Failure of appeasement Flashcards
Actions of Hitler during the lead up to war
Nazi soviet pact- The USSR and Germany were allies until they stabbed each other in the back
Which countries did Hitler invade
Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and the Poland as well as other Eastern European countries
What was the first Interpretation of Appeasement
Popular Majority “well done Chamberlain”
Joseph Kennedy, Lord Halifax supported it
Chamberlain kept war away for as along as he could
Churchill was against it
At a time where people did not want a repeat of the first world war
1937-38
What was the second interpretation
Popular political view “guilty men”
Michael Foot, Frank Owen and Peter Howard
Appeasement was cowardly, did not prepare Britain for war and only made Hitler stronger
Influenced by the book “CATO”
1939-48
What was the third interpretation
Churchill Orthodox view “the gathering storm”
Winston Churchill
The appeasers misjudged Hitler and never beleived he would actually invade and it was based upon good motives
Influenced by book Gathering storm
Chamberlain had been seen as a war hero and Churchill did not want to critisise him in case it affected his political standing, the threat of communisim meant people were trying to not repeat the mistakes of the past
1948-60’s
What was the fourth interpretation
Academic Revisionist view “rehabilitating Chamberlain
Donald Cameron Watt
Under the circumstances Chamberlain did the best that he could do
People had seen waht the lack of appeasement could do (vietnam war)
People were eager to re-think popular beliefs
New sources had been released
1960’s-1990’s
What was the fifth interpretation
Academic counter revisionist “Chamberlain back on trial”
Robert Parker, Paul Kennedy, Donald Cameron Watt
Chamberlains own personality menat he could not deal with Hitler effectively
Chamberlain had not stood up for democracy
1990’s to present
