Appeasement - How the West Helped Hitler Start WW2 | BETWEEN 2 WARS I 1938 Part 1 of 4

Summary

This video delves into the history of appeasement in the lead-up to World War II, analyzing key events and decisions made by world powers. It explores the failure of the League of Nations, the rise of authoritarian regimes, and the policy of appeasing Hitler, which ultimately emboldened him. The script covers the strategic missteps in the 1930s, including the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria, and the Munich Agreement. The video shows how appeasement failed to prevent conflict and led to the collapse of democracies, setting the stage for the catastrophic expansion of Nazi Germany.

Takeaways

• 😀 Appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s is now considered one of the biggest mistakes in human history, but at the time, it seemed like the only available option.
• 😀 The League of Nations, created after World War I to prevent future conflicts, had major weaknesses, such as the exclusion of key powers like Germany and the US, and a lack of support for collective security.
• 😀 Despite a global desire for peace in the 1920s, many countries, including Germany and Italy, secretly rearmed while publicly claiming to seek peace.
• 😀 The disarmament efforts of the 1920s led to a significant military disadvantage for countries like France, Great Britain, and the US, leaving them unprepared to enforce peace through force.
• 😀 The invasion of Manchuria by Japan in 1931 and Italy's invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 exposed the League of Nations' inability to respond effectively to aggression from its own members.
• 😀 Hitler took advantage of the appeasement policy, starting a massive rearmament program in 1935, and by 1936, he remilitarized the Rhineland, further testing the resolve of the Allies.
• 😀 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement was influenced by his belief in economic stability as a means to ensure peace, which led him to make concessions to Hitler.
• 😀 Hitler's annexation of Austria (Anschluss) in March 1938 was facilitated by the weak responses of the Allies, and the event was seen as a triumph for Nazi Germany.
• 😀 After the Anschluss, Hitler turned his attention to the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, claiming it was necessary for the unification of all German-speaking peoples.
• 😀 The Munich Agreement of 1938, where Britain and France allowed Germany to occupy the Sudetenland in exchange for a promise of no further expansion, was celebrated as a victory for peace but ultimately enabled further Nazi aggression.
• 😀 Less than six months after the Munich Agreement, Hitler violated the promise and occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, setting the stage for the invasion of Poland and the start of World War II.

Q & A

What was the general sentiment regarding peace in the years following the Great War?

Following the Great War, there was a strong desire for peace, especially in Western democracies, where the public supported disarmament and a reduction in military spending. However, despite this desire, conflicts persisted, especially in Eastern and Central Europe, and in the Far East.

What were the main weaknesses of the League of Nations?

The League of Nations faced several weaknesses from the start, including the exclusion of key countries like Germany and Turkey, and the refusal of powerful nations such as the United States to ratify the mutual assistance clause, which required collective security. Additionally, the League struggled with the issue of colonialism and racial inequality, which undermined its credibility.

Why did the US Senate refuse to ratify the Treaty of Versailles?

The US Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles mainly due to the mutual assistance clause, which would have obligated the United States to intervene in conflicts to protect the sovereignty of other nations, a commitment many senators were unwilling to make.

What role did Germany's borders play in the struggles for peace in the interwar years?

The borders established after World War I, particularly the reduced size of Germany, were a significant source of dissatisfaction. Germany’s refusal to accept its truncated borders contributed to instability and tension in Europe, as ethnic self-determination led to disputes over territorial boundaries.

How did the Kellog-Briand Pact of 1928 contribute to hopes for global peace?

The Kellog-Briand Pact of 1928, which was signed by all major powers, renounced war as a policy tool and advocated for peaceful dispute resolution. It provided hope that international conflicts could be resolved diplomatically, though it ultimately failed to prevent future aggression.

What was the significance of Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931?

Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 highlighted the League of Nations' inability to enforce its resolutions. The League condemned Japan's actions but could do little to stop it, revealing the limitations of collective security and the failure of diplomatic efforts to curb aggression.

What was the policy of appeasement, and why was it pursued by Britain and France?

The policy of appeasement involved making concessions to aggressive powers, like Nazi Germany, to prevent further escalation and avoid conflict. Britain and France pursued this strategy because they were unprepared for war, facing economic and military challenges and hoping to maintain peace despite Nazi expansionism.

How did Hitler's actions in Austria in 1938 challenge the policy of appeasement?

Hitler’s actions in Austria in 1938, culminating in the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria), tested the limits of appeasement. Despite previous promises, the Allies took no meaningful action to prevent Germany's annexation of Austria, signaling the failure of appeasement as a strategy to contain Nazi aggression.

What was the Munich Agreement, and what did it signify for Europe?

The Munich Agreement of 1938 allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia, in exchange for Hitler's promise that he had no further territorial ambitions. It was hailed as a victory for peace at the time, but it ultimately proved to be a short-lived diplomatic success, as Hitler soon violated the agreement and occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia.

How did the Munich Agreement contribute to the eventual outbreak of World War II?

The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to expand Germany’s territory without facing military opposition, which emboldened him and set the stage for further aggression. Within months, Hitler occupied all of Czechoslovakia, and by September 1939, he invaded Poland, leading to the outbreak of World War II.