This document discusses the policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It explains that European leaders were reluctant to face another major war after WWI. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued a policy of appeasement, believing it would prevent another disaster like WWI. However, Hitler continued expanding German territory by annexing Austria and demanding the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, but failed to achieve "peace in our time" as Chamberlain claimed, as Hitler later occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, paving the way for WWII.

1. Understanding The Role
of Appeasement
By Brian Dail (EDSC 304)

2. Why appease Hitler?
 By 1938, Germany had re-armed its military under the Nazi
regime’s dictator Adolf Hitler. This action violated Germany’s
agreement in the Treaty of Versailles.
 Hitler was looking to expand Germany’s borders to create
more “living space” for ethnic Germans in Europe.
 Horrors from World War I left European leaders both
unprepared and reluctant to face another major conflict.
 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led the Anglo-
French policy of appeasement during the 1930’s.
 Chamberlain believed the policy of appeasement would result
in staving off another disaster like World War I.

3. Horrors of WWI: Helped Lead to Appeasement

4. Video:
Nazi Aggression & Appeasement

5. Your Analysis/ Interpretation?
 Is appeasement an effective foreign policy?
 Why was Britain & France wiling to give into Hitler’s demands
during the 1930’s?
 Do you think it was possible to stop Hitler’s ambition to
aquire more land for ethnic Germans with a differenct policy?
Or was war the only option?
 Was Neville Chamberlain a hero or a coward?
 Think about different arguments for and against the policy of
appeasement.

6. Discuss the Meaning of this
Political Cartoon?

7. Anschluss
 March 1938 = Hitler annouces an Anschluss with Austria
 “Anschluss” (union) between Germany & Austria. Annexing of Austria into a
Greater Germany.
 Hitler wanted all German-speaking nations in Europe to be part of Germany.
 Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles: Germany & Austria were
forbidden to be unified.

8. Munich Agreement
 Hitler granted the Sudetenland by Britain, France, & Italy.
 September 1938
 Signed an agreement that allowed the Nazis to annex Sudetenland (region of
Czechoslovakia that was home to many ethnic Germans(
 Hitler threatened to take the Sudetenland by force, the Czechs resisted, but France
& Britain wished to avoid war at all costs negotiated with Hitler, leaving the Czechs
behind.
 British Prime Minister Chamberlain declared, “peace for our time”, regarding the
Munich Agreement.

9. Did the Munich Agreement Bring Peace?
 Does Neville Chamberlain deserve the criticism for his part in allowing World
War II to occur by signing the Munich Agreement?
 Discuss the role leaders take in starting or preventing wars.
 How do you think Chamberlain was received when he returned back to
England following the signing of the Munich Agreement?
 Winston Churchill (a critic of Chamberlain) said: “You were given the choice
between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.” What
do you think he meant by this? Do you agree with him?

10. Review: The Role of Appeasement
a Factor Leading to World War II

11. Hitler’s Aggression Continued: Appeasement
Failed- Hitler invades rest of Czechoslovakia
Appeasement Timeline
 March 13, 1938: Germany annexes Austria.
 Sept. 22-24, 1938: Chamberlain meets with Hitler in Godesberg, Germany. Hitler claims
Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia would be final German demand for territory.
 Sept. 29, 1938: Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich Agreement.
 March 14-15, 1939: Germany breaks the Munich Agreement and occupies the rest of Czech
lands.
 March 31, 1939: France and Great Britain agree to support Poland against Nazi aggression.
 Aug. 23, 1939: Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact, dividing Eastern Europe
into spheres of influence.
 Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland.
 Sept. 3, 1939: Honoring their support of Poland, Great Britain and France declare war on
Germany.

12. Appeasement Discussion in Small Groups
 Is Peace worth any price?
 Did Hitler view Appeasement as a sign of weakness?
 What do you believe was the appropriate course of action for Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain to take in the 1930’s towards German aggression?
 What are your arguments for and against the policy of appeasement.
 Do you believe the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on the Germans? Detail why or
why not?
 Can you link the lessons learned from the policy of appeasement to events/issues in
the future?