4.5.2 Appeasement

Should nations pursue national interest?

Big Ideas:

  • Are there positive and negative consequences to the pursuit of national interests?

  • What are the effects of nationalism and ultranationalism during conflict?

Appeasement

Appeasement was a policy of giving in to the demands of an aggressive country in the hopes of preventing further conflict. During the 1930s, Britain and France's foreign policy and diplomacy were dominated by appeasement. For these two nations, appeasement was used when Germany's aggression increased and became more apparent, in the hopes that (if Hitler's demands were met) Germany would be satisfied and global peace would be kept.

Britain and France: Appeasement

Britain and France's reasons to use appeasement in response to Germany's ultranationalism reflected both their own national self-interests, and the possible implications for the global community. Both nations reasoned,

  • when Hitler's demands were met, Hitler promised he had no more claims and thus peace would be achieved,
  • neither France nor Britain wanted to undergo another horrible war like World War I (they were both still recovering from the outcomes of the WWI), and 
  • the League of Nations was ineffective, and Britain and France did not want to act by themselves.

For these reasons, Britain and France continued to pursue a policy of appeasement in the hope Germany might soon be satisfied, thus ensuring peace in Europe.

Appeasement Fails


Britain and France, anxious to avoid a military confrontation, believed appeasement was an effective diplomatic measure to allow Germany to have some concessions.

In the photo (right), Neville Chamberlain and Hitler signed the "Munich Agreement", which stated their supposed mutual desire for peace.

However, this agreement was immediately criticized and used as a symbol for the failure of appeasement, as Germany continued to expand into Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, makes a brief speech announcing "Peace in Our Time" on his arrival at Heston Airport after his meeting with Hitler at Munich (September 1938)

Digging Deeper

Italy, Germany, and Japan's policies of militarism and expansionism took advantage of Britain and France's policy of appeasement, which eventually led to World War II. View the websites and resources linked below to clarify how appeasement attempted to address ultranationalism leading up to World War II. Continue to take notes using the 4.5 Notebook Organizer.


The map (above) shows Europe at the height of German expansion before 1942. (click image to expand)



Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read all of page 141  and "War as a Response to Ultranationalism" on page 143. These pages will further your understanding of how ultranationalism shapes the pursuit of national interests into domestic and foreign policy.
Continue to take notes about what you have read using the 4.5 Notebook Organizer (Word, PDF, Google Doc) about what you have read. When you are done, return here to continue.