Was Appeasement the Best Policy to Adopt in the 1930’s?

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Was Appeasement the Best Policy to Adopt in the 1930's?

Appeasement means, compromise. Some saw appeasement as giving Germany what they wanted. Others saw it as everyone purely trying to keep the peace. In 1938 everyone in Britain was pleased that war had been avoided. Chamberlain was a hero. His policy of appeasement seemed to have saved Europe from another devastating war. But, soon it was clear that the policy had failed, as soon as Hitler made his next aggressive move. Appeasement quickly became a word, which represented cowardice and failure. Chamberlain had tried to satisfy Hitler's demands whilst re-arming Britain in case force had to be used.

In the beginning Chamberlain did not know what Hitler was after. When confronted about Germanys plans to attack Czechoslovakia, he responded, "I think it would be wrong to assume that the German Government has any intention of doing such." Britain was not ready for war, she had spent less on arms in the 1930's due to the depression.
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You might say that Britain should have fought over Czechoslovakia in 1938. Chamberlain said that Britain was not ready for war and would have lost. Germany was not ready either and Czechoslovakia was the only country ready and willing to fight in 1938. By letting Hitler take over Czechoslovakia in September 1938 and March 1939, they let him have the Czech planes, tanks, guns etc for his own use. Chamberlain justified the failing to help Czechoslovakia, by pointing out the dis-unity of the Czech's and the Slovaks, and the possibility that Czechoslovakia would eventually break up anyway.

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