Crisis April-September Hitler instructed German Sudeten leader to demand separation from Czechoslovakia Czechs did not want to give up Sudetenland Believed French would support them Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, wanted to avoid war, so he went to Germany twice

Chamberlain’s Visits 1) Sept 15: Hitler insisted he would risk war to re-unite the Sudeten Germans with Germany Chamberlain accepted to allow those areas with a majority of Germans to be reabsorbed into Germany He persuaded the Czechs and French to agree to Hitler’s demands

Chamberlain’s Visits 2) Sept 22: Hitler changed his demands to include the occupation of the entire Sudetenland by the 28th Hitler threatened to invade by the 1st if his demands were not met Chamberlain refused  Britain & France prepared for war

Munich Conference “We must always demand so much that we can never be satisfied.” - Adolf Hitler on his strategy during negotiations at Munich

Munich Conference “ In spite of the hardness I thought I saw in his (Hitler’s) face, I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word.” - Neville Chamberlain prior to the Munich Conference

Munich Conference – Sept 1938 Hitler was persuaded to postpone his plans for war and to agree to a conference to discuss the Sudetenland Mussolini (Italy), Chamberlain (GB), Hitler (Germany) and Daladier (France) were invited to the conference WHO WAS LEFT OUT? Agreement was reached that the Sudetenland would be transferred to Germany and that the 4 powers would protect these new borders

Munich Conference Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Ciano

Munich Conference The day after, Chamberlain met with Hitler alone and agreed to the Anglo-German Declaration. Promised never to go to war with each other All disputes would be settled by talks Failure of Our Times

Munich Conference

Munich Conference: Results Europe had been saved from war Britain and France got time to build up their armies Czechs lost vital resources & defenses Hitler was encouraged by France & Britain’s reluctance to go to war Stalin was very upset about being left out of the conference  worried that Britain would do nothing to stop a German invasion of USSR

At the time, do you think Chamberlain and the Allies did the right thing in trying to negotiate with Hitler?

Appeasement Definition: granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace

Arguments For: Britain was not militarily strong enough to oppose British people absolutely did not want a WWI repeat Chamberlain believed that Hitler could be satisfied without having to go to war

Arguments Against: Not right: Hitler was breaking terms of legal treaties and agreements Allowed Hitler to grow stronger and stronger Hitler’s aims & determination were underestimated “By repeatedly surrendering to force, Chamberlain has encouraged aggression. Chamberlain’s policy has always been based on a fatal misunderstanding of the minds of dictators.” The Yorkshire Post, Dec 1939

Imminent War March 1939: Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia Hitler’s argument that he was unifying the German people no longer held water Britain & France sped up their armament Britain & France promised to defend the independence of Poland Poland was the next target because Hitler wanted back the Danzig passage lost in T. of V. & to reunify Germany

“England has been offered a choice between war and shame “England has been offered a choice between war and shame. She has chosen shame and will get war.” - Winston Churchill, in opposition to Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement, September 1938

Discussion Question Do you think appeasement is something that still goes on today? Explain.