Issue 5 – Munich: Success or Failure?
Context Suggestions:
After WWI widespread opposition to war.
Chamberlain greeted as hero when he returned from Munich in September 1938
proclaiming ‘peace in our time’
1940’s people read ‘Guilty Men’ publication – public opinion began to turn against
Chamberlain and his actions
Even though revisionists challenged this view in the 1970s, Margaret Thatcher
still offered official apology for the British policy of appeasement
Chamberlain felt war was likely so he made three visits to Germany in
September 1938 to avoid it
Brief description of the three meetings
Main Arguments (middle paragraphs):
1. Military Preparedness
2. Czechoslovakia – worth it?
3. Unreliable Allies/Lack of International Response
4. British Public Opinion
1. Military Preparedness
Knowledge (triumph)

Lack of confidence in British defences

Fascist states had rearmed significantly by Sep 1938. Although Britain
had started rearming in 1937 it was on a much smaller scale

Britain concerned about weakness of air defences. Abyssinia + Guernica
had shown dangers and horrors of an air attack. Baldwin (1932) “the
bomber will always get through”

Although new aircraft such as the Hurricane and Spitfire fighters and
the new radar system were being developed at this time, neither aircraft
nor the radar devices were available in sufficient numbers in 1938

Defence spending had previously been overstretched and could be again if
she went to war

Army poorly equipped for years and was only beginning to receive modern
equipment and training in 1938. Only navy seemed ready to fight with
modern ships such as aircraft carriers.
Argument - Munich was a triumph because....

Allowed Britain to successfully secure her air defences by increasing
fighter squadrons from 6 in 1938 to 26 in 1939 and extending her air
defences from the Thames Estuary only in 1938 to the entire South and
East coasts by 1939

Time to rearm meant Britain was much readier for war than at Munich
Knowledge (defeat)

Combined might of Britain, France, Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union may
have encouraged Hitler to back down

Czechs had a large, well-equipped army and had strong defences in
Northern Bohemia

With most of Hitler’s forces concentrated to attack the Czechs, the
French would have had overwhelming numerical superiority in the west,
both in the air and on the ground – victory likely
Argument – However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because....

Chamberlain aware of facts and figures, and knew that the money for
defence had been allocated well before September 1938

If Britain and France had stood by the Czechs in the first place Hitler
may have been stopped

Some experts argue Germany was not as strong as they appeared –
convincing propaganda

Taking Czechoslovakia made Germany substantially stronger militarily and
financially
2. Czechoslovakia – worth it?
Knowledge (triumph)

Chamberlain felt that Benes should have made concessions to the
Sudeten Germans before the crisis began – this attitude was made clear
in his radio broadcast of 27th September

Some questioned the validity of the Czechoslovakian state as it contained
so many minority groups

Chamberlain stated “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we
should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks because of a quarrel
in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing”.

Pro appeasement lobby argued that the fate of Czechoslovakia had
nothing to do with Britain

Unlike France, Britain had no alliance with Czechoslovakia
Argument – Munich was a triumph because....

Better to sacrifice Czechoslovakia than risk plunging Europe into
slaughter again
Knowledge (defeat)

Czechoslovakia lost land

Czechoslovakia felt betrayed by their allies

Czechoslovakia left vulnerable to further German aggression

Benes resigned

Britain, as a member of the League of Nations + as a signatory to
Versailles, was duty bound to protect Czechoslovakia

It was a diktat that excluded Czechoslovakia as Germany had experienced
at Versailles
Argument – However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because....

Czechoslovakia was sacrificed by an ally to prevent war that may have
looked likely anyway

Chamberlain became personally involved in the crisis and made it a matter
of concern to Britain thus should not abandon it when it came to war

All countries have a moral obligation to support victims of aggression
3. Unreliable Allies/Lack of International Response
Knowledge (triumph)

Czechoslovakia doomed after Anschluss. Geographically the Anschluss
put Czechoslovakia in a very vulnerable position

After the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, Germany’s ‘back door’ was
secured by the building of the Siegfried Line. Any assistance to
Czechoslovakia would involve a long protracted war to get to
Czechoslovakia by which time Czechoslovakia may have succumbed anyway.
Italy & Japan may also join in against Britain

Over Czechoslovakia it was clear that France would only move against
Germany with British support, and this was not forthcoming

French public opinion more divided than Britain and successive
governments pinned military strategy on the Maginot Line which was
defensive, not offensive, in its very nature.

Self-governing dominions had shown in 1937 that they would not
automatically support Britain in a European war. Reinforced in September
1938 when the High Commissioners (ambassadors) of Australia, Canada
and South Africa made it clear that they were not prepared to go to war
over Czechoslovakia

Chamberlain criticised for not including Soviet Union in the agreement as
they were allies to the Czechs

To access Czechoslovakia the Soviet Union would have to go through
Poland or Romania which neither country was prepared to allow
Argument – Munich was a triumph because......

Going to war over Czechoslovakia seemed not to be a viable option.

How could Britain survive a war with Germany if she could not trust her
allies? Munich delayed war and therefore bought time until Britain could
ensure her allies could be depended upon
Knowledge (defeat)

Czechoslovakia was a thriving, successful democracy with a strong natural
defence line
Argument - However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because....

Some historians claim that Czechoslovakia was the time to take a stand.
Czechoslovakia was a thriving, successful democracy – the perfect ally

Czech military forces + defences were very strong + would tie Germany
into a war of encirclement

Perhaps the Soviet Union may have joined in (they too had a treaty to
protect Czechoslovakia)
4. British Public Opinion
Knowledge (triumph)

British public relieved that war was avoided

Chamberlain praised on his return from Munich – football crowds sang
‘For he’s a jolly good fellow

Chamberlain reflected what many British people felt – that another war
would bring about unimaginable catastrophe, even worse than 1914-1918
Argument - Munich was a triumph because......

Better to sacrifice one country that many felt was too far away to be
concerned with than go to war themselves
Argument - However, it can be argued that Munich was defeat because....

Anti-appeasers saw the Munich agreement as dishonourable. The Evening
Standard contained a cartoon, headlining “war postponed”. Argued the
agreement gave into a bully who would only come back for more + war was
inevitable

Many believed British public had been deceived by Chamberlain; believing
Hitler was only righting the wrongs of Versailles

Chamberlain was naive – unaware of Hitler’s true nature

Hitler got all he wanted without a fight

War was not prevented, only delayed. Obvious that Poland was next.
Suggestions for conclusion

Balanced sentence e.g.”In conclusion, there are many arguments for and
against the Munich Agreement”

Sum up key arguments in favour of Munich

Sum up key counter-arguments

Give an overall judgement on the question.