Appeasement: A Definition
Appeasement is a diplomatic policy of making concessions to an aggressor in order to avoid conflict. This often involves giving in to demands or allowing aggressive actions in hopes of maintaining peace.
Appeasement before WWII: The Case of Great Britain
The country most associated with appeasement before World War II is Great Britain.
Following the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany, Britain adopted a policy of appeasement towards Germany's aggressive actions:
* The Rhineland: In 1936, Germany remilitarized the Rhineland, a region forbidden to have German troops by the Treaty of Versailles. Britain did not intervene.
* The Anschluss: In 1938, Germany annexed Austria. Again, Britain did not take direct action.
* The Sudetenland Crisis: In 1938, Germany demanded the annexation of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, a region with a large German population. Britain, along with France and Italy, participated in the Munich Agreement, which ceded the Sudetenland to Germany.
The hope was that these concessions would appease Hitler's ambitions and prevent a larger war. However, this strategy ultimately failed. The Munich Agreement emboldened Hitler, leading him to further aggression, eventually leading to the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
Why Appeasement Failed:
* Hitler's true intentions: Hitler was never truly interested in peace. His ultimate goal was to expand German power through military conquest.
* Emboldened aggression: Each concession made by Britain and France only encouraged Hitler's further aggression.
* Moral and political consequences: Appeasement was widely seen as a betrayal of the Czech people and a weakness that encouraged Hitler's actions.
Appeasement became a controversial policy, and its failure is often cited as a cautionary tale against the dangers of giving in to aggression in hopes of avoiding conflict.