Appeasement 1 (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Appeasement 1
What was appeasement?
Appeasement was a foreign policy approach adopted by Britain during the 1930s, particularly under Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. This policy involved making concessions to aggressive nations, especially Nazi Germany, in order to avoid conflict and maintain peace in Europe.
The strategy was based on the belief that many of Germany's demands were reasonable, particularly regarding the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles. British leaders thought that by giving Hitler what he wanted, they could satisfy his ambitions and prevent another devastating war.
Today, the term "appeasement" has negative connotations, suggesting weakness in the face of aggression. However, during the 1930s, many people viewed it as a rational and sensible approach to securing peace in Europe.
Historical context and Hitler's aims
Adolf Hitler had consistently stated his intention to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and restore German strength. As he gained power and began implementing these plans, the likelihood of war increased significantly. This created a dilemma for Britain: should they take stronger action to stop Hitler's expansion, or try to work with him diplomatically?
Historical Example: The Berchtesgaden Meeting (1938)
A key example of appeasement in action occurred during the 1938 meeting between Chamberlain and Hitler at Berchtesgaden. Desperate to avoid war, Chamberlain agreed to let Hitler take the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, demonstrating the lengths Britain was willing to go to maintain peace.
Why did Britain choose appeasement?
Economic factors
The Great Depression had severely weakened Britain's economy during the early 1930s. The country simply could not afford to engage in expensive military conflicts. France was in a similar position, making both nations more interested in solving domestic problems than fighting foreign wars.
The economic impact of the Great Depression meant that both Britain and France were focusing their limited resources on domestic recovery rather than military expenditure.
Military unpreparedness
Britain was not ready for war in the 1930s. The rearmament programme only began in 1936, and the government recognised it would take several years to build up sufficient military strength.
Some historians argue that appeasement was actually a strategy to buy time, allowing Britain to prepare for the inevitable conflict with Germany. This suggests appeasement may have been more calculated than it initially appeared.
Memory of the First World War
The devastating losses and destruction of the First World War remained fresh in people's minds. Most British citizens had lost loved ones and desperately wanted to avoid repeating such carnage. Peace was strongly supported by the majority of the population, making appeasement politically popular.
The memory of WWI casualties was so powerful that it influenced an entire generation's approach to foreign policy, with many believing that almost any alternative was preferable to another world war.
American isolationism
The United States had declared they would not get involved in another European war. Without this powerful ally, Britain and France felt more vulnerable and reluctant to confront Germany directly.
Fear of communism
Many people were more worried about the spread of communism than they were about Hitler's actions. They believed a strong Germany could serve as a buffer between Western Europe and the Soviet Union. Some even saw Hitler as a potential ally against communist expansion.
Moral considerations
British leaders genuinely believed that the Treaty of Versailles had been too harsh on Germany. They felt that many of Hitler's demands were reasonable attempts to correct past injustices. This moral argument made it easier to justify giving in to German demands.
Popular support
Many of Hitler's early actions, such as the plebiscites in Austria and the Saar, showed that local populations often supported joining Germany. This made it difficult for Britain to argue against what appeared to be legitimate expressions of self-determination.
Key figure: Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister in 1937 and became the face of British appeasement policy. He genuinely believed that negotiation and compromise could prevent another world war.
Chamberlain articulated his philosophy clearly: "We should seek by all means in our power to avoid war, by analysing possible causes, by trying to remove them, by discussion in a spirit of collaboration and good will."
This quote demonstrates Chamberlain's sincere belief that diplomatic solutions were always preferable to military conflict.
Timeline of key events
- 1933: Hitler comes to power in Germany
- 1935: Germany begins rearmament in violation of Versailles Treaty
- 1936: German remilitarization of the Rhineland; British rearmament programme begins
- 1938: Anschluss (union) with Austria; Berchtesgaden meeting between Chamberlain and Hitler; Munich Agreement allows Germany to take Sudetenland
Key Points to Remember:
- Appeasement was Britain's policy of making concessions to Hitler in the 1930s to avoid war
- The policy was driven by economic weakness, military unpreparedness, and memories of WWI casualties
- Many British people genuinely believed the Treaty of Versailles had been unfair to Germany
- Neville Chamberlain was the main advocate of appeasement, believing negotiation was better than conflict
- The 1938 Berchtesgaden meeting exemplified appeasement when Chamberlain agreed to let Hitler take the Sudetenland