What was the purpose of the policy of appeasement pursued by France and Britain during the 1930s?
1 Answer
To avoid another general conflict in Europe
Explanation:
After the horrors of World War 1 which were unprecedented in human history, there was a strong and significant feeling if not culture in European politics that this should not be repeated.
Unfortunately the Treaty of Versailles which determined the outcome of World War 1 in terms of redrawn boundaries and appropriation of guilt, did not contribute to the circumstances which could achieve such a peace.
In particular crippling reparations imposed on Germany and the loss of territory were important factors in the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.
By the 1930's there was a feeling amongst European leaders that maybe Versailles had been overly harsh on Germany and that some of Hitler's territorial claims were justified.
Appeasement was first seen when there was no reaction to German re - occupation of the Rhineland. This was followed by Anschluss with Austria and occupation of first the Sudetenland and the the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Had Hitler been challenged early on, a second World War may have been avoided. However appeasement prevailed whereby each concession was seen as a move towards satisfying German grievances and thus leading to a permanent settlement.
It took the invasion of Poland and a miscalculation by Hitler to bring about events which revealed the failure of appeasement, namely the outbreak of World War 2.
