Policy of AppeasementPolicy of AppeasementSource: By Alexis Cheney, Foothill College Source: By Alexis Cheney, Foothill College

    From the Internet Book, From the Internet Book, Western Western CivilizationCivilization

Hillary Harvey is AMAZING!!!Hillary Harvey is AMAZING!!!

AppeasementAppeasement embraced in vain by Great Britain and France in the embraced in vain by Great Britain and France in the

1930s 1930s

a bid to reach a peaceful understanding with Germany a bid to reach a peaceful understanding with Germany

The major powers were anxious to abort any German The major powers were anxious to abort any German influence over Eastern Europe influence over Eastern Europe

Czechoslovakia remained the sole nation who relied Czechoslovakia remained the sole nation who relied upon support from Great Britain and France upon support from Great Britain and France

Appeasement in InactionAppeasement in Inaction Invasion of EthiopiaInvasion of Ethiopia

On May 5, 1936, the Italians invaded the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa On May 5, 1936, the Italians invaded the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa

used both merciless air power and indiscriminate poisonous gassings used both merciless air power and indiscriminate poisonous gassings

On June 30, 1936, Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations On June 30, 1936, Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations Assembly for league assistance Assembly for league assistance

the League imposed feeble economic restraints on the aggressors the League imposed feeble economic restraints on the aggressors

After proving ineffective, the measures were dropped, After proving ineffective, the measures were dropped,

led Mussolini towards an alliance with Hitler led Mussolini towards an alliance with Hitler

and the idea that subsequent actions would result in similar leniency.and the idea that subsequent actions would result in similar leniency.

Appeasement in InactionAppeasement in Inaction The Anschluss of AustriaThe Anschluss of Austria

On 9th March 1938, the Austrian Chancellor announced a bid On 9th March 1938, the Austrian Chancellor announced a bid for the independence of Austria for the independence of Austria

Hitler took this as an opportunity to take action against the Hitler took this as an opportunity to take action against the Austrian State Austrian State

The National Socialists formed a new government and the The National Socialists formed a new government and the Austrian National Socialists took power in Austria. Austrian National Socialists took power in Austria.

March 1938, troops of the German Wehrmacht and the SS March 1938, troops of the German Wehrmacht and the SS crossed the German-Austrian border crossed the German-Austrian border

Hitler announced the Hitler announced the “Anschluss”“Anschluss” (Annexation) of Austria into (Annexation) of Austria into the German Reich the German Reich

Appeasement in InactionAppeasement in Inaction Rhineland OccupationRhineland Occupation

in 1935, Hitler announced that Germany was rearming itself, a in 1935, Hitler announced that Germany was rearming itself, a fervent violation of the Treaty of Versailles fervent violation of the Treaty of Versailles

In 1936, Hitler continued to disobey the Treaty by mobilizing In 1936, Hitler continued to disobey the Treaty by mobilizing troops to the French-occupied Rhineland troops to the French-occupied Rhineland

France and Great Britain were at odds there was a lack of France and Great Britain were at odds there was a lack of support for France from Great Britain support for France from Great Britain

Hitler was allowed to believe that his defiance of the Treaty of Hitler was allowed to believe that his defiance of the Treaty of Versailles was tolerable. Versailles was tolerable.

Appeasement in InactionAppeasement in Inaction

Following the German conquest of the Following the German conquest of the Rhineland and Italian success in Rhineland and Italian success in Ethiopia, the various dictatorial Ethiopia, the various dictatorial regimes of Poland, Hungary, Romania, regimes of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia were quick to Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia were quick to emulate the forms and methods of their emulate the forms and methods of their Fascist and National-Socialist mentors.Fascist and National-Socialist mentors.

Interactive MapInteractive Map

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/euro1935.http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/euro1935.htmhtm

Appeasement in InactionAppeasement in Inaction

As the Allies feared a Fascist-dominated As the Allies feared a Fascist-dominated Europe, the western democracies were faced Europe, the western democracies were faced with two alternatives with two alternatives

1.1. opposition by force opposition by force

2. negotiations which would ultimately end in concessions 2. negotiations which would ultimately end in concessions to Nazi Germany to Nazi Germany

Munich PactMunich Pact August 1938, negotiations began after local German August 1938, negotiations began after local German

officials said the Sudeten people had been officials said the Sudeten people had been discriminated against by the Czech government discriminated against by the Czech government

On September 29, 1938, the On September 29, 1938, the Munich PactMunich Pact, which , which allowed for the cession of four specific districts of the allowed for the cession of four specific districts of the Sudetenland to Germany, was signed Sudetenland to Germany, was signed

By 1939, it was abundantly clear that the policy of By 1939, it was abundantly clear that the policy of appeasement had rendered ineffective by any appeasement had rendered ineffective by any standard. standard.

The End of AppeasementThe End of Appeasement On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland,

believing Britain and France would not intervenebelieving Britain and France would not intervene

Earlier in March, 1939, a British-French alliance Earlier in March, 1939, a British-French alliance pledged to aide Poland with all available power pledged to aide Poland with all available power "...in the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence and "...in the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence and

which the Polish Government accordingly considered it vital to resist with their which the Polish Government accordingly considered it vital to resist with their national forces," (Neville Chamberlain) national forces," (Neville Chamberlain)

On September 3, 1939, Great Britain and France On September 3, 1939, Great Britain and France declared war against Hitler and Nazi Germany. declared war against Hitler and Nazi Germany.

WWII BeginsWWII Begins The commencement of World War II forced the The commencement of World War II forced the

western allies to realize the flaws of the policy of western allies to realize the flaws of the policy of appeasement appeasement

appeasement appeared to be the solution to all appeasement appeared to be the solution to all problems but it ensured a peace that would have been problems but it ensured a peace that would have been very costly to maintain very costly to maintain

appeasement was a course that tended to ignore appeasement was a course that tended to ignore some hard political ideas some hard political ideas