Name ________________________
“Peace in Our Time”: The Munich Conference, 1938
Directions: Read both sources to understand the two different perspectives of Britain’s leaders before WWII (Neville
Chamberlain) and during WWII (Winston Churchill).
NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN British Prime Minister (May 1937-May 1940)
Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler at Munich in 1938 to address Hitler’s demand that Germany be
allowed to annex the Sudetenland. The Sudetenland was a region of Czechoslovakia populated by
Germans. This region had been taken from Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War One, and
Hitler demanded its return.
Both Chamberlain and France’s prime minister, Edouard Daladier, agreed that Germany should be able to
unify all Germans. However, they realized that agreeing to such a demand would amount to breaking up Czechoslovakia, the only
democracy in Eastern Europe. On the other hand, if they could get Hitler to promise that the Sudetenland really was his last
territorial demand, they would avoid war with Germany. Appeasement of Hitler seemed the only sure path to peace.
At the Conference, France and Britain both agreed to allow Hitler to annex Sudetenland in exchange for his pledge not to invade
any other territory. Chamberlain then met with Hitler privately after the Conference. He had with him a contract, which he read to
Hitler, and to which Hitler agreed. The two men signed the contract, which contained a clause stating: “[The Munich Conference
is] symbolic of the desire of our two people never to go to war again.” Chamberlain returned to his hotel, gleefully telling his
friends, “I’ve got it!” (meaning, “I’ve got Hitler’s promise not to go to war with us!”). Hitler, on the other hand, left the meeting
saying, “I have met our enemies…and they are worms.” Hitler never intended to follow the agreement he signed with
Chamberlain.
Neville Chamberlain, "Peace for Our Time," September 30, 1938
“We, the German Fuhrer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in
recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe.
We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples
never to go to war with one another again…
My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with
honor. I believe it is ‘peace for our time.’ Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.”
1) Identify the purpose of Neville Chamberlain’s meeting with Adolf Hitler at the Munich Conference in 1938.
2) In your opinion, did Chamberlain honestly have good reason to trust Hitler? Use an example from the reading
to support your answer.
3) Compare and contrast Chamberlain’s and Hitler’s reactions to the private meeting they held after the Munich
Conference.
4) Imagine Neville Chamberlain’s reaction after Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and then Poland in 1939. What
do you think Chamberlain would have told a reporter who asked for his reaction to the start of World War
Two?
WINSTON CHURCHILL British Prime Minister (1940-1945, 1951-1955)
Winston Churchill was elected prime minister in May 1940 after Chamberlain resigned the office. Churchill’s hatred of Nazi
Germany knew no bounds. He refused to let the British people give in to Hitler or his allies. In this speech, he addresses the
House of Commons, commenting on the current prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, and his policy of appeasement. This speech
came 6 days after the signing of the Munich Agreement.
Speech on Chamberlain’s policy of Appeasement, 5 October 1938.
…Many people, no doubt, honestly believe that they are only giving away the interests of Czechoslovakia,
whereas I fear we shall find that we have deeply compromised, and perhaps fatally endangered, the safety
and even the independence of Great Britain and France. This is not merely a question…of losing influence
in Europe. It goes far deeper than that. You have to consider the character of the Nazi movement and the
rule which it implies…
The Prime Minister (Chamberlain) desires to see cordial relations between this country and Germany.
There is no difficulty at all in having cordial relations between the peoples. Our hearts go out to them. But they have no power. But
never will you have friendship with the present German Government…there can never be friendship between the British
democracy and the Nazi power, that power which spurns Christian ethics, which cheers its onward course by a barbarous
paganism, which vaunts the spirit of aggression and conquest, which derives strength and perverted pleasure from persecution, and
uses, as we have seen, with pitiless brutality the threat of murderous force. That power cannot ever be the trusted friend of the
British democracy…
What I find unendurable is the sense of our country falling into the power, into the orbit and influence of Nazi Germany, and of
our existence becoming dependent upon their good will or pleasure. It is to prevent that that I have tried my best to urge the
maintenance of every bulwark of defence - first, the timely creation of an Air Force superior to anything within striking distance of
our shores; secondly, the gathering together of the collective strength of many nations; and thirdly, the making of alliances and
military conventions, …in order to gather together forces…to restrain the onward movement of this power…
And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the beginning of the reckoning. This is only the first sip, the first foretaste of a
bitter cup which will be proffered to us year by year unless, by a supreme recovery of moral health and martial vigour, we arise
again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.
1) In the first paragraph, Churchill says, “This is not merely a question…of losing influence in Europe. It goes
far deeper than that.” In the second paragraph, he explains what he means by that statement. What reason
does he give to support his belief that the Munich Conference may have “fatally endangered” the safety and
independence of Britain and France?
2) What reason does Churchill give to support his statement that “there can never be friendship between the
British democracy and the Nazi power…”?
3) In the 3rd paragraph, what does Churchill recommend the British government do to prevent the country from
falling under the “orbit and influence” of Nazi Germany?
4) The 4th paragraph is a warning to the British government and people. What seems to be the message Churchill
wanted to send to the British people in this speech?
5) Which prime minister would you have supported more: Neville Chamberlain or Winston Churchill? Explain
why, giving examples from the sources you just read on each prime minister.