Churchill and Rearmament / Appeasement Flashcards
Why did Churchill object to Nazi Germany?
- Churchill saw the new regime in Germany was brutal. He disliked the racism and the violence it displayed, for example, murdering opponents.
- Feared repeat of the situation prior to 1914 when Germany had been a threat to the peace of Europe and had challenged Britain by building a new naval fleet. Talks about these fears in “The World Crisis” a book on WW1
- Churchill had been a member of the government which had agreed the Treaty of Versailles which Hitler planned on breaking.
How did Churchill spread his viewpoint?
- Benchback MP
- Journalism –> need to rearm
–> He quotes a speech he made in 1934 in his book on WW2 “The Gathering Storm” 1948
Problems with his encouragement to rearm?
- He was responsible for the disarming in 1920s and for maintaining the 10 Year Rule (defence planning should not consider a war for another 10 years –> 1919 - 1932 lasted)
- Second financial struggle and cuts had already been made. The poor were suffering.
- It was viewed as reasonable that Hitler should build up defences, as France had very large forces and there was a threat from the Soviet Union.
- People felt that the League of Nations should be used to settle international disputes via negotiations.
Rearment:
When Hitler’s policies became more aggressive, the government did rearm on a very extensive scale. After 1938, rearming was not an issue and people believed that Britain had acted at just the right time.
Churchill’s views on appeasement?
Used the term “appeasement of European hatreds” in 1920.
British state after 1933?
- It was known that Russia and Germany would want to reclaim their land.
- Set up international agreements:
- Locarno Pact 1925 (established borders agreed by Treaty of Versailles in 1919)
- League of Nations 1920
Technology?
Serious developments in military technology:
- Aircrafts
- Tanks
Pre-existing weaponry was outdated. Little money for upgrading.
Aggression in Far East?
1931:
Japanese invasion of Chinese Manchuria set tone for the decade.
USA was against helping, along with France and other Pacific powers. Priorities were domestic.
This meant that Stanley Baldwin admitted that rearming would have meant he lost the election in 1935.
How did Germany break the treaty of Versailles?
- Introduced conscription in 1935
- Remilitarised Rhineland in March 1936
When did Germany leave the League of Nations?
1933
Who was against Germany?
Italy aligned itself with Britain and France due to expansion into Austria in the Stresa Front 1935
Mussolini was no longer a possible ally as British public opinion condemned his invasion of African state Ethiopia 1935
How did Britain appease to German re-armerment?
Anglo-German Naval Treaty of 1935
- British permission as long as German Naval fleet is only 35% of the British size.
Why was the public for appeasement?
It was believed that if more negotiations had occurred in WW1, then the war wouldn’t have taken place.
Berlin Olympics
1936:
Showed that Germany was a normal European country
When was the annexation of Austria?
March 1938
Arguments against Churchill’s view?
- Britain had no allies if they went to war.
- Britain had no expeditionary force ready for war. Troops were peace-keeping in the Empire (particularly Palestine).
- Any movement of war had to take Italy and Japan into account. Churchill had little understanding of of Britain’s vulnerability in the Far East. Japan was fighting an expansionist war in China and needed raw materials of western colonies in South East Asia (rubber, ores, and oil) –> could take Sioux Canal, India, South East Asia and Australia.
- Churchill has been relentlessly hostile to the communist Soviet Union, which was undergoing massive internal change in the 1930s. It was unlikely that an alliance could be formed with Stailn. Russia was also involved in the Spanish Civil War. France distrusted communism.
Why did Churchill fear air attack from Germany?
In 1920 he ordered air attacks on Iraq rebels, so knows the damage they cause
How did Churchill try to warn?
Using his position and backbench MP and through journalism
Why do critics see Churchill’s call to rearm as strange?
He was deeply responsible for GB disarming in 1920s and for maintaining 10 year rule.
When was the league of nations created?
1920
When did Britain rearm?
1938
Locarno pact
1925:
Established the borders set up in the Treaty of Versailles
What did Baldwin admit in the 1935 election?
Rearmament would have caused the Conservative party to lose the election.
Munich agreement?
29th September 1938
Hitler would have to consult GB before making future expansions. That Czechslovakia would have to concede and give Hitler the sudenland or fight him alone.
What did Labour Party want during the appeasement?
Collective security
When did Hitler remilitarise the Rhineland?
March 1936
Annexation of Austria?
1938:
Very popular with Germans and Austrians
When did Germany leave the league of nations?
1933
When was the invasion of the Czech state?
March 1939
Why did Hitler’s request for the sudenland cause tension?
Rich in coal
Czech state border was on the land. Taking the sudenland would leave Czech state defenceless to invasion.
What did Chamberlain do in 1939?
He resorted to gesture politics. He offered many European states (poland) that Britain would lend support if they were threatened by Hitler.
When did Churchill first become Prime Minister?
1940
Who is currently blamed for Hitler’s rise to power across Europe?
Erwin (Lord Halifax), Neville Chamberlain, Stanley Baldwin
When was Hitler appointed Chancellor?
30th January 1933
