ORIGINS OF WWII- BRITAIN’S POLICY OF APPEASEMENT 1936-39

Notes #6Mr. Barchetto

Britain & Appeasement 1936-39 Appeasement:

a policy of “adjustment and accommodation” of conflicting interests was to promote compromise and reason w/ lofty goal of preserving peace. (Had to fit foreign policy interests)

Why did Western Europe let Hitler go unchecked from 1936-1939?

Britain- Appeasement of Hitler fit within parameters of British

foreign policy France-

Appeasement was not so simple for France, only powerful ally was Britain and US (Isolationism), if they did not follow Britain they would be forced to face Germany alone.

Hitler’s Moves 1936-1939

Rhineland (1936) Hitler’s “Litmus Test” for the west

Land between France & Germany Spanish Civil War (1936)

Hitler’s test for his new military strength

Austria (1938) Anschluss (Union)

Land of German Speaking people Sudetenland (1938)

Sudeten area of Czechoslovakia which contained 3 million German speakers

Czechoslovakia (1939) despite the Munich Agreement,

Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia; appeasement fails

No Reaction No Reaction Stood By Munich Agreement Vows to protect

Poland

Hitler’s Moves Britain & France’s Reaction

Picasso’s- Guernica

“Monday Morning Quarterback”- Why this policy of Appeasement

There were many reasons why they did this:

1. The Treaty of Versailles was unfair.

2. British people didn't want a repeat of the horrors of WWI.

3. German rearmament had left Britain behind. In 1938 they weren't ready for war.

4. The threat of Communism was seen as more of a danger. Hitler could act as a barrier to this.

5. It was believed Hitler would end his demands.

6. Britain was more concerned at protecting its colonial interests in the east.

7. The country's that were being invaded were far away and no interest to Britain.