Why was Appeasement popular in the 1930s?

Today we are learning The reasons why Britain followed appeasement in the 1930s.

Remember… The policy of appeasement was followed in the 1930s by Britain and France. Appeasement means to give in to an aggressors demands, providing they are deemed reasonable, in order to avoid conflict.

Views on Appeasement Some historians feel that appeasement was a direct cause of WW2 as it allowed Hitler to grow in power and confidence. Others sympathise with politicians of the time and share the belief that appeasement was the only viable option. It also gave Britain and France time to prepare for war.

Why Appeasement? Many felt that the British army was not ready to fight in the mid 1930s. Appeasing gave them time to prepare for war. A leading army general had told the government that the army was not ready to fight. The British did not have the money to fund a war. The 1930s was a time of real hardship for many people and there was the belief in ‘welfare not warfare’.

Britain had not kept up military spending The Ten Year Rule was a British government guideline, first adopted in August 1919, that the armed forces should draft their estimates "on the assumption that the British Empire would not be engaged in any great war during the next ten years“. Abandoned in 1932.[

Concerns over Empire Britain was more concerned about the security of the Empire Most of military spending on maintaining the Royal Navy therefore did not want to get bogged down in Europe

Underestimation of Hitler Many people trusted Hitler and thought that his demands were not unreasonable. What was wrong with Hitler taking back German territory or uniting with Austria if the people were happy about it? There was widespread belief that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh and it was right for Hitler to challenge it.

Don’t want another war The impact of WW1 had effected many people’s viewpoints. They had seen the devastation war had caused and didn’t want another one. There was widespread support for pacifism. This was backed up by the 1935 Peace Ballot where 11.5 million people voted against aggression.

Fear of Communism Germany seen as buffer between Russia and Europe. A strong Germany would prevent Russian expansion ‘Better Hitlerism than Communism’

Military Financial Trust Versailles First World War Pacifism

Task Military Financial Trust Versailles First World War Pacifism Create a mnemonic for the reasons why appeasement was followed in the 1930s. It could be a shopping list, sentence, list of colours, football teams etc. You will be tested on the reasons behind the policy of appeasement in 10 minutes! Military Financial Trust Versailles First World War Pacifism