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Appeasement, Rearmament, and the Road to War

Finn Cox

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Published in In Defence Of Canada Volume II: Appeasement And Rearmament (Heritage 2)

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In Defence of Canada Volume II: Appeasement and Rearmament (Heritage 2)

In Defence of Canada Volume II: Appeasement and Rearmament (Heritage Book 2)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2412 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	286 pages

In the years leading up to World War II, the British government pursued a policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany. This policy was based on the belief that Germany could be pacified by making concessions to its demands. However, it ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of war.

The policy of appeasement was championed by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain believed that war could be avoided by negotiating with Hitler and giving him what he wanted. In 1938, Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement, which ceded the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia, to Germany. Chamberlain hoped that this agreement would satisfy Hitler and prevent war. However, Hitler continued to make demands, and war broke out in 1939.

The policy of appeasement was opposed by many people, including Winston Churchill. Churchill believed that Hitler was a threat to peace and that appeasement would only encourage him to make further demands. Churchill argued that Britain should rearm and prepare for war.

The debate over appeasement and rearmament continued throughout the 1930s. In the end, it was the failure of appeasement that led to the outbreak of World War II. The war was a devastating conflict that resulted in the deaths of millions of people. It also led to the downfall of Nazi Germany and the creation of the United Nations.

The Legacy of Appeasement

The policy of appeasement has been widely criticized in the years since World War II. Critics argue that it was a mistake to try to appease Hitler and that it only encouraged him to make further demands. They also argue that appeasement gave Hitler the time he needed to rearm Germany and prepare for war.

However, there are also some historians who argue that appeasement was the best course of action at the time. They argue that Britain was not prepared for war in the 1930s and that appeasement gave it time to rearm. They also argue that appeasement prevented a wider war from breaking out in Europe.

The debate over appeasement is likely to continue for many years to come. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is important to remember the lessons of history and to be wary of the dangers of appeasement.

The policy of appeasement was a major factor in the outbreak of World War II. It is a reminder that appeasement is a dangerous and ineffective policy. It is better to stand up to aggression early on than to try to appease it.

In Defence of Canada Volume II: Appeasement and Rearmament (Heritage Book 2)

5 out of 5