Why did Britain adopt a
policy of appeasement?
There were many reasons why
Britain adopted a policy of
appeasement!
Economic Reasons
• The economy during this period was too weak
• The Great War and depression in 1929 had
damaged Britain’s economy
• The Government of Britain felt it was not
able to cope with another war whilst. Which
may last many years again
• Propaganda manly by Germany, highlighted the
economic achievements of European dictators
• Therefore, due to a weak economy
appeasement seemed the best policy.
Public Opinion against war
• Horrors of WW1 still fresh in people’s minds
• In the East Fulham by-election, a
Conservative candidate in favour of
rearmament lost his 3000 majority to a
Labour candidate in favour of appeasement –
this showed public against war
• British were reliant on the League of Nations
doing its job.
• British propaganda also promoted
appeasement
• 9 million homes had wireless (radio) and
people attended cinemas at least weekly
• These means of reaching the bigger
audiences were used to the full to
promote pacifism.
• Britain’s 2 major newspapers, the Times
and Mail were pro appeasement
Governments attitude to
Versailles
• British Government had always felt the Treaty of
Versailles was too harsh on Germany
• Many of Hitler’s request were seen as not too
unreasonable.
• The remilitarisation of Rhineland was seen as Hitler
“going into his own back yard”
• His taking of Austria was, after the plebiscite “what
the people wanted”
• Britain had also made agreements with Hitler (antinaval)
• It seemed there was no real reasons to confront
Hitler’s actions and start war.
A lack of reliable allies
• In order to go to war Britain would have to
rely on her allies, this she could not do!
• There seemed no alternative to appeasement
as collective security had failed miserably
• France was divided by internal politics and
was not viewed as a reliable ally
• ‘she can never keep a secret for more than
half an hour or a government for more than 9
months’
• America had retreated into isolation and had
made it quite clear she did not wish to
become embroiled in “European Wars”
• Russia had become Communist and this was
far more concerning than Germany and Hitler.
• Italy and Japan under Fascist governments,
had embarked on dangerous careers of
aggression
• Britain therefore without suitable allies had
no option but to promote a policy of
appeasement.
Weakness of the armed forces
• After the “Great Depression” of 1929 and the costs
of the Great War, British military spending had been
reduced
• Chiefs of Staff had regularly informed government
of their military weaknesses
• Only had 120 aircraft after WW1
• Rearmament would be very costly
• Hitler it was believed, after his successful
propaganda campaigns, had rebuilt his armed forces
to a strong level
• To fight Hitler’s Germany with a weakened army
would have frightening consequences
• Appeasement, therefore seemed the best policy
Fear of the rise of Communism
• Communism in the 20s and 30s was seen as a bigger threat to
world peace than Germany
• Chamberlain wanted to come to terms with Germany to provide ‘a
strong bulwark against the spread of Bolshevism’ (Communist
rulers Bolsheviks)
• Many people felt less threatened by Hitler than the threat from
the spread of Communism
• Mussolini and Franco viewed as helping to attack Communism
• Overall there was a belief that the Nazi regime would become
less brutal and racist when they were secure in power
• General feeling that it was “better Hitlerism than Communism”
Concern for her Empire
• Many of the arguments in favour of non
intervention were based around the belief
that much of the trouble was too far away
and why get involved.
• Neville Chamberlain was an ardent supporter
of appeasement.
• He was appalled by the prospect of the
British Empire having to fight a war against
the Japanese in the Far East, the Italians in
Africa and the Germans in Europe, effectively
a war on 3 fronts
• He saw little chance of help from
America which was invaluable in WW1 or
from Dominion Prime Ministers in South
Africa who had previously stated there
reluctance to become involved, Australia
and Canada
• There help was essential and recognised
in WW1 and British efforts would be
futile without them