3.1.4 Arguments for Appeasement

Question 1

Appeasement in Hitler’s rearmament

Answer 1

Hitler made it clear that he wanted to re-arm Germany and had been visibly building up his armed forces (which was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles) and the Allies feared this. They thought if they made a deal with Hitler he would stick to it and only increase the amount of ships he agreed to in the terms of appeasement

Question 2

Why did people allow Hitler to rearm? (2)

Answer 2

• They thought if they made a deal with Hitler he would stick to it and only increase the amount of ships he agreed to in the terms of appeasement
• No other countries were wiling to disarm their countries so insisting that Hitler should disarm Germany seemed futile

Question 3

How many people died in World War One and how did this make them more keen to the idea of Appeasement?

Answer 3

17 million people (approx.) were killed in World War One and many more were left with life altering injuries. This was still so fresh in people’s mind and many people would do anything they could to avoid there being a second war

Question 4

What was the 1934 ‘Peace Ballot’?

Answer 4

In 1934, a ‘Peace Ballot’ was conducted. The people that voted in this said that they had complete faith in the League of Nations to stop any future war from happening

Question 5

How did lack of money make countries more keen to the idea of Appeasement?

Answer 5

Britain and France didn’t have the money to build up strong armed forces after the First World War. If they had to then fight Hitler because they were not appeasing him - this would be too costly.

Question 6

How did Communism make people more keen to the idea of Appeasement?

Answer 6

The USSR (formerly Russia) was a strong Communist country which filled the allies with dread; they didn’t want it spreading to the West. Therefore, if they allowed Hitler to remain as a strong Nazi (Fascist) Germany (which was directly opposed to the Communist ideology) then it would act as a protective buffer zone to the USSR

Question 7

How many people were killed in World War One? (approx.)

Answer 7

17 million people

Question 8

What were the arguments for Appeasement? (6)

Answer 8

• Versailles had been too harsh on Germany
• War costs lives, so it should be avoided. 17 mill people were killed in WW1 and people remembered the horrors of this
• Hitler said he was a man of peace. Many European leaders in hindsight underestimated Hitler. At the time, they felt that if he rectified the ‘harsh’ terms of the Treaty and got some of what he wanted, he would then back down and cause no further issues in Europe
• Hitler’s actions gave people what they wanted e.g. Anschluss and Volksdeutsche
• War was too expensive during the Great Depression; Britain and France didn’t have the money to build up strong armed forces after the First World War. If they had to then fight Hitler because they were not appeasing him - this would be too costly. British rearmament did not start until 1936 - Britain was not ready for war
• The USSR (formerly Russia) was a strong Communist country which filled the allies with dread; they didn’t want it spreading to the West. Therefore, if they allowed Hitler to remain as a strong Nazi (Fascist) Germany (which was directly opposed to the Communist ideology) then it would act as a protective buffer zone to the USSR