How Did Appeasement Work in Practice? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
Author
Zoe WadeExpertise
History
The Anglo-German Naval Agreement, 1935
In April 1935, Britain, France and Italy entered into an agreement called the Stresa Front.
The nations agreed to:
Oppose Hitler’s foreign policy
Challenge Hitler if he attempted to break the Treaty of Versailles
By June, the Stresa Front agreement had broken
The Abyssinian Crisis worsened Italy’s relationship with Britain and France
Britain and Germany signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement
This agreement was the first attempt at appeasement
It gave concessions to Germany’s navy to limit Hitler’s aggression
Date | Terms | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
June 1935 | Germany to have a navy 35% the size of the British Royal Navy Germany allowed to develop submarines. They can only have 45% of the submarines that Britain possesses A guarantee of Britain’s naval supremacy | The agreement broke the Treaty of Versailles and the Stresa Front It showed that Britain wanted to protect itself rather than protect Europe from Hitler |
Was the Anglo-German Naval Agreement a Success for Appeasement?
Anschluss, 1938
Many Austrians supported the idea of Anschluss because:
The majority of Austrians, around 98%, spoke German
They felt that Austria had a weak economy without Germany
There was a strong Nazi Party in Austria
By March 1938, Hitler had united Austria with Germany unopposed
Crowds on that March 12 included the unconvinced and the skeptical, as well as the curious. People gathered as if drawn by a magnet; but their presence did not endorse the new political environment, nor did it contradict the findings of recent government polls [that between 65 and 70% of Austrians wanted to retain independence from Germany] |
An extract from When Hitler Took Austria (2008). The author of the book is Kurt von Schuschnigg, the son of the former Austrian Chancellor |
Was Anschluss a Success for Appeasement?
Worked Example
Study Sources F and G. After reading Source F, do you believe Hitler in Source G? Explain your answer using details of the sources and your knowledge
8 marks
Source F: From a speech by Churchill to the British Parliament, 14 March 1938 The seriousness of the event on 12 March cannot be exaggerated. Europe is confronted with a programme of aggression, unfolding stage by stage, and there is only one choice open to us and to other countries – either to submit, like Austria, or to take effective measures while time remains to ward off the danger. If we were to delay, how much should we throw away of resources which are now available for our security and for the maintenance of peace? We cannot leave the Austrian question where it is. We cannot accept as a final solution of the problem of Central Europe the event which occurred on 12 March. The public has been concentrated upon the moral and sentimental aspects of the Nazi conquest of Austria – a small country brutally struck down, its Government scattered to the winds, the oppression of the Nazi party doctrine imposed upon a Catholic population and upon the working classes of Austria. Nazi Germany, in its present mood, is in a position to dominate the whole of South East Europe. Over an area inhabited perhaps by 200 million people, Nazism and all that it involves is moving on to absolute control. Therefore, we await further statements from His Majesty’s Government with the greatest possible interest. |
Source G: From a speech by Hitler during the campaign for the German parliamentary elections, 25 March 1938 Certain foreign newspapers have said that we fell on Austria with brutal methods. I can only say that even in death they cannot stop lying. I have in the course of my political struggle won much love from my people, but when I crossed the former frontier into Austria I was met by such a stream of love as I have never before experienced. We have come not as tyrants, but as liberators: an entire people rejoiced. Here, not brutal violence, but our swastika has conquered. In truth it was the uprising of the people. Millions of our countrymen in Austria have held their banners high and have remained loyal to the Reich. |
Partial answer:
After reading Source F, I do not believe Hitler in Source G (1). This is because he lies about how Anschluss with Austria occurred. In Source G, Hitler states “when I crossed the former frontier into Austria I was met by such a stream of love”. However, in Source F, Churchill argues that it was a “Nazi conquest of Austria – a small country brutally struck down” (1). It is untrue all Austrians welcomed Hitler. Hitler demanded the resignation of Schuschnigg, the Austrian Chancellor, using the threat of violence from the Austrian Nazi Party (1). As a result, Hitler is not correct when he states that “an entire people rejoiced” when the country’s leader did not agree to the policy (1).
Exam Tip
For this Paper Two question, ensure you have two paragraphs stating if you believe Hitler or Churchill’s assessment of Anschluss with Austria. Consider the purpose of each of the sources. For example, Hitler was speaking during the campaign for the German parliamentary elections, which may make his account of Anschluss biased. Identify where the two sources disagree and who is the most trustworthy source.
The Sudeten Crisis and the Munich Conference, 1938
Hitler wanted to gain the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia for Germany because:
After Anschluss, Germany bordered Czechoslovakia on three sides
Claiming Czechoslovakia would protect Germany from invasion
The Sudetenland had rich mineral resources and the Skoda armament factory
This would help Germany’s armament industry
The Sudetenland had fortifications
By claiming this area, it would make invading the whole of Czechoslovakia easier for Hitler
Over 3.5 million Germans lived in the Sudetenland
The Sudeten Germans claimed that the Czech government mistreated them
Hitler would continue to achieve his foreign policy aims of Grossdeutchland and Lebensraum
In 1938, Hitler began his attempt to claim Czechoslovakia
What was the Sudeten Crisis?
The Munich Conference
Representatives from Italy, Britain, France and Germany attended the conference
Czechoslovakia was not invited to the meeting
This made the meeting unfair from the start
The USSR were not involved in the conference
This created distrust between the USSR and the Western powers
The Munich Agreement
The four nations (Italy, Britain, France and Germany) developed the Munich Agreement on 30th September 1938
These were terms agreed by Hitler to avoid war
The Munich Agreement stated that:
Hitler would gain the Sudetenland
Czechoslovakia would keep the rest of their territory
The Munich Agreement was controversial because:
Czechoslovakia had to accept the terms
Hungary and Poland also claimed areas of Czechoslovakia
Poland gained Teschen in October 1938
Hitler marched into the Sudetenland on 1st October 1938
Was the Munich Agreement a Success for Appeasement?
The Munich agreement gives Hitler everything he wants (to begin with) … All the misery and outrage that followed the German occupation of Vienna are now certain to follow the German occupation of the Sudetenland. Prague has, even now, begun to fill with refugees – Sudeten German Socialists, Jews, not to speak of Czechs – which is natural enough, seeing that for months the German newspapers, wireless, and Hitler himself have referred to the Czechs in terms that have been one prolonged incitement to acts of violence and oppression. |
An editorial in the Manchester Guardian on 1st October 1938. It states a negative opinion of the Munich Agreement, especially due to its impact on Czechoslovakia |
Worked Example
‘Anschluss was more important than the takeover of the Sudetenland in achieving Hitler’s aims.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer
10 marks
Partial answer:
The Sudetenland was important to Hitler as he wanted to unite all German-speaking people (1). In the Sudetenland, there were 3.5 million Germans living there. This land had been given to Czechoslovakia under the Treaty of St Germain, part of the Versailles Settlement (1). This was important for Hitler’s aims as it helped to achieve Grossdeutchland and Lebensraum by uniting German speakers into one Reich and increasing Germany’s territory. This helped open Eastern Europe up to aggressive German expansion (1).
Exam Tip
A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain how Anschluss was important to Hitler, for example achieving one of his key foreign policy aims. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above.
You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how far you agree that Anschluss was more important than the Sudetenland to Hitler. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain the level that you agree or disagree with the statement.
Invasion of Czechoslovakia, 1939
By March 1939, Hitler gained the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler demanded the Czech government surrender control of Czechoslovakia
Failure to do this would result in the Luftwaffe bombing Prague
On 15th March, Hitler marched into Prague
He succeeded in encouraging Slovakia to declare independence
Hitler could not defend his actions to claim the whole of Czechoslovakia
There was no German-speaking population in the land he claimed
Hitler intended to increase Germany’s power
The invasion of Czechoslovakia ended the policy of appeasement
Chamberlain stated on 17th March that he could no longer trust Hitler
Britain and France looked to protect vulnerable countries in Europe from Hitler
IMAGE
A map showing how far Hitler had extended Germany’s territory by March 1939
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