Appeasement_by_France_and_Britain

Why did Britain and France adopt the appeasement policy betwen 1933 t0 1939' To appease means to avoid displeasing or annoying some one by giving or doing what that person wants. It could be to give or to do what a given country wants in order to avoid war. Between 1933 and 1938 Britain and France adopted a cautious policy towards Germany. They showed their reluctance to take decisive action to prevent or halt German aggressive and expansionist policies. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime minister, in the period 1937 – 1940 is the man most associated with this policy although it was followed by Britain almost from the time Hitler came to power in 1933. He believed that the best way to deal with Hitler was by discussion and conceding to his demands, which are not too demanding. This became popularly known as the Appeasement Policy. Reasons why Britain and France adopted the Policy of Appeasement: • Public opinion in both countries was against war. Chamberlain himself and many other leading politicians in Britain shared this opinion. Memories of the First World War were still fresh in people’s minds. They could not contemplate another war happening at that time. They would try almost any thing to avoid war. In other words, avoid war at any cost. • The Economic Depression of the early 1930s had devastated the economies of most countries of Europe. Britain and France were anxious to cut down government spending to protect their economies from collapsing. They did not want to increase on the military spending in preparation for war. Economic problems such as huge debts and mass unemployment were higher and immediate priorities. • Like the most British politicians of the 1930s, Chamberlain had sympathies for Germany over the Treaty of Versailles. He believed that the treaty was unfair and Hitler was right in most of his aims such as rearming Germany and recovering some of the lost German territory. He also believed that after putting right the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler will be satisfied and Germany would become a peaceful nation again. • France was facing internal political problems during the 1930s. She was not in position to take on Germany without Britain’s support. As a result, France tended to follow Britain in matters of foreign policy during this period. • Hitler was seen as a buffer against communism. Britain was much more concerned about the threat of communism than Hitler’s policies. Britain would not mind appeasing Hitler as long as he continues to stand against communism. • Britain and France were not sure about US’s support in case of war with Germany. The USA was still inclined to her policy of international isolation. US leaders were determined not to drag their country into another war. • Chamberlain adopted a cautious policy towards Germany because an aggressive policy could cause a split in the British Empire. It was not certain whether or not the British Empire and the Common Wealth states would support a war against Germany. Indeed, in September 1938, South Africa and Australia declared that they would not. • Britain was concerned about the rise of Japan as an imperial rival in the Far East. It threatened British interests in Asia. In fact a future war with Japan was a high possibility. Appeasement would help to avoid the risk of fighting Germany and Japan at the same time. • Chamberlain was a pacifist. He passionately believed in the importance of peace. He believed in sorting out differences peacefully through negotiations. He was an honest man who kept his word and scrupulously respected all treaties entered into. He expected all leaders to adhere to these ethical standards. Also as most British politicians who had lived through the experience of the First World War, Chamberlain was horrified at the idea of another war. He was determined to avoid war at ay coast. • The Appeasement policy would purchase valuable time Britain needed to prepare for war, which even Chamberlain himself knew would eventually come. For example, when Chamberlain was signing the Munich Agreement of September 1938, he was at the same time approving a massive increase in military spending. Indeed Aircraft production was stepped up from 2000 Aircrafts in 1937 to 8000 in 1939. British Generals also believed that appeasement was preferable to fighting a war for which Britain was not prepared. Appeasement achieved its intended objectives and when it began showing signs of out living its purpose, it was dropped. By 1938, it had become obvious that war was inevitable. Chamberlain dropped the appeasement policy and adopted that of armed resistance against Germany.