Reason 1. Attitudes to Versailles Settlement Too harsh – unreasonable & unrealistic Treaty already broken many times People no longer wanted revenge so badly Between 1936 – 1938 Hitler hadn’t attacked anyone! Moved troops ‘into own back garden’ Anschluss 1938 – welcomed? Skilful use of propaganda convinced people his demands were justified, ambitions did not threaten Europe?

Reason 2. Economic weakness Britain was in a depression Jobs and houses were priority ‘butter before guns’ Spending better on social welfare reforms than military defence/weaponry

Reason 3. Concerns over the Empire ¼ of worlds population under British rule Defending wealth and power that came from this was Britain’s no.1 priority ‘Committee of Imperial Defence’ warned that Britain could not fight war on three fronts Would Empire troops fight again?

Reason 4. Military weakness Disarmed hugely 10 year rule Defence spending cut Advice from Chiefs of Staff Britain needed time! Hitler’s propaganda led to belief he was stronger than he actually was

USA was following isolationist policy France politically unstable Maginot mentality Reason 5. Lack of reliable allies

Reason 6. Fear of Communism Threat of communism was most pressing problem Germany seen as best hope of preventing it ‘Better Hitlerism than Communism’ Communism promised destruction of European governments and economies

Reason 7. Pacifism and Public Opinion Widespread hostility - elections - Co-operative Women’s Guild - Manchester Guardian - Peace Pledge Union - Oxford University Union Fear of modern warfare: ‘bomber will always get through’ Horrors of WWI