Appeasement

The 1920s had a good outlook towards peace, but near the end of the decade and throughout the 1930s signs of war were forming. Leaders arose in countries that were unsatisfied with the results of World War I. Germany, Italy, and Japan took aggressive actions, and neither the League of Nations nor the democratic countries were stopping them. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain suggested the policy of appeasement towards Hitler to keep peace. Europe moved closer to war as these actions were made. World War II had propelled with the lack of judgement by the League of Nations by continuous appeasing Hitler.

September 3, 1939 was when the world plunged into World War II. The main reason for the cause of this war was the policy of appeasement. Before the war started, In October 1935, Mussolini ordered a massive invasion of Ethiopia. After Italy attacked, Haile Selassie, leader of Ethiopia, asked the League of Nations for help. In document 2, Haile Selassie, requested the League of Nations help stop the invasion and when the League's response was ineffective he said, " God and history will remember your judgementÐ'...It is us today. It will be you tomorrow." By now, Hitler came to power and was leading the Nazi's in the Third Reich. They had also became the largest political party. In March 1935, the Fuhrer (Hitler) announced that Germany would not obey the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. The League of Nations only issued a mild warning for the rebuilding of Germany's armed forces, which forbade the treaty. The League's failure to stop Germany from rearming convinced Hitler to take even greater risks. On March 7, Hitler disobeyed another agreement, which forbade him to invade Rhineland (a buffer zone between Germany and France). In document 3, the article states that, "Germany today cast off the last shackles fastened upon her by the Treaty of Versailles when Adolf Hitler, sent in his new battalions into the Rhineland's demilitarized zone." British urged appeasement, which was not an excellent idea. First, it strengthened Hitler's power and prestige within Germany. Catious generals who had urged restraint now agreed to follow him. Second, the balance of power changed in Germany's favor. Finally, the weak response by France and Britain encouraged Hitler to speed up his military and territorial expansion. Hitler's growing strength also grew him allies which included Italy and Japan and the three aggressors became to be known as the axis powers. Instead of taking a stand against the aggressors, Britain and France repeatedly made concessions, hoping to keep peace. In addition, the horrors of World War I had created a deep desire to avoid war. Britain and France made yet another poor choice to follow the policy of appeasement on Hitler's first target Austria. In March 1938, Hitler sent his army into Austria and annexed it. Hitler next turned to Czechoslovakia. France and Britain were preparing for war when Mussolini proposed the meeting of Italy, Germany, France and Britain to discuss the outcome of Czechoslovakia. This meeting was called the Munich Conference and was held on September 29, 1938. The next morning broadcasted by William Shirer, as seen in document 4, he states the conclusion of the conferenceÐ'... "The price of peace isÐ'...the ceding by Czechoslovakia of the Sudeten territory to Herr Hitler's GermanyÐ'...the