Appeasement - Right or Wrong?

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In Britain, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had devised a policy of "appeasement" (meaning his tactic of consenting to Hitler's demands over Czechoslovakia in 1938) it aroused much controversy at the time and still does today.  

Germany benefited greatly from the appeasement as it allowed them to rearm.  Britain and France thought that if they appeased Germany, then the Germans would become a little friendlier towards them so they cut the Germans a little ‘slack’.  However by appeasing Germany, they let her rearm therefore pose a threat to themselves and others.

THE BEGGINING

In January 1933 Hitler tried to rearm Germany, however The Treaty of Versailles forbade it.  In October 1933 Germany left the League of Nations and also left the World Disarmament Conference.

Hitler rejected the treaty of Versailles, as he believed that he should die for his country. ‘Interests of State must always come first before those of the individual’.

At this time Britain and France had a totally different view as to what to do. . Britain felt rather sorry for Germany and found the punishments a bit harsh. Germany felt unfairly treated, as they had to disarm whilst the other countries did not. This is why Britain was strongly in favour of the appeasement, she believed by appeasing Germany a great friendship could be made. Neither country wanted to fight another world war as the memories of the last where severely bad. So to prevent a war Britain and France backed of a little.

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GERMAN ARMY/NAVY TAKES FORM

On 16 March 1935, Hitler announcing plans to create an army of over half a million men by reintroducing conscription. Soon after Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935.  This entitled the Germans to build a navy up to 35% of the size of the Royal Navy; Britain believed that if the Royal navy were 3 times bigger than Germany’s navy they would pose no real threat.

However France objected to this but Britain argued that by appeasing Germany, she would feel less threatened and at risk

RE-OCCUPATION OF THE RHINELAND

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