Causes of World War II

Policy of Appeasement

Source I

APPEASEMENT

A Political Education or a Detrimental Implication in the Post-War Ear?

Overview

What is Appeasement?

Sections of Research and Analysis

Impact of Appeasement

Why is this Topic Important to Study?

Project Form

What is Appeasement?

Appeasement has been defined as:

• “Giving in to the demands of aggressive powers to avoid war”
• “The policy of pacifying an aggressive nation in the hopes of avoiding further conflict”
• “A policy of making concessions to an aggressor in hopes of avoiding war”

What is Appeasement?

• During the 1930’s, Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, offering the menacing dictator numerous concessions in the hope of avoiding a conflict reminiscent of WW1
• The climax of appeasement occurred at the Munich Conference in 1938 when Britain and France granted the Germans permission to occupy portions of Czechoslovakia.

What is Appeasement?

• Allowed Hitler the opportunity to transform Germany into a war machine and gain control over Central Europe without a fight
• Appeasement failed, eventually leading to World War 2, the most devastating conflict of our time, which resulted in an estimated 56 – 61 million deaths

What is Appeasement?

Sections of Research

• Historiography and general theories regarding the policy of appeasement
• An analysis and description of the policy of appeasement in Britain and France throughout the 1930’s
• The role of the Soviet Union during this time period, analyzing their reactions to the appeasement of Nazi Germany
• Historiography
• Traditional Theory – belief that the policy of appeasement was merely an attempt on behalf of Britain and France to save themselves by offering other nations to Germany

“How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing!” – Neville Chamberlain, 1938

Historiography

• Revisionist Theory – more sympathetic towards Britain and France, arguing that they were fighting to maintain their dieing empires while simultaneously attempting to reinstate a “balance-of-power” system throughout Europe, excluding the Soviet Union

Analysis and Description
Britain and France

• An in-depth analysis and description of the causes, motivations, political actions and reactions, discussions, debates and political policies of Britain and France during appeasement
• Includes heads of state, government officials, ambassadors, foreign ministers, politicians, and most importantly, ordinary citizens
• Inability of the capitalist west and communist east to cast aside their differences and come to an agreement to in order to counter Hitler

Role of the Soviet Union

Role of the Soviet Union

Impact of Appeasement

• Following the end of World War 2, the United States formulated its foreign policy based in accordance with the lessons the world had learned from the policy of appeasement during the 1930’s. As a result, the U.S. adapted an aggressive policy of action to prevent the failures of appeasement from reoccurring
• The effects of appeasement on U.S. foreign policy has been apparent for several decades, and is still influencing diplomatic decisions in today’s world
• An example of the U.S. anti-appeasement policy is the Vietnam War

Why is this Subject Important to Study?

Why is this Subject so Important to Study?

• “History proved that Churchill was right. If the appeasers of our own day are wrong, then Saddam Hussein continues Hitler’s quest to eradicate the world of Jews and terrorize the planet with the threat of, now, nuclear annihilation. The United States is the only country that CAN stop Saddam Hussein before that terrifying possibility becomes a horrific, unstoppable reality.”

Why is this Subject so Important to Study?

• “Hussein is the brute that threatens not only his continent, but the entire civilized world. And after two world wars, one would expect the public’s reaction to [the] unprovoked attacks on New York and Washington to elicit an appropriately autonomic response of no less than pre-emptive self-defense against the source of those attacks. But, quite the contrary, there is a growing peace movement in Europe, Canada and the United States calling for ‘temperance,’ ‘patience’ and yes, even appeasement of Saddam Hussein.

Why is this Subject Important to Study?

• Studying appeasement is essential to the problems that will inevitably arise in the future
• History teaches us lessons, providing us with the opportunity to analyze certain scenarios that have presented themselves
• Does the legacy of appeasement still impact the diplomacy, foreign policy and international relations of the United States?
• Is the policy of appeasement justifiably comparable to the events in today’s world?

What Will This Project Look Like?

• After a period of extensive research and detailed analysis, this project will take the form of a polished and in-depth research paper
• This project can be accomplished at UNCW
• A wealth of primary and secondary source material pertaining to this subject is available at Randall Library. This includes memoirs, microfilm, personal letters, testimonies, diaries, official correspondences, state and government documents

Dondarski, Michael. "APPEASEMENT." A Political Education or a Detrimental Implication in the Post-War Ear? 8 Jan 2009

Source II

Munich Pact September 29, 1938

GERMANY, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, taking into consideration the agreement, which has been already reached in principle for the cession to Germany of the Sudeten German territory, have agreed on the following terms and conditions governing the said cession and the measures consequent thereon, and by this agreement they each hold themselves responsible for the steps necessary to secure its fulfilment:

(1) The evacuation will begin on 1st October.

(2) The United Kingdom, France and Italy agree that the evacuation of the territory shall be completed by the 10th October, without any existing installations having been destroyed, and that the Czechoslovak Government will be held responsible for carrying out the evacuation without damage to the said installations.

(3) The conditions governing the evacuation will be laid down in detail by an international commission composed of representatives of Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Czechoslovakia.

(4) The occupation by stages of the predominantly German territory by German troops will begin on 1st October. The four territories marked on the attached map will be occupied by German troops in the following order:

The territory marked No. I on the 1st and 2nd of October; the territory marked No. II on the 2nd and 3rd of October; the territory marked No. III on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of October; the territory marked No. IV on the 6th and 7th of October. The remaining territory of preponderantly German character will be ascertained by the aforesaid international commission forthwith and be occupied by German troops by the 10th of October.

(5) The international commission referred to in paragraph 3 will determine the territories in which a plebiscite is to be held. These territories will be occupied by international bodies until the plebiscite has been completed. The same commission will fix the conditions in which the plebiscite is to be held, taking as a basis the conditions of the Saar plebiscite. The commission will also fix a date, not later than the end of November, on which the plebiscite will be held.

(6) The final determination of the frontiers will be carried out by the international commission. The commission will also be entitled to recommend to the four Powers, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, in certain exceptional cases, minor modifications in the strictly ethnographical determination of the zones which are to be transferred without plebiscite.

(7) There will be a right of option into and out of the transferred territories, the option to be exercised within six months from the date of this agreement. A German-Czechoslovak commission shall determine the details of the option, consider ways of facilitating the transfer of population and settle questions of principle arising out of the said transfer.

(8) The Czechoslovak Government will within a period of four weeks from the date of this agreement release from their military and police forces any Sudeten Germans who may wish to be released, and the Czechoslovak Government will within the same period release Sudeten German prisoners who are serving terms of imprisonment for political offences.

Munich Pact : Annex to the Agreement

His MAJESTY's GOVERNMENT in the United Kingdom and the French Government have entered into the above agreement on the basis that they stand by the offer, contained in paragraph 6 of the Anglo-French proposals of the 19th September, relating to an international guarantee of the new boundaries of the Czechoslovak State against unprovoked aggression.

When the question of the Polish and Hungarian minorities in Czechoslovakia has been settled, Germany and Italy for their part will give a guarantee to Czechoslovakia.

Munich Pact : Declaration

THE HEADS of the Governments of the four Powers declare that the problems of the Polish and Hungarian minorities in Czechoslovakia, if not settled within three months by agreement between the respective Governments, shall form the subject of another meeting of the Heads of the Governments of the four Powers here present.

Munich Pact : Supplementary Declaration

ALL questions which may arise out of the transfer of the territory shall be considered as coming within the terms of reference to the International Commission

Munich Pact : Composition of the International Commission

THE four Heads of Governments here present agree that the international commission provided for in the agreement signed by them to-day shall consist of the Secretary of State in the German Foreign Office, the British, French and Italian Ambassadors accredited in Berlin, and a representative to be nominated by the Government of Czeckoslovakia.

Munich September 29, 1938.
ADOLF HITLER,
NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN,
EDOUARD DALADIER,
BENITO MUSSOLINI.

"Avalon Project." The Munich Agreement - Document 8 Jan 2009

Source III
This cartoon tells that the munich pact saved europe from the chaos of war

"Greece Central School District." 8 Jan 2009