Appeasement Flashcards
(12 cards)
Definition
Appeasement was the diplomatic policy of making concessions to aggressive powers — particularly Nazi Germany — in order to avoid conflict. It is most associated with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, especially between 1935 and 1939.
Q1: What was appeasement?
A1: A policy mainly followed by Britain and France in the 1930s, where they allowed Hitler to break the Treaty of Versailles in hopes that his demands would be limited and peace would be preserved.
Q2: Who was most associated with appeasement?
A2: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, particularly from 1937 to 1939.
Q3: What was the most famous example of appeasement
A3: The Munich Agreement (1938), where Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia without Czech consent.
Q4: What were the key stages of appeasement?
• 1935: Anglo-German Naval Agreement
• 1936: Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
• 1938: Anschluss with Austria
• 1938: Munich Agreement (Sudetenland)
• 1939: Occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia → clear turning point
• Sept 1939: Invasion of Poland → Britain and France declare war
Q5: Why did Britain and France follow a policy of appeasement?
A5:
• Fear of another world war (WWI trauma)
• Belief that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh
• Economic weakness (Great Depression)
• Underestimation of Hitler’s ambitions
• Belief that Hitler was a buffer against Soviet communism
Q6: What were the arguments in favour of appeasement at the time?
A6:
• Gave Britain time to rearm
• Popular with the public (especially in Britain)
• Avoided immediate war
• Some felt Germany had legitimate grievances
Q7: What are the criticisms of appeasement?
A7:
• Encouraged Hitler to take more aggressive steps
• Undermined smaller allies (like Czechoslovakia)
• Showed weakness and indecisiveness
• Failed to prevent WWII
Q8: How do historians view appeasement today?
A8: Most now see it as a miscalculation, though not purely foolish. Some historians argue that rearmament during appeasement helped Britain survive in 1940. It’s debated whether Chamberlain had a better option.
Q9: How did Hitler respond to appeasement?
A9: He saw it as weakness. After gaining the Sudetenland without a fight, he no longer feared Britain and France and quickly invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
Q10: Was appeasement the main cause of WWII?
A10: It wasn’t the sole cause, but it enabled Hitler’s expansion without consequences, encouraging him to push further. Combined with Hitler’s ideology, economic instability, and weak collective security, it made war more likely.
Q11: How did appeasement affect international relations after WWII?
A11: It shaped postwar foreign policy, especially during the Cold War. Western powers became much more aggressive in containing threats (e.g., containment of communism) — “never appease aggressors” became a lesson.
