What Were Churchills Views On Rearmament And Appeasement? Flashcards
Which national leader did Churchill praise in the 1920s?
Mussolini in Italy
What were the main reasons Churchill was alarmed by German rearmament?
He saw the new regime in Germany as brutal, feared a repeat situation of 1914 with Germany, Churchill had been a member of the government that agreed the Treaty Of Versailles and didn’t want to break it, feared German air force
What was Churchill himself responsible for in the 1920s which hurt the Britains defence in WW2?
The 10 year rule (That defence planning should not consider a war for the next 10 years and justified cut-backs in defence)
Why would there have to be a compelling reason for an arms race in 1934?
Because of the economic crisis in 1934 and more stringent means test imposed for help on the poorest
What did many think the First World War originated in?
An arms race
What had damaged Churchill’s credibility on rearmament?
His tendency to exaggerate the figures and speak in alarmist terms
What was Churchill’s views on appeasement?
He opposed the government’s policy of trying to deal with Hitler’s grievances by negation, rather than building up a strong alliance and increasing Britain’s defence
What international agreements had British politicians trusted to make sure Britain could keep its ‘gains’ from WW1?
The Locarno Pact and membership of the League of Nations
What was the first aggression in the 1930s?
The Japanese invasion of Chinese Manchuria in 1931
What did the Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin say that admitting to rearmament would lead to?
Loss in the 1935 general election
What treaty in 1935 had given British approval to the Germans developing their fleet (provided it was only 35% of the British fleet)?
The Anglo-German Naval Treaty of 1935
What treaty, that broke the treaties of Versailles and Locarno, Churchill was horrified about?
The Anglo-German Naval Treaty of 1935
Why did Chamberlain not agree about appeasement and British foreign policy?
It seemed as a policy of reacting to events and piecemeal negotiations, though his solution was to accept Germany had legitimate grievances
What did Chamberlain not have trust in?
International agreements like League of Nations or the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928
Why could Britain not fight Germany in Europe, Italy in the Mediterranean and Japan in the Far East, so they had to try every peace agreement possible?
The lack of resources and British public didn’t want another war
What was Chamberlain’s plan for Germany and Appeasement?
Negotiate proactively with Germany and build up defence incase war is not prevent
What was Labour’s view on appeasement?
Labour supported collective security
why was the German annexation of Austria allowed?
It was popular in both countries
Why did Churchill put pressure on the Czech’s to make concessions to German and give over the ‘Sudetenland’ though it had never been part of Germany?
Because if France supported the Czechs, with their large armies of 35 divisions, there might be another war
Why did Chamberlain fly to negotiate with Hitler over Czechoslovakia?
Because of Hitler’s mire war-like speeches and agitation growing by German speakers in Czechoslovakia
Why was Chamberlain’s decision to negotiate with Hitler over Czechoslovakia dubious on both validity and morality?
As he was going to be an not directly involved country negotiating a deal with a independent country not there
When did the ‘four-power’s’ met for a conference in Munich?
September 1938
What was the claim the Chamberlain made after getting Germany to agree to sign a pact guaranteeing future consultation especially on the issue of Czechoslovakia?
‘Peace for our time’
What had the Munich Conference shown to Hitler?
That Britain was weak and willing to betray one of Eastern Europe’s few flouring democracies
When was the dismemberment of the defenceless Czech state?
March 1939
What was Churchill’s option in the Sudetenland demands from the Germans?
To remain uninvolved
Why did Churchill reject concessions to Hitler?
It had to assume Hitler was willing to meaningfully negotiate and accept terms
What was Churchills views on giving into German aggression?
Moral cowardice and a trims and was need form both League of Nations and an alliance of other nations
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, that involved allies?
That if it led to war, who would be Britains allies considering no discussion were had with France or any other nations
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving Britain’s forces?
Britain had no expeditionary force ready for war
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving protecting the empire?
War would be a logistical nightmare especially defending the empire from Japan and Italy and losing the Suez Canal would also lead to long South East Asia
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving allies?
Churchill was very hostile to the Soviet Union and the Communist and might find it difficult to get support
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving France?
France had looked to Britain for excuses for not acting abasing Germany and their defences on the Maginot Line was not up to the means of attack
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving Eastern Europe?
Many Eastern European countries were not military effective and were more worried about the Soviet Union
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving The US?
The USA favoured isolationism so would not join a war
What is an example of the US supporting isolationism?
The Neutrality Act which prevented even suppling other countries engaged in war
What was an argument against Churchill’s views on appeasement in 1938, involving the League of Nations?
The League Of Nations had provided ineffective in preventing aggression since 1931 even though Churchill was enthusiastic about it
When was conscription introduced in the UK?
1939
When did Britain declare war?
11 A.M on 3 September 1939
What role was Churchill propelled to in government after Britain declared war in September 1939?
First Lord of the Admiralty
