Britain and France gave way to Hitler because they feared another war, but each gain made Germany stronger and bolder.
Why did Britain and France give way? The huge losses of the First World War made another war terrifying. Economic problems and doubts about military readiness encouraged caution. People also feared air raids that could kill many civilians. Some British people thought parts of Versailles were unfair, and that reasonable changes might satisfy Germany. Chamberlain hoped that personal negotiation could build lasting cooperation.
Britain kept rearming, building up its armed forces, while it negotiated. Avoiding war in 1938 gave it more time to prepare. But Germany also gained time, along with land, resources and Czechoslovakia's defences. Each gain won by pressure encouraged Hitler to expect more. So a policy meant to avoid war could weaken resistance to aggression.
Winston Churchill, a British MP, or member of Parliament, criticised appeasement. He also wanted peace, but argued for deterrence: discouraging an attack by making it look too costly or likely to fail. So the debate was about how to keep the peace, not whether war was good.
A fair judgement first explains the pressures leaders faced, then tests the results. It should not assume that a different policy would definitely have stopped Hitler.
- Why appease
- Fear of war, weak economies, unready forces, fear of bombing.
- Cost
- Germany gained land, resources and time.
- Churchill
- Argued for deterrence instead.
Worked example: Separate aim from result
A student writes: Chamberlain wanted peace, so appeasement succeeded.
- Aim: wanting peace explains why he negotiated.
- Short term: Munich avoided war in September 1938.
- Long term: Germany grew stronger and kept expanding, so peace did not last.
Watch out for this
Rearming shows Chamberlain was not really trying to avoid war.
He negotiated to avoid war and rearmed in case talks failed. Both were part of his policy.
Check your understanding
What did Churchill argue instead of appeasement?
- That Britain should attack Germany at once.
- That Germany should get all it asked for.
- Deterrence: make an attack look too costly to try.