Appeasement Interpretations

What interpretation is 'Well done, Chamberlain!" and what did they believe?

Popular majority view (1937-8)

Chamberlain kept the spectre of war at bay for as long as he could and gave peace a chance

Why did the popular majority view develop at this time?

WW1 - memories of the war wanted them to avoid another one at any cost

What are some examples of the popular majority view? (3)

1) Thousands of people lined up in the rain to cheer him as he was driven from Heston Airfield to London

2) 40,000 letters and telegrams of support

3) US Ambassador, Joseph Kennedy approved

What were the impacts of the popular majority view?

People soon began to feel guilty for what had happened with Czechoslovakia and the Munich Agreement had only brought the chance of peace but nothing more and polls showed that people with the view did not naively trust Hitler

Who were some challengers to the popular majority view? (2)

1) Winston Churchill

2) Political cartoonist e.g., David Low

What interpretation is the 'Guilty Men" and what did they believe?

Popular and political view (1939-48)

Appeasement was foolish, cowardly and immoral and it strengthened dictators whilst weakening Britain

Give a summary of 'Guilty Men'

Published by Cato (actually Michael Foot, Frank Owen and Peter Howard who worked for Lord Beaverbrook) in 1940 overall attacking Chamberlain. Beaverbrook went from a supporter of Appeasement to an opposer after the war broke out and Churchill asked him to join the government

Why did the popular and political view develop at this time? (3)

1) Publication of 'Guilty Men'

2) Promoted by Beaverbrook - in order to strengthen Churchill's cabinet in opposition to Halifax who wanted peace with Hitler

3) Shame from Munich

What are some examples of the popular and political view? (2)

1) Publication of 'Guilty Men'

2) Labour Party used Chamberlain's shame to discredit Conservative party in 1945 election campaign

What were the impacts of the popular and political view?

Helped Churchill defeat Halifax and he became the leader of Britain's war policy. However in 1945, Labour exploited the fact that it was a Conservative government that was responsible for Appeasement and that resulted in Churchill being booted. However, all in all, Appeasement was turned into a dirty word

What interpretation is the idea that the appeasers misjudged Hitler and what did they believe?

Churchill (orthodox) view (1948-60s)

Appeasement was a terrible misjudgment and miscalculation, even it was based on good intentions

Why did the orthodox view develop at this time? (2)

1) Churchill Factor - 'history will be kind to me because I shall write the history'; he wanted to make sure his historical reputation did not suffer, especially after the 1945 election

2) The Cold War - Churchill believed the USA needed to understand the failure of Appeasement in relation to their response to the USSR

What was an example of the orthodox view?

'The Gathering Storm' - documentary in the 1960s influencing other popular interpretations of the period

What were the impacts of the orthodox view?

Very few historians challenged Churchill at first and when they did start, political leaders followed his influence e.g., Truman with the Truman Doctrine and the Cuban Missile Crisis

What interpretation is the belief of rehabilitating Chamberlain and what did they believe?

Academic revisionist view (1960s-90s)

Chamberlain was in an impossible position and he did the best that he could have done under the circumstances

Why did the academic revisionist view develop at this time? (3)

1) Radical thinking of the 1960s

2) Vietnam war - USA's dislike of Appeasement had drawn them into war with Vietnam which was flopping

3) New British sources - Public Records Act of 1958, official government papers could be studied 30 years after their creation so new documents available

What are some examples of the academic revisionist view? (2)

1) AJP Taylor, 1961, started revisionist approach and re-evaluated Hitler who had no clear aims so Chamberlain can't be blamed for Appeasement

2) D. Cameron Watt, 1965, said Chamberlain had lots of problems and few resources in the 1930s

What were the impacts of the academic revisionist view?

Very little political influence but popular amongst professional historians

What interpretation put Chamberlain back on trial and what did they believe?

Academic counter-revisionist view (1990s-2000s)

Chamberlain himself was part of the problem as his own personality and assumptions mean the could not deal satisfactorily with the situation

Why did the academic counter-revisionist view develop at this time? (2)

1) Historical debate - academic historians' job to oppose or refine earlier interpretations

2) New Soviet sources - after the Cold War ended (1989), and Soviets held Nazi documents looking at the events leading up to the war

What are some examples of the academic counter-revisionist view? (2)

1) Robert Parker ('93) - Chamberlain was partially responsible as he ignored advice and believed he had more influence over Hitler than he did

2) Paul Kennedy ('93) - revising earlier views e.g., critical of Chamberlain's 'individual Conviction'

What were the impacts of the academic counter-revisionist view?

Not as dramatic so not a lot of influence on politicians/public. It did stir up a debate that still continues. Some revisionists changed their views e.g., Donald Cameron Watt