Appeasement Before World War Two

Appeasement The policy of settling international disputes by compromise, thereby avoiding the resort to an armed conflict which would be expensive, bloody, and possibly dangerous.

The Path to War in Europe Only twenty years after “The war to end all wars”, the world plunged back into the nightmare of total war, when on September 1st, 1939 Germany invaded Poland. There were several steps along the way that we will learn about in this lesson.

The Path to War in Europe WW2 in Europe had its beginnings in the ideas of Adolph Hitler. Hitler became chancellor on January 30, 1933. Posed as a man of peace in his public speeches, emphasizing that he only wished to revise the Treaty of Versailles to allow Germany regain its place among European states.

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty forced upon Germany at the end of World War One, as punishment for its role in the war. The treaty included the following terms: the “war guilt clause”, which stated that Germany accepted sole responsibility for the war and was responsible for all damage caused by the war. Germany was to make reparation payments to the amount of $33 Billion. Germany must demilitarize the Rhineland, which was the area of Germany that bordered France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Germany lost territory within Europe and its overseas colonies. the German army was to be limited to no more than 100,000 troops. the German navy was limited to no more than 15,000 men, with a limited number of vessels. the manufacture, import and export of weapons including tanks, submarines, aircraft, and artillery were prohibited.

Treaty of Versailles Many German, including Hitler, found the Treaty of Versailles to be humiliating. The reparation payments required as part of the treaty led to economic turmoil in Germany and caused many to want it to be changed.

The Path to War in Europe Upon becoming Chancellor, Hitler immediately worked to restore the German armed forces. Creation of air force and a military draft, that saw the German army increase from 100,000 soldiers to 550,000. France and Britain condemned these actions but did nothing to stop Hitler.

The Path to War in Europe March 7, 1936 Confident that the Western democracies would not use force to ensure the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler sent German troops into the demilitarized zone. (The Rhineland) France was angered by the militarization of the region, but would not act without British support. Britain had nothing against German troops in German territory. Britain, under Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, was following a policy of appeasement in regards to German aggression.

Map showing German expansions during the buildup to the start of WW2.

The Path to War in Europe By the end of 1936, Hitler had virtually scrapped the Treaty of Versailles, and Germany was once more a “World Power”. Convinced of German power, Hitler to decided to move on Austria in 1938.

Austria Annexed Hitler threatened an Austrian invasion, which coerced the Austrian Chancellor into putting Austrian Nazi’s in charge of the government. The new government promptly invited German troops into Austria to “maintain” order. One day later (March 13, 1938) Hitler annexed Austria to Germany. Britain’s acknowledgment of Hitler’s action only increase his contempt for Western weakness. Britain and France did nothing to stop Hitler’s aggression.

Map showing German expansions during the buildup to the start of WW2.

Czechoslovakia Taken Hitler’s next goal was to take Czechoslovakia. He did not believe the Western powers would use force to defend it. September 15, 1938 Hitler demanded the cession of the Sudetenland to Germany.

Czechoslovakia Taken Scared of another major conflict, the European powers met at the Munich Conference and essentially met all of Hitler’s demands.

Chamberlain and Hitler at the Munich Conference

Peace in our time! Chamberlin (British PM) returned with a signed agreement from Hitler to which Hitler had no plans of keeping.

The Path to War in Europe The Munich Conference confirmed Hitler’s perception that the Western democracies were weak and would not fight. March 1939, he occupied the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia. Slovakia turned into a puppet-state.

Map showing German expansions during the buildup to the start of WW2.

The Path to War in Europe At last, the Western democracies realized that Hitler’s aggression could not be contained. When Hitler began to demand the return of Danzig (Given to Poland in the Treaty of Versailles), Britain and France recognized that only the Soviet Union would be able to help contain Nazi German aggression and began political and military negotiations.

The Fall of Poland Meanwhile, Hitler pressed on in the belief that Britain and France would not fight. Hitler negotiated his own non-aggression pact with Stalin. On September 1st,1939 Germany invaded Poland. France and Britain declared war on Germany. Europe was again at war!

Map showing German expansions during the buildup to the start of WW2.

Appeasement Considering what you’ve just learned about appeasement in the build-up to World War Two... To what extent could some of the blame of World War Two be placed on Britain and France, because of their inability to stand up to Hitler and Nazi Germany? See corresponding handout.