To what extent was the policy of appeasement appropriate as the basis of British foreign policy in the

years 1936-9?

The policy of appeasement pursued by Britain in the years leading up to WW2 has been a subject of
much debate and controversy among historians and political analysts. After the devastating effects of
World War I, many leaders were hesitant to engage in another conflict and sought diplomatic solutions
instead, due to a desire to avoid the economic and human costs of another large-scale war.
Additionally, there was a belief that appeasing aggressive nations would buy time for rearmament and
preparation in case of potential future conflict. The policy, which was formed to deter the threat of
Britain’s potential enemies, involved making concessions to Germany to decrease the likelihood of a
Second World War. It was initially based on the belief that Germany had legitimate grievances and
that its territorial demands could be met without resorting to conflict. However, the policy has been
criticised for emboldening Hitler and allowing him to continue his aggression, ultimately leading to the
outbreak of World War II and an increase in Hitler’s overall power. The policy was also criticised for
diminishing Britain’s relations with neighbouring countries and for escalating the effects of the
economic challenges it faced in the early 1930s. By considering the success of the policy, I will
elucidate why the policy of appeasement was not appropriate as the basis of British foreign policy and
the consequences it had surfaced for both Britain and Europe in the years 1936 to 1939.

Many would argue that the policy of appeasement was an unsuited foundation for foreign policy. The
policy had allowed the Nazi regime to become more aggressive and assertive, therefore giving Hitler
the impression that he could act with impunity and expand his power without facing significant
resistance from other countries. The policy of appeasement, by not standing up to Hitler's demands,
essentially gave him the green light to pursue his expansionist agenda. The annexation of Austria,
known as the Anschluss, was Hitler's first major territorial conquest, furthermore, despite the clear
violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibited the union of Germany and Austria, the
international response was relatively muted. Because of the lack of resistance from other countries
Hitler had been encouraged to push further, and then with Austria under Nazi control, Hitler turned his
attention to CzechoslovakiaAn example of appeasement’s failure was The Munich Agreement of
1938, which allowed Germany to annex a region in Czechoslovakia with a significant German
population known as the Sudentaland. The agreement was a result of negotiations made between
Germany, France, Britain, and Italy, and aimed to appease Hitler and avoid a military confrontation, as
it demonstrated that the Western powers were willing to sacrifice Czechoslovakia's sovereignty for the
sake of peace. However, it had failed in bettering the circumstance as ultimately it had further
emboldened Hitler, leading to the complete occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939. Overall, the policy
of appeasement, instead of deterring aggression, inadvertently fueled Hitler's ambitions and set the
stage for the outbreak of the inevitable Second World War.

Moreover, many argued that the policy was unsuited as it strained Britain's relations with the League
of Nations. By pursuing appeasement, Britain deviated from the League's principles of collective
security and peaceful resolution of conflicts. This divergence weakened the League's credibility and
effectiveness in dealing with aggressive nations like Germany, as Britain's actions undermined the
League's authority and highlighted its inability to prevent further acts of aggression. However, the
policy of appeasement had not only strained Britain's relations with the League of Nations but had
also created divisions among other member states. Some nations, like France, were initially sceptical
of appeasement but eventually went along with it to avoid conflict. This lack of unity within the League
weakened its ability to effectively respond to Hitler's aggression and also sent a message to Hitler that
the international community was hesitant to take a strong stance against his actions. As a result of
this, Hitler held a contemptuous view of the League of Nations under the policy of appeasement, and
determined it to be an organisation that lacked the will and ability to stand up to his aggressive
actions. He initially believed that the appeasement policy demonstrated the League's unwillingness to
confront Germany's territorial ambitions, and therefore exploited this perception to his advantage.
Using appeasement as an opportunity to expand his influence and power without facing significant
resistance, Hitler's disdain for the League of Nations ultimately contributed to its downfall and the
failure of its efforts to maintain peace.

Furthermore, many argued that the policy of appeasement was unsuited as it led to significant
ramifications on Britain's relations with France and fascist Italy. While France initially had reservations
about appeasement and preferred a stronger stance against Hitler, Britain's willingness to appease
Hitler's demands created tensions between the two countries. France felt that Britain's approach
undermined their collective security efforts and left them vulnerable to German aggression, as this
factor strained their alliance and weakened their ability to respond to the growing threat of Nazi
Germany effectively. As for fascist Italy, they saw appeasement as a sign of Britain's weakness and
lack of resolve. Mussolini, the leader of Italy, took advantage of this perception to advance his
territorial ambitions in Ethiopia and Albania. Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia was a significant part of
his imperial ambitions. Under the policy of appeasement, Italy faced minimal opposition from the
international community, allowing Mussolini to carry out the invasion and ultimately annex Ethiopia.
Similarly, in 1939, Mussolini invaded and annexed Albania, taking advantage of the lack of strong
opposition due to the policy of appeasement. These actions therefore further solidified Italy's control
over these territories and demonstrated the consequences of appeasement in enabling aggressive
expansionist policies. By appeasing Mussolini's actions in Ethiopia and Albania, Britain unintentionally
allowed Italy to expand its empire and assert dominance in the region, which undermined Britain's
efforts to maintain stability and protect its interests. Furthermore, through the escalation of Hitler’s
aggression and pressure faced by Italy to align with Germany, Italy eventually agreed to the signing of
the Pact of Steel in 1939, further deteriorating the remnants of their relationship with Britain.

The policy of appeasement had a complex impact on Britain's economic challenges (The Depression
and Recovery). Initially, it allowed the government to prioritise domestic issues and focus on
rebuilding the economy after the Great Depression. This involved implementing various economic
reforms and programs to stimulate growth and alleviate unemployment. However, as appeasement
continued, it diverted resources and attention away from economic development, as funds that could
have been allocated towards infrastructure projects or social welfare were instead directed towards
defence and rearmament efforts in response to Hitler's aggression. This shift in priorities strained the
economy and hindered progress in addressing the persistent challenges of unemployment and
poverty. For example: businesses struggled and faced financial difficulties, and were consequently
forced to lay off workers, leading to a sharp rise in unemployment rates. Many people lost their jobs
and were unable to find new ones, resulting in widespread unemployment and financial hardship,
which in turn led to a significant increase in poverty levels, as individuals and families struggled to
meet their basic needs. However the policy had not just affected unemployment and poverty, the
policy of appeasement also created uncertainty and instability in international trade and investment. It
undermined confidence in Britain's economic relations with other countries, leading to a decline in
trade and a reluctance to invest, as other countries became hesitant to engage due to the uncertain
political climate and the potential for conflict. So overall, while appeasement provided a temporary
respite from immediate military conflict, it had both positive and negative effects on Britain's economic
challenges of the 1930s.

To counter, one could argue that by redirecting resources towards defence and rearmament through
the policy of appeasement, Britain sought to establish a solid foundation for its foreign policy. By
opting to avoid immediate conflict with Hitler, Britain was able to dedicate more time and resources to
rebuilding its military capabilities. This therefore encouraged a significant increase in defence
spending, the expansion of armed forces, and the modernisation of weaponry. However, the policy of
appeasement not only allowed Britain to acquire various types of weaponry but also led to
advancements in aircraft technology, such as the development of radar systems, which played a vital
role in strengthening Britain's military defence system. Furthermore, the rearmament efforts paved the
way for the expansion of the Royal Navy through acquiring new ships and submarines. However,
despite these measures, the effectiveness of appeasement was ultimately limited. It failed to prevent
the outbreak of World War II and exposed Britain's lack of military preparedness, due to the rapid and
aggressive expansion of the German military via Hitler’s exercising of power. Overall, while the policy
of appeasement had provided an opportunity for rearmament and military development, it ultimately
proved to be an ineffective factor in developing Britain's military readiness in the face of future conflict
against its potential enemies.