Notes on Chamberlain and Churchill's Policies in 1938-1939

Document A: Neville Chamberlain

  • Context: Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler in 1938 to address Germany's aggressive foreign policy.
  • Munich Pact (September 30, 1938):
    • Gave the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany.
    • In exchange, Hitler agreed not to seek additional territory.
  • Chamberlain's Defense of the Agreement:
    • Advocated for diplomacy and collaboration to avoid war.
    • Stressed the importance of armed strength to empower diplomacy.
    • Believed personal contact with dictators could lead to peace.
    • Emphasized the need for a collective desire for peace and national service.
  • Vocabulary:
    • Induce: Convince

Document B: Winston Churchill

  • Context: Churchill was a prominent critic of Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement.
  • Main Critique of Munich Agreement:
    • Claimed it was a total defeat that merely postponed conflict.
    • Argued that deterrents and sincere efforts to address grievances are essential for maintaining peace.
  • Historical Reference:
    • Seizure of Austria in March highlighted the urgency to protect Czechoslovakia.
    • Warning that Czechoslovakia would soon be engulfed by Nazi regime.
  • Reflections on the State of Britain and France:
    • Described the Munich Agreement as a disaster.
    • Anticipated that the consequences would lead to severe repercussions in the future.
  • Vocabulary:
    • Victuals: Food
    • Deterrents: Prevention strategies
    • Redress: To make right
    • Impartial: Fair and just
    • Engulfed: Consumed

Document C: Vernon Bartlett

  • Context: Bartlett was a critic of the Munich Agreement and a Parliament member elected in 1938.
  • Description of the Godesberg Meeting:
    • Perceived panic among German officials when it was announced that Chamberlain would not meet Hitler again.
    • Believed the crowds praising Chamberlain were primarily ordinary citizens desiring to avoid war.
  • Personal Opinion:
    • Argued that if Chamberlain had taken a firm stance, Hitler might have backed down or been less supported by his citizens.
    • Critiqued Britain's unpreparedness for war, noting the lost Czechoslovak Army.
  • Vocabulary:
    • Obeisance: Respect
    • Scandalously: Worthy of public outrage
    • Out-flanked: Out-maneuver an enemy

Document D: Henry Channon

  • Context: Channon was an American-born politician who chronicled events in a diary.
  • Entry on Czechoslovakia's Fall (March 15, 1939):
    • Noted that Czechoslovakia had ceased to exist with Hitler's invasion.
    • Critiqued the unexpected nature of the invasion and its devastating impact on appeasement policies.
    • Emphasized that Chamberlain’s attempts at appeasement had initially bought crucial time to re-arm the nation's forces.

Document E: Lord Halifax

  • Context: Halifax was the British Foreign Secretary supporting appeasement policies.
  • Reflection in Memoirs (1957):
    • Asserted that appeasement contributed to unifying Britain before the war.
    • Highlighted that efforts were made to avert war and that people believed every effort was made to seek peace.
    • Stressed that the policy's intent was to spare Europe conflict and is a notable achievement of Chamberlain.