the policy of appeasement

what was appeasement?

the diplomatic policy of making political, material, or territorial concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict

when did european powers utilise appeasement?

mostly, 1933 to 1939

why did britain and france adhere to appeasement policies?

• to buy time for reorganisation and rearmament (esp. aircraft in britain)

• some (brits) agreed that the treaty was too harsh

• some retained the theory that hitler and mussolini could be stopped through diplomatic discussion

• many saw hitler as a buffer to communism

what problems did the policy of appeasement cause?

• emboldened hitler by suggesting there would be no consequences for his actions

• also allowed germany to rearm and grow stronger

• isolated countries like czechoslovakia and the USSR

• destroyed the idea of collective security