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Key ideas and notes
Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister)
Appeasement, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler - March 1936 Rhineland. Control
of the Empire? War in different parts of the world impossible. League of
Nations an alternative? Abyssinia suggested otherwise.
Peace movement was also very strong, esp. among the young. Reasonable
action in Rhineland? How did Hitler justify it? Attlee (leader of Labour)
spend money on social needs (housing, education) not war. Spanish Civil
War, Guernica showed what would happen in war.
Chamberlain becomes PM May 1937. Halifax goes to Berlin. March 38
Austria - Anschluss (Union).
Sudetenland - rich, German speaking, many raw materials, Czech defences
and arms factories. German propaganda important. Henlein (Sudeten Nazi)
demands incorpration into German state. Benes (Czech premier) in difficult
position. Daladier (French PM and ally of Czech) reluctant to support.
France concerned only with defence from German attack (Maginot
Line).
Chamberlain meets Hitler at Berchtesgaden, Sept 15th 1938 (own
initiative did not consult Cabinet, French or Czech) concedes
self-determination.
Czechs to stand alone? Accepted terms. Bad Godesberg 22nd Sept Hitler
and Chamberlain meet. New demands are made. Chamberlain refused. War
plans made. But UK defences weak.
Mussolini calls for a 4 power conference (G, UK, F and It). Munich
conference. Sept 29-30. Agreement. Czechs not consulted. Peace guaranteed.
Peace with Honour. March 1939 Hitler invaded the remaining parts of
Czechoslovakia. August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact. Agreement to invade Poland.
September 1st 1939.
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