The Case for Appeasement

INTRODUCTION TO HITLER'S EXPANSIONIST AIMS

  • Hitler aimed to reunite all German-speaking peoples in Central and Eastern Europe.

  • Focus on Austria, the largest group of German speakers outside of Germany.

HITLER'S INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO UNITE AUSTRIA

  • Unsuccessful Attempts (1934): Hitler’s first effort to annex Austria failed.

  • Austro-German Agreement (1936):

    • Recognized Austria's independence; however, Austria had to release Nazi prisoners.

    • Gaining support from Mussolini for future plans involving Austria.

PREPARING FOR WAR: HITLER'S FOUR-YEAR PLAN (1936)

  • Launched to prepare the German economy for war.

  • Important leaders given extensive control over industries and government to facilitate this preparation.

  • Engaged in military and territorial expansion.

THE POLICY OF APPEASEMENT

  • As Nazi Germany strengthened, Britain and France hesitated to threaten Hitler with military action.

  • Encouraged Hitler's aggression towards territorial expansion, especially in Austria.

GERMANY'S INFLUENCE IN AUSTRIA (1937)

  • Nazi agents instigated tensions in Austria, leading to an assassination plot against the Austrian chancellor.

  • Chancellor Schuschnigg's Response: Ordered police raids that uncovered plans for riots influenced by German agents.

HITLER'S OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS (1938)

  • Schuschnigg met with Hitler, who demanded:

    • Release of all Nazi prisoners.

    • Acceptance of Nazis in the Austrian government.

    • Economic integration into Germany.

  • Schuschnigg prepared a vote for Austrian independence but Hitler preemptively sent troops to Austria.

  • Austrian populace largely welcomed the German troops, mistaking them for liberators.

THE ECHOES OF NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN

  • Reaction from Britain and France was mostly limited to public protests; neither was prepared for war.

  • Chamberlain’s perspective: "…a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing!" – Reflecting a policy of non-involvement.

THE SITUATION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA (1937)

  • Post-Austria annexation, Hitler focused on Czechoslovakia, inciting tensions in the Sudetenland (German-speaking regions).

  • Czech government mobilized military forces in response to German provocations.

ESSENTIAL MEETINGS AND AGREEMENTS

  • Munich Agreement (September 29, 1938):

    • Chamberlain pressured Czech leaders into surrendering the Sudetenland to Hitler.

    • Outcome:

    • Guarantee that German troops would not pursue further territory.

    • No meaningful representation or agreement from the Czechs themselves.

  • Chamberlain returned to Britain declaring peace had been secured, although this was short-lived.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA FALLS (March 15, 1939)

  • German troops marched into Prague, fully occupying Czechoslovakia without resistance.

  • This act revealed Hitler's true ambitions, and Britain promised to intervene in Poland if threatened.

THE NEXT TARGET: POLAND

  • Expansionist aims toward Poland materialized, using the ‘unfair treatment’ narrative justified by the Treaty of Versailles.

  • Britain and France were preparing for potential conflict, recognizing the direct threat posed by Hitler's ambitions.

THE MUNICH AGREEMENT

  • A secret version was produced by Hitler and Chamberlain, symbolizing a temporary peace but foreshadowing further aggression.

  • Final Prediction: The aggression towards Poland indicated impending global conflict.