Appeasement Flashcards
What did Chamberlain believe regarding appeasement and Hitler?
> that hitler would be satisfied having received the areas that he claimed were Germany’s and taken away by the treaty of Versailles.
> believed that hitler would abide by agreements, behave reasonably + settle future disputes around the conference table
> that hitler did not want a war.
What were the reasons for the support of appeasement?
> the country still had a sympathy for pacifism and was supported by Labour in parliament
> some politicians admired Hitler as he had cured unemployment and the depression in Germany
> In 1936 Lloyd George met Hitler and said he was a man to be trusted
> C agreed with this and thought that since the break up of the collective security of the LON. There was no alternative
> some conservatives thought that Hitler was a defence against the spread of communism
> Britain was still rearming and was not economically ready for war.
What were the consequences of the Munich agreement?
> Daladier and Chamberlain persuaded H to sign an agreement stating that he would only take the Sudetenland
> the 4 powers agreed to ensure the independence of the rest of Czechoslovakia
> h and c signed a declaration that they did not intend to go to war with each other
> chamberlain returned victorious and regarded as a national hero
> the Czechs felt betrayed.
What did the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact ensure?
That Russia and Germany would not go to war together, thus Hitler invaded Poland as he knew that RUssia would not come to its aid.
Why did Baldwin resign?
> after 2 years of hit let’s aggressive foreign policy, Baldwin considered abandoning pacifism in favour of rearmament.
- pacifism was still popular in Britain and Baldwin could not decide, so resigned.
- chamberlain became pm, believing he could keep the peace.
What are some argument for appeasement now?
> after horrors of WW1 most were pacifists
> TOV. Had been harsh on Germany
> hitler was a defence against communism
> Britain was still in the process of rearmament
> was not economically ready
- money would be better spent on hospitals etc.
> Britain wanted to protect the empire
What are some arguments against appeasement?
> encouraged hitler to be more aggressive
> every new conquest provided hitler with more resources for war
> was perverse and scared USSR into forming an agreement with Germany as they believed that Britain would not be a good ally
> Britain should not have trusted Hitler
-mein Kampf
