his fellow Germans came up with a new programme named "re-armament" this went completely
against the Treaty of Versailles made in 1919 just after the First World war.
It wasn't just the land that was taken though, money and weapons were stripped from Germany
as well. This caused Hitler's greed and want to grow more and more than what it was when it
was first established in 1914. One of the first things that got taken away form Germany was its
army force (the army, navy, and air force) so that was the first thing that they tried t build back
up. In 1919 the Treaty of Versailles had taken away Germany's weapons and told them to
cease building up their army. However 16 years later Germany was rebelling against it. But
whilst Germany was developing their army back up Britain's response was done by ignoring the
matter . Chamberlain innocently believed that if he decided to do nothing about it then nothing
would become of it. Hitler got what he wanted without almost any interception.
You see after the world had got settled to the idea that Britain's side was victorious, people
started to pity the defeated (Germany) especially after their land and money and forces had
been taken away . Germany had now become the target of sympathy
In 1919 the Treaty of Versailles happily took away the Rhineland which was situated to the left
of Germany. Hitler was determined to reunite the Rhineland to Germany. He worded: "For half
a millennium longer this soil has been German, and has remained German, and it will, you can
rest assured, remain German."
In March 1936 Germany invaded the Rhineland, despite the fact that the French couldn't take
any more and demanded to fight Britain relaxed and let Germany have it without any fuss this
was because a)Chamberlain thought that Germany deserved it, after all it was theirs in the first
place and b)Chamberlain believed that Germany had been badly treated by the Allies after it
was defeated in the First World War He therefore thought that the German government had
genuine grievances and that these needed to be looked at and resolved. He also thought that by
agreeing to some of the demands being made by Adolf Hitler of Germany he could avoid a
European war. The Tench did not attack as they knew without any back-up from Britain they
were sure for a loss. Although Britain knew that this was only a one off Hitler assumed that he
could help himself to even more things in disobedience to the Treaty of Versailles.
In May, 1937, his focus was on a European solution to German expansionism. He attempted
to convince Hitler that war was not worth winning because British re-armament and the weak
German economy would make Germany vulnerable to a British economic resistance.
Chamberlain also felt that Hitler would set his sights on the East, an opinion that helped him in
his decision to abandon Czechoslovakia during the Munich Crisis.
Many people were against this policy of appeasement including Chamberlain's foreign secretary
- he did not agree with the policy and resigned in February, 1938. But he was replaced by
Lord Halifax who fully supported the policy. Chamberlain wouldn't let people stand in the way
of what he believed as being a way of protecting Britain.
In March 1938 Hitler succeeded in the joining of Germany and Austria. Although this
amalgamation was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles it was still carried out. The Treaty of
Versailles believed that the union of both countries would cause havoc and be double the
strength. Although many people were against this Britain And France did nothing to stop it
happening they both accepted that they were probably now too weak to fight against Germany.
Hitler now had confidence that he could take over all the other areas that were restricted from
his reach. This included the Sudentenland. Sudentenland was the outskirts of Czechoslovakia
the border from Germany.
In September 1938 since the Sudentenland spoke German and once once part of Germany
before the First world war Hitler felt that it should be once again joined to Germany.
This caused great international tension so much so that the heads of the governments of
Germany, Britain, France,and Italy met in Munich on 29th September 1938. Although Britain
had said in the past that they would help the Czechs when in trouble, Chamberlain believed that
the best way was to except it and just be thankful that there would be no war starting.
Chamberlain also said that he didn't want to start a war over such a small thing so far away "the
war is a fearful thing, why should we be trying on gas masks for a war so far away". Because of
Britain's disloyalty Britain had lost one of the best armies in Europe's support the Czechs.
So in the Munich meeting all countries Adolf Hitler (Germany), Neville Chamberlain (Britain),
Edouard Daladier (Italy), and Benito Mussolini (France) signed and agreement handing over the
Sudentenland to Germany.
Now relied on the fact that he could get away with anything he wanted, like the rest of
Czechoslovakia!
In March 1939 Hitler had found the courage to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. Because of
Britain's unfavourable behaviour the Czechs surrendered, as they knew without the help they
would have been thoroughly destroyed. Hitler had taken his first victory of a country that hadn't
been a part of Germany before the First World War. But by doing this he had broken the
Munich agreement: to staying away from the rest of Czechoslovakia. Still Britain and France
did nothing for fear that they weren't ready to take on Germany's force. But now the two
countries had seen it all unfold and promised to protect Poland if she was to be attacked. Hitler
had to be told. Chamberlain had now realised how dishonest and untrustworthy Hitler was.
This was when his policy of appeasement came to an end.
In August 1939 Hitler took part in signing a form that would assure an attack against Poland
that wouldn't be ruined by Russia. The soviet union and Germany had never seen eye to eye
but signing this pact meant that both could have a piece of Poland without cause for a fight
between the two. Russia was to take the East and Germany the West. Up to that point they
had been the worst of enemies.
This was a very rare event for the two countries which took Britain and France to surprise.
Britain had hoped that Russia would fight against Germany for Poland but now they were
signing a pact! this was unbelievable.
Now Britain and France had had enough they were going to war to defend Poland and fight
Germany once more in the Second World War. Hitler-- one person-- was able to unite a
whole country and came very close to accomplishing his goal. Why would he stop now.
September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, Hitler wanted his part of Poland that had once been
Germany before the Treaty of Versailles had seized it after the war. Britain and France were
not prepared to stand back any longer they had promised to protect Poland and so that's what
they did.
On the 3rd September 1939 just two days after Germany announced their attack Britain and
France declared war! To Chamberlains dismay here started the beginning of World War 2!! to
Chamberlains dismay
I conclude from what I have looked at that Chamberlain was wrong to do what he did, but had
good reasoning.
Some people even say that without a Hitler the Second World war would never have been
started which is true to some extent. There was a lot of distress throughout Europe but none or
the other leaders would have got to such great lengths as Hitler did.
I think that he should have acted faster and foreseen what was coming as a political leader. It is
alright trying to protect Britain from war and conflict but whilst doing so Czech and Poles were
both killed. If Chamberlain had have acted faster then I'm sure many lives would have been
saved, as well as the buildings destroyed in the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland.
Money, buildings and lives.
First Austria, then Czechoslovakia and finally Poland. Hitler was determined at that time and
said on the German march into Danzig, Hitler said "For half a millennium longer this soil has
been German, and has remained German, and it will, you can rest assured, remain German."
How could Chamberlain fight against that dedication.
In 1939 when Chamberlain knew about that sad fact that they had to fight, he went on to the
radio and admitted to the listeners saying "it is evil things we shall be fighting against."This was a
very historical event; it was the first significant moment that was communicated via the radio.
Chamberlain wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it, had known this from the start some say that he
was very wise to stay away from them earlier on in 1936 and onwards. It was just a pity they
had to fight in the end, exactly what Chamberlain wanted to avoid.
Although, I can see that Chamberlain was sort of right in doing what he did, otherwise I'm sure
that there could have been quite a great chance of losing the war as a result of lack of force
(army etc.).
One of the many reasons for Chamberlain appeasing was because he wanted more time to build
up his army in case of what he feared; a war. Which actually did work, as if Chamberlain had
acted in 1936 the Britain would have most probably been defeated with a great lack of army
and money. The last thing Britain would have wanted at that time especially after the "Great
Depression" was a suppressing German victory. Chamberlain remarked "the war is a fearful
thing, why should we be trying on gas masks for a war so far away" obviously Chamberlain
thought that there was no need to act as he believed that nothing much would result in the
transfer of the Sudentenland.
Chamberlain tried to avoid war also for fear of embarrassment as if they went to war Britain
would have to borrow money from neighbouring countries or increase taxes for money. Which
he knew was almost impossible for his recovering country, with few jobs and poor earnings.
Some say he tried his best to get out of a war with a country that wanted nothing but war;
others say he was blind and stupid in trying to deal with Nazi Germany. Through the takeover of
Austria, the Munich crisis and eventually the invasion of Poland, England's prime minister,
Neville Chamberlain attempted to negotiate with the obsessed Adolf Hitler.
But I also strongly believe that if the problems from the First World War had been solved
earlier on it would never have come to the Second World War ; it was just the clean up from
what was left in 1918.
Also, if countries who made pacts and were in the League of Nations (a society against war)
had done what their organisation was set up to do, they could have stopped Germany long
before it came to things like the rejoining of Austria and Germany. Yet another to be learned
from history. When countries become allies or make treaties, they need to stick to them because
if they do not, they are just pieces of paper that no one takes seriously. Maybe this disloyalty is
why countries are in such a bad way now.
So it could be said that the idea of appeasement was a good political decision for the time; it
gave Britain time to re-cooperate. But on the other hand it could be said that Chamberlain's
appeasement just fed Hitler's greed for more until there was no more to be given.
