Was the policy of appeasement justified? Flashcards
Introduction:
It is easy to criticise the policy of appeasement. It is claimed that this policy was morally wrong and led directly to the sacrifice of Czechoslovakia. It certainly boosted the self-confidence of Hitler, encouraging him to make further demands and providing him with additional territory and resources. While Britain and France may have gained time to improve their defences, Germany also used this time to strengthen its army, navy, and air force
In the years following the Second World War, appeasement was regarded as a policy of concession, weakness, and cowardice that made war more rather than less likely to occur. Yet the appeasers were all people of intelligence with a sense of realism. They had good reason to try to come to terms with the dictators and accommodate their wishes. Given the advantage of hindsight, appeasement may not have been the right policy, but it certainly made sense at the time
For Appeasement: Correcting the injustices of Versailles
By the 1930s, many thought that Versailles had been too harsh on Germany. While no-one liked Hitler’s bullying methods, there was some sympathy for his main demands. Few thought it unreasonable that Germany should be allowed the means to defend itself, secure its frontiers, or make common cause with the substantial pockets of Germans living under foreign rule
Until March 1939, there was good reason to accept Hitler’s demands while deploring his diplomatic behaviour. A strong-arm approach would have run the risk of upsetting public opinion, offending the British Dominions, who supported the notion of self-determination, and intensifying the German sense of injustice
For Appeasement: Increasing militarism of Japan and Italy
During the late 1930s, Germany was not the only threat to world peace. Both Japan and Italy became increasingly aggressive and militaristic following the successes of Manchuria and Abyssinia respectively. Whereas Italy actively supported General Franco during the Spanish Civil War and, in April 1939, invaded and overran Albania, Japan invaded the rest of China in 1937. There was a real possibility that Britain could find itself at war with Germany, Italy and Japan simultaneously, with only France as a major ally. The chiefs of the British armed services did not think that Britain could win such a war
Appeasement reflected Britain’s military weakness in the face of these dangers. It seemed unwise to issue threats which could not be backed by adequate force. Meanwhile Britain gained valuable time to rearm and improve its air defences
For Appeasement: Threat of communism
Aggressive German expansion was not the only problem faced by western Europe during the 1930s. There was the simultaneous threat of Soviet Russia and world communism
Some western politicians feared communism more than Nazism. One way to reduce the potential threat of Soviet Russia was to ensure that there was a strong, anti-communist state in central Europe committed to its destruction. Germany fitted the bill perfectly. Anti-communists found it convenient to support appeasement
For Appeasement: A popular policy
The appeasers were all leaders of democratic countries where governments were decided by free elections. All politicians working in a democracy have to take account of public opinion if they are to survive
Public opinion in Britain and France was overwhelmingly for peace during the 1930s. Deeply affected by the experiences of the First World War, there was little support for rearmament or a stronger stand against Germany, Italy and Japan
