Appeasement and the Road To War Why Appeasement?

Aims:  To define the term ‘appeasement’?  To identify the main reasons why countries followed a policy of appeasement

The Breakdown of Collective Security  By the early 1930s it was clear that the League of Nation’s system of collective security was not working.  However public opinion firmly supported the League and its policies.  In the 1930s the main threats to peace in Europe came from two Fascist powers – Germany and Italy

The Breakdown of Collective Security  The leaders of Britain and France increasingly bypassed the League of Nations and chose to deal with these two countries by following a policy of appeasement. KEY TERM: APPEASEMENT The policy of avoiding war with aggressive powers such as Germany and Italy by giving way to their demands provided these were not too unreasonable

The Breakdown of Collective Security  Apart from the weakness of the League there were other reasons why politicians opted for a policy of appeasement.  Some historians think that appeasement was: a)The main cause of the Second World War. It allowed Hitler to grow in power and bully and threaten the rest of Europe. b)The only realistic option. The Second World War broke out because of German aggression. Appeasement gave Britain/France time to rearm and prepare for a war that was inevitable.

Empire was not ready to fight Britain had no reliable allies Ineffectiveness of the League Economy was too weak for war Communism was a greater threat British people were unwilling to fight Germany had reasonable demands e.g. over the Treaty of Versailles Hitler could be trusted Why Appeasement? Armed forces unprepared for war. The remoteness of problems

Attitudes to War in the 1920s and 1930s  By the 1930s politicians were acutely aware of the strong pacifist feeling that existed among the British public.  A pacifist is someone who opposes war and believes disputes should be settled by peaceful means.  700,000 British soldiers had died in the ‘Great War’ and few families were unaffected. There was the desire to ensure that this was the ‘war to end all wars’.

Attitudes to War in the 1920s and 1930s In the 1930s there were three events which showed that the British people were not prepared to stomach another war. Oxford Union Debate 1933 East Fulham By-Election 1933 Peace Ballot, 1934