began to take territory and commit acts of aggression the U.S. expressed concern but issued no formal statement

  15. United States Isolationism • American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt expressed his desire to become more involved in international affairs, hoping to curb aggressive behaviour • In 1937 Roosevelt compared international aggression to a disease that other nations must “quarantine” • But isolationist movements in the country were strong • Americans did not want to go to war • Even at the outbreak of war in 1939 some Americans supported limited aid to the Allies with no military involvement • Pearl Harbor in 1941 changed all of this

  16. What was appeasement all about? Two Camps • Appeasement was possible • By giving in to the demands of Hitler and Mussolini the world could avoid war • Appeasement worth trying but war was inevitable • The allies needed more time to prepare for war • Appeasement was a stall tactic

  17. Opponents of Appeasement • Winston Churchill • Critical of Germany and Hitler • Argues that faster British rearmament could have deterred Hitler and that a readiness to stand up to Hitler in certain situations was necessary • Churchill was one of only a few who spoke out against appeasement

  18. Why did appeasement fail? • Was a failure to understand extreme German nationalism and its potentially endless demands • Concessions only fueled Germany’s desire to expand • It was also wrongly assumed that Hitler was a reasonable man, that the world could do business with him • Failure to grasp the speed and dynamism of Hitler’s policies and actions

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