Chamberlain bought into the minimalist view of Hitler’s foreign policy aims rather than the maximalist

Question 1

When did chamberlain, assume office, what was he previously?

Answer 1

1937 He has previously been Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Question 2

AJP Taylor wrote what Of the events of the first and second World War?

Answer 2

“It is important to remember that events now long in the past were once in the future.”

Question 3

What was the context of chamberlain’s descision to work for peace?

Answer 3

In the context, his decision to work for peace was understandable and often supported by popular support.

Question 4

What is the Context of appeasement?

Answer 4

the impact of WWI, the Great Depression, the destruction of the League and the fear of the Soviet Union.
- Great Depression 1929-39
- Countries economically poor
- Very high unemployment
- Isolationist foreign policies
- Rise of authoritarian states
- Fear of communism
- DISARMAMENT
- Failure of the LoN - collective security
- Spanish Civil War - 1936-39

Question 5

What was Chamberlain’s aim?

Answer 5

Chamberlain aimed to end the haphazard nature of British foreign policy and develop a better relationship with the dictators

Question 6

Quote from neville chamberlain on Dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini?

Answer 6

‘The dictators are often regarded as though they were entirely inhuman. I believe this idea to be quite erroneous…it is the side on which they can be approached with the greatest hope of successful issue.’ 1938

Question 7

What did Chamberlain believed colonial restitution could do?

Answer 7

coax Germany into a settlement

Question 8

What is the Orthodox arguement?

Answer 8

Appeasement a cowardly policy doomed to fail

Question 9

What did Churchill say of Chamberlain’s decision to appease in 1938

Answer 9

“You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war.”

Question 10

Churchill quote on an appeaser?

Answer 10

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” –

Question 11

Pamphlet ‘Guilty Men’ by Michael Foot et al. 1940 accused Chamberlain of what

Answer 11

pursing a disastrous policy which left Britain ill-prepared to face the dictators.

Question 12

RAC parker suggests what after Anschluss in 1938

Answer 12

Britain could have found enough domestic support for an alliance France and a policy of encircling Germany.

Question 13

What is the Revisionist Perspective?

Answer 13

AJP Taylor- Consequently, appeasement was the logical and only response, given diminished resources and worldwide imperial obligations, in the realpolitik tradition; that is to say, appeasement work. AJP Taylor argues that Hitler didn’t have a clear plan for foreign policy, he was improvising so how could Chamberlain have predicted what would happen?

Question 14

A.J.P Taylor quote on war?

Answer 14

A.J.P Taylor ‘No war is inevitable until it breaks out.’

Question 15

What is the minimalist view of Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 15

The minimalist view held that Hitler’s territorial ambitions were limited and focused on revising the Treaty of Versailles, specifically to reclaim German-speaking lands and restore Germany’s status without pursuing large-scale European domination.

Question 16

What is the maximalist view of Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 16

The maximalist view suggested that Hitler sought aggressive, expansive goals, including the domination of all of Europe and the destruction of the existing international order.

Question 17

Why did Chamberlain favor the minimalist interpretation of Hitler’s aims?

Answer 17

Chamberlain believed that Hitler’s goals were limited to rectifying injustices from the Treaty of Versailles, and that satisfying these demands could prevent a broader war.

Question 18

How did the Treaty of Versailles influence Chamberlain’s view of Hitler’s ambitions?

Answer 18

Chamberlain viewed the Treaty of Versailles as overly harsh on Germany, and believed that Hitler’s grievances were reasonable efforts to restore Germany’s rightful position, aligning with the minimalist view.

Question 19

How did Chamberlain’s fear of war shape his perception of Hitler’s ambitions?

Answer 19

Chamberlain, haunted by memories of World War I, was eager to avoid another war. The minimalist view was more appealing as it suggested that diplomacy and concessions could secure peace.

Question 20

What was Chamberlain’s view on Hitler’s foreign policy aims, and how did it contrast with the maximalist perspective?

Answer 20

Chamberlain subscribed to a minimalist view of Hitler’s foreign policy aims, believing that Hitler sought only limited territorial expansion and that reasonable negotiation could prevent conflict. In contrast, the maximalist perspective suggested that Hitler had broader, more aggressive ambitions that would ultimately lead to war.

Question 21

What statement did Hitler sign following the Munich Conference, and how did his subsequent actions contradict this agreement?

Answer 21

Following the Munich Conference, Hitler signed a statement agreeing to settle all international matters through consultation, suggesting a commitment to diplomacy. However, his actions soon after revealed his intent to attack Czechoslovakia, demonstrating his disregard for the agreement.

Question 22

How did Hitler view the Munich Agreement in relation to his broader plans for Czechoslovakia?

Answer 22

Hitler regarded the Munich Agreement not as a diplomatic resolution, but as a tactical maneuver to facilitate the dismantling of Czechoslovakia. He viewed it as a stepping stone towards further territorial expansion in Central Europe.

Question 23

What significant actions did Hitler take on 21 October, and how did they relate to the outcomes of the Munich Conference?

Answer 23

On 21 October, 1938, Hitler ordered the “liquidation of the remainder of the Czech state,” marking a decisive shift towards military aggression despite the Munich Agreement. This action underscored his determination to dismantle Czechoslovakia regardless of prior diplomatic commitments.

Question 24

How can the Munich Agreement be interpreted as a failure for Chamberlain’s foreign policy approach?

Answer 24

The Munich Agreement can be interpreted as a failure of Chamberlain’s foreign policy, as it ultimately emboldened Hitler rather than containing him. Instead of achieving peace, it led to significant losses for Czechoslovakia and set the stage for further aggression in Europe.

Question 25

What role did Chamberlain’s belief in appeasement play in his interpretation of Hitler’s goals?

Answer 25

Chamberlain believed in appeasement—offering reasonable concessions to satisfy grievances—because he thought Hitler would be content with modest territorial gains, supporting the minimalist interpretation.

Question 26

Why? is appeasement remembered so poorly?

Answer 26

When Churchill was defeated in 1945 he spent the first few years writing his war memoirs

• The politicians who were against Appeasement - Eden + Macmillan- became the political establishment
• Original perspective - “Never was a war in history easier to prevent by timely action.” -Churchill

Question 27

REASONS FOR APPEASEMENT if writing
ESSAY

Answer 27

• Great Depression
• Pacificism - popular sentiment
• Failure of League
  
  • Collective security
  • Disarmament
• Neville Chamberlain - “minimalist” view of Hitler’s foreign policy vs maximalist
  
  • ‘A Grand Strategy’ - offering concessions to Germany would appease them
  • ## Had read Mein Keimpf but dismissed it

Question 28

How did Chamberlain view the rearmament of Germany under Hitler?

Answer 28

Chamberlain saw German rearmament as a defensive measure aimed at correcting the military imbalances imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, aligning with the minimalist perspective.

Question 29

What impact did Chamberlain’s interactions with Hitler have on his view of Nazi ambitions?

Answer 29

After meetings with Hitler, Chamberlain was convinced that Hitler’s demands for the Sudetenland and other territorial adjustments were legitimate, reinforcing his belief in the minimalist view.

Question 30

How did British public opinion influence Chamberlain’s minimalist stance on Hitler’s aims?

Answer 30

British public opinion was strongly against another war. This influenced Chamberlain to adopt a minimalist stance, which promised a peaceful resolution through negotiation rather than conflict.

Question 31

How did Chamberlain misinterpret Hitler’s long-term goals in relation to his immediate demands?

Answer 31

Chamberlain underestimated Hitler’s long-term ambitions for European domination, mistaking Hitler’s immediate demands for border adjustments as limited objectives, rather than a prelude to larger expansionism, as the maximalists feared.