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World War II
The Failure of “Appeasement”
What is “appeasement”?
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When a country becomes aggressive,
other countries give the aggressor what it
wants just to prevent another war
The Appeasement Crises
1936-1939
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As Hitler became more aggressive in his
attempt to make Germany a power
international force, Britain and France
practiced appeasement
Germany re-militarizes
the Rhineland
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March 1936 – Hitler’s troops enter the
Rhineland, violating the Treaty of
Versailles
Britain and France did nothing to stop this
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Germany annexes Austria
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German troops entered Austria, making it
part of Germany, once again violating the
Treaty of Versailles
Once again, the European democracies did
nothing to stop this
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Appeasement in Czechoslovakia
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Over 3 million Germans lived within the
new borders of Czechoslovakia in the
western area called Sudetenland
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Appeasement in Czechoslovakia
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Hitler threatened to invade this area in
1938
Britain and France panicked, feeling that
any resistance by the Czechs would lead
to war
Appeasement in Czechoslovakia
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A conference was called at Munich,
Germany
The wishes of the Czechs were completely
ignored as Hitler received Sudetenland in
exchange for a guarantee to not go to war
Neville Chamberlain announces to Britain
that he had achieved “peace in our time”
Hitler told his entourage after the event:
“If ever that silly old man comes
interfering here again with his umbrella,
I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his
stomach in front of the photographers.”
Hitler said of Daladier and Chamberlain: Our enemies are little worms
***
Appeasement in Czechoslovakia
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Hitler betrayed the agreement when he
invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia on
March 15, 1939
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It was obvious that appeasement had
failed and a major war was imminent
“Peace in our time”
John Cleese – Monty Python Parody of famous speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFb_Ik_4jz0 (longer
version)
Sounds better
than:
“Europe laid waste
in our time”
The NAZI-Soviet Pact
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The Soviet Union played no part in the
appeasement process
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Britain and France did not want to
cooperate with Stalin’s communist regime
***
The NAZI-Soviet Pact
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Hitler had always made it clear that he
would attack communism in the USSR
The world was shocked when he signed a
Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin
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Officially: the Treaty of Non-aggression
between Germany and the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics
Also known as the Ribbentrop–
Molotov Pact or Nazi–Soviet Pact,
was signed on August 23, 1939***
The NAZI-Soviet Pact
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Both sides agreed to not attack each other
and divide Poland between them
Both sides knew the other was lying, but
needed this time to prepare for war
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The treaty included a secret protocol that divided
territories of Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia and Finland into Nazi and Soviet spheres
Germany invaded Poland on Sept 1st.
Stalin invaded on the 17th of September
USSR annexed Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Bessarabia
Pact remained in force until June 22, 1941 when
Hitler invaded USSR
Von Ribbentrop–Canadian
Connection
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Worked For Molson’s Bank in Quebec; then for an
engineering firm working on Construction of a
Quebec Bridge.
Worked for National Transcontinental Railway –
Moncton to Winnipeg line.
Set up a business in Ottawa importing German
Wine and Champagne
Was on famous Ottawa Minto Ice Skating team
Hated by most regular Nazi’s because they deemed
him “Superficial”
“The Nazi Most Other Nazi’s hated.”
"Von Ribbentrop bought his name, he married his
money, and he swindled his way into office” –
Joseph Goebbels in his diary.
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On 16 October 1946 Ribbentrop became the first convicted
political appointee to be hanged. (Göring had committed
suicide before his scheduled execution.) He was escorted
up the 13 steps of the gallows and asked if he had any
final words. He said: "God protect Germany. God have
mercy on my soul. My final wish is that Germany should
recover her unity and that, for the sake of peace, there
should be understanding between East and West. I wish
peace to the world."[264] Nuremberg Prison Commandant
Burton C. Andrus later recalled that, immediately before
the hood was placed over his head, Ribbentrop turned to
the prison's Lutheran chaplain and whispered, "I'll see you
again."[265] Members of the US Army cremated
Ribbentrop’s remains and scattered his ashes in an
unmarked location
***
Can we look at appeasement in
a non “Churchillian” manner?
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What would a historian ask? Why
appeasement?
WW1 fresh in memory?
Needed to buy time to re-arm?
No desire to go to war
Depression recently
As historians, never simplify something as
either “good” or “Bad” – examine context.