The Munich Pact - 2 Points of View
The Munich Conference held in Germany saw the Neville Chamberlain, Hitler, Edouard
Daladier (French PM) and Mussolini all meet to discuss Czechoslovakia. The
Czechoslovakian government was not invited. It was was decided that Germany would
occupy the Sudetenland within 10 days and other parts of Czechoslovakia would go to
Poland and Hungary. The French and British governments agreed to this compromise.
The Czechoslovakian government was told to agree to the terms or face Germany
alone without aid of France or Britain. Chamberlain was congratulated in Britain for
avoiding war. Britain and France had given in to Hitler’s demands but in return Hitler
had promised to not take over any more land.
Neville Chamberlain, on his return to
England gave a speech called “Peace in
Our Time.” Here he said, “...the Munich
agreement has shown that four great
Powers can agree on a way of carrying out
a difficult operation by discussion rather
than force of arms” - 1938
Winston Churchill, a member of Parliament and former
WWI officer stated, “We have been defeated without a
war. And do not suppose this is the end. This is only
the first taste of a bitter drink, which will be forced on us
year by year. Unless we rise again and take a stand for
freedom as in the olden days….. We have been
reduced from a position of safety and power to where
we now stand.” - 1939
Questions:
1. Why would Neville Chamberlain believe that the Munich Pact would be
considered “Peace in our time”?
2. How does the Munich Pact fit the Policy of Appeasement?
3. Why do you think Winston Churchill felt “we have been defeated without a war”
4. Why does Churchill allude that we are not safe?
5. If you were living in Europe in the 1930s, which perspective would you have taken
(Chamberlain or Churchill) and why?
Next, look at the cartoon and answer the questions:
Explain the cartoon and what it is
discussing about the Munich
Pact. Be sure to address
Chamberlain, Europe, and the Policy
of Appeasement:
Next, explain how Europe might be
feeling about this agreement: