World War IIWorld War IIThe Failure of The Failure of

“Appeasement”“Appeasement”

What is What is “appeasement”“appeasement”??

When a country becomes aggressive, When a country becomes aggressive, other countries give the aggressor what other countries give the aggressor what it wants just to prevent another warit wants just to prevent another war

***

The Appeasement CrisesThe Appeasement Crises1936-19391936-1939

As Hitler became more aggressive in his As Hitler became more aggressive in his attempt to make Germany a power attempt to make Germany a power international force, Britain and France international force, Britain and France practiced appeasementpracticed appeasement

Germany re-militarizes Germany re-militarizes the Rhinelandthe Rhineland

March 1936 – Hitler’s troops enter March 1936 – Hitler’s troops enter the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of VersaillesVersailles

Britain and France did nothing to Britain and France did nothing to stop thisstop this

***

Germany annexes AustriaGermany annexes Austria

German troops entered Austria, making German troops entered Austria, making it part of Germany, once again violating it part of Germany, once again violating the Treaty of Versaillesthe Treaty of Versailles

Once again, the European Once again, the European democracies did nothing to stop thisdemocracies did nothing to stop this

***

Appeasement in CzechoslovakiaAppeasement in Czechoslovakia

Over 3 million Germans lived within the Over 3 million Germans lived within the new borders of Czechoslovakia in the new borders of Czechoslovakia in the western area called western area called SudetenlandSudetenland

***

Appeasement in CzechoslovakiaAppeasement in Czechoslovakia Hitler threatened to invade this area Hitler threatened to invade this area

in 1938in 1938

Britain and France panicked, feeling Britain and France panicked, feeling that any resistance by the Czechs that any resistance by the Czechs would lead to warwould lead to war

***

Appeasement in CzechoslovakiaAppeasement in Czechoslovakia A conference was called at Munich, A conference was called at Munich,

GermanyGermany The wishes of the Czechs were The wishes of the Czechs were

completely ignored as Hitler received completely ignored as Hitler received Sudetenland in exchange for a Sudetenland in exchange for a guarantee to not go to warguarantee to not go to war Neville Chamberlain announces to Neville Chamberlain announces to Britain that he had achieved “peace Britain that he had achieved “peace in our time”in our time”

Hitler told his entourage after the Hitler told his entourage after the event: “event: “If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers.”

***

Hitler said of Daladier and Chamberlain: Our enemies are little worms

Appeasement in CzechoslovakiaAppeasement in Czechoslovakia

Hitler betrayed the agreement when Hitler betrayed the agreement when he invaded the rest of he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939

It was obvious that appeasement had It was obvious that appeasement had failed and a major war was imminentfailed and a major war was imminent

***

“Peace in our time”

Sounds better than:

“Europe laid waste in our time”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDvDClAL-2s&feature=related

-John Cleese – Monty Python Parody of famous speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFb_Ik_4jz0 (longer version)

The NAZI-Soviet PactThe NAZI-Soviet Pact

The Soviet Union played no part in The Soviet Union played no part in the appeasement processthe appeasement process

Britain and France did not want to Britain and France did not want to cooperate with Stalin’s communist cooperate with Stalin’s communist regimeregime

The NAZI-Soviet PactThe NAZI-Soviet Pact Hitler had always made it clear that Hitler had always made it clear that

he would attack communism in the he would attack communism in the USSRUSSR

The world was shocked when he The world was shocked when he signed a Non-Aggression Pact with signed a Non-Aggression Pact with StalinStalin

***

Officially: the Officially: the Treaty of Non-Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsRepublics

Also known as the Ribbentrop–Also known as the Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact or Nazi–Soviet Molotov Pact or Nazi–Soviet Pact, was signed on August 23, Pact, was signed on August 23, 1939***1939***

The NAZI-Soviet PactThe NAZI-Soviet Pact Both sides agreed to not attack each Both sides agreed to not attack each

other and divide Poland between themother and divide Poland between them

Both sides knew the other was lying, Both sides knew the other was lying, but needed this time to prepare for but needed this time to prepare for warwar

The treaty included a secret protocol that The treaty included a secret protocol that divided territories of Romania, Poland, Lithuania, divided territories of Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland into Nazi and Soviet Latvia, Estonia and Finland into Nazi and Soviet spheresspheres

Germany invaded Poland on Sept 1Germany invaded Poland on Sept 1stst.. Stalin invaded on the 17Stalin invaded on the 17thth of September of September USSR annexed Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, USSR annexed Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,

BessarabiaBessarabia Pact remained in force until June 22, 1941 when Pact remained in force until June 22, 1941 when

Hitler invaded USSRHitler invaded USSR

..

Von Ribbentrop–Canadian Von Ribbentrop–Canadian ConnectionConnection

Worked For Molson’s Bank in Quebec; then Worked For Molson’s Bank in Quebec; then for an engineering firm working on for an engineering firm working on Construction of a Quebec Bridge.Construction of a Quebec Bridge.

Worked for National Transcontinental Worked for National Transcontinental Railway – Moncton to Winnipeg line.Railway – Moncton to Winnipeg line.

Set up a business in Ottawa importing Set up a business in Ottawa importing German Wine and ChampagneGerman Wine and Champagne

Was on famous Ottawa Minto Ice Skating Was on famous Ottawa Minto Ice Skating teamteam

Hated by most regular Nazi’s because they Hated by most regular Nazi’s because they deemed him “Superficial”deemed him “Superficial”

““The Nazi Most Other Nazi’s hated.”The Nazi Most Other Nazi’s hated.” "Von Ribbentrop bought his name, he "Von Ribbentrop bought his name, he

married his money, and he swindled his way married his money, and he swindled his way into office” – Joseph Goebbels in his diary. into office” – Joseph Goebbels in his diary.

On 16 October 1946 Ribbentrop became the first On 16 October 1946 Ribbentrop became the first convicted political appointee to be hanged. (Göring convicted political appointee to be hanged. (Göring had committed suicide before his scheduled had committed suicide before his scheduled execution.) He was escorted up the 13 steps of the execution.) He was escorted up the 13 steps of the gallows and asked if he had any final words. He gallows and asked if he had any final words. He said: "God protect Germany. God have mercy on said: "God protect Germany. God have mercy on my soul. My final wish is that Germany should my soul. My final wish is that Germany should recover her unity and that, for the sake of peace, recover her unity and that, for the sake of peace, there should be understanding between East and there should be understanding between East and West. I wish peace to the world."[264] Nuremberg West. I wish peace to the world."[264] Nuremberg Prison Commandant Burton C. Andrus later recalled Prison Commandant Burton C. Andrus later recalled that, immediately before the hood was placed over that, immediately before the hood was placed over his head, Ribbentrop turned to the prison's his head, Ribbentrop turned to the prison's Lutheran chaplain and whispered, "I'll see you Lutheran chaplain and whispered, "I'll see you again."[265] Members of the US Army cremated again."[265] Members of the US Army cremated Ribbentrop’s remains and scattered his ashes in an Ribbentrop’s remains and scattered his ashes in an unmarked locationunmarked location

Can we look at appeasement in Can we look at appeasement in a non “Churchillian” manner?a non “Churchillian” manner?

What would a historian ask? Why What would a historian ask? Why appeasement?appeasement?

WW1 fresh in memory?WW1 fresh in memory? Needed to buy time to re-arm?Needed to buy time to re-arm? No desire to go to warNo desire to go to war Depression recentlyDepression recently As historians, never simplify something As historians, never simplify something

as either “good” or “Bad” – examine as either “good” or “Bad” – examine context. context.

***