Among the factors leading to the outbreak of WWII in Europe, which is more significant?

Weakness of the League of NationsHitlers expansionist policyPolicy of appeasement

Among the factors leading to the outbreak of WWII in Europe, which is more significant?

With Hitlers expansionist policy, why didnt anyone stop him?Appeasement policy Appeasement means the practice of avoiding war by giving in to the aggressive demands made by a country.

To bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm or contentment; pacify; soothe- Dictionary.com

Chief AppeaserNeville ChamberlainBritish Prime Ministerfor first 8 months of war.

Winston Churchill

Reasons for the Policy of Appeasement

Reason 1: Fear of another major war

Reason 1: Fear of another major war

Reason 1: Fear of another major warNot militarily preparedEconomies weakened by Great DepressionNo public support for warPublic enthusiasm for Munich Agreement

Reason 2: Buying time to rearmThe English people realise that we are in no position to enter upon war with such a formidable power as Germany, much less if Germany was sided by Italy Therefore, until our armaments are strong, we must adjust our foreign policy to our circumstances.

- Neville Chamberlain to a friend in the USA

Reason 3: Sympathy for GermanyMany British politicians and people felt that the terms of the TOV were too harsh.

They also saw that the terms on disarmament and the huge reparations forced upon Germany had indeed caused great hardship for the Germans.

By the 1930s, the mood had changed from demands for revenge after WW1 to feelings of guilt over the harshness of the TOV and many began to feel that German complaints about the TOV were reasonable.

Reason 3: Sympathy for GermanyAs a result, when Hitler first violated the TOV, the British did not intervene and allowed Hitler to get his way:Walking out of the Disarmament ConferenceRemilitarizing the RhinelandThis was because they felt that Hitler was reasonable in his actions since the TOV was too harsh in the first place.

Reason 4: Misjudgement of HitlerIt took a long time for Britain and France to realise that Hitler was a totally unreasonable leader who would continue to demand more and more.

They had initially believed that Hitler was a person who could be reasoned with

They first thought that once Hitler got back the Rhineland and successfully rearm Germany, he might be satisfied.

But Hitler got bolder and bolder in his demands

Reason 4: Misjudgment of Hitler

Reason 5: Fear of CommunismSome politicians in Britain and France disliked Communism much more than they disliked Nazism.

To them, Communism was a greater evil and they could see some advantage in accepting Germany which was strongly anti-Communist.

Communism was more of a threat to civilization than Nazism.

They thought that a strong Germany would stop the westward spread of Soviet Communism.

Reason 5: Fear of CommunismAs a result, they were keen to retain Hitlers friendship so that they might combine forces to stop Communism from spreading.

In order to secure Hitlers friendship, the British had to show its sincerity by not stopping Hitlers actions.

Thus, the Allied powers appeased Hitler because they hoped that in return they could count on German support against the Soviet Union.

Why was the policy of appeasement adopted?

Examples of AppeasementAnglo-German Naval AgreementThe TOV states that German Navy to only have 6 warships and no submarinesUnder the Agreement with BRITAIN, Germany was allowed to have 1/3 the tonnage of British surface fleet and equal tonnage of submarinesSignalled the beginning of appeasementWHY?It was hoped that this would reduce German anger and stabalise Europe

Examples of AppeasementMunich Agreement (Recall Sudetenland)Benes (who?) wanted to fight, the Czechs had a modern armyBritain, France, SU promised to help if in war

HOWEVERChamberlain went to meet Hitler, he said that Germany would ONLY claim Sudetenland and only if the plebiscite showed they wanted to be part of GermanyChamberlain then went back to Britain and proclaimed he had achieved peace of our time

We have achieved peace of our timeVideo Neville Chamberlain Peace of our Time

In what ways were the policy of appeasement successful?However, consider thisWe now know that the policy has failed.