In the late 1930s, German leader Adolf Hitler began to expand the German empire. First, the Austrians gave in to Nazi aggression, and agreed to an Anschluss. Next on Hitler’s agenda was Czechoslovakia. The Czech government turned to Britain and France for help, but they refused. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, desperate to maintain European peace, decided to appease Germany by letting it have Czechoslovakia. In the speech that I would like you to read (you can read it by clicking here; read pgs. 429-431) to the British House of Commons, Chamberlain explains his decision.After reading the speech, I would like you to consider and discuss the following: What reasons did Chamberlain give for signing a treaty with Hitler? What is Chamberlain’s overall tone in his speech? What was discussed with Germany at the Munich Conference according to Chamberlain? What is “the real triumph” of the Munich Conference according to Chamberlain? What are his overall goals for Europe? Do you agree or disagree with these goals? Why? Are his aims reasonable in your opinion? Your thoughts…
16 comments:
The reasons that Chamberlain signed the treaty was to create peace so they would not go to war with each other again. And to work for the pacification of Europe. His overall tone is releif and great expecations. He thinks all well will come out of treaty, but was yet to find out that it was impossible to create peace with Hitler. His overall goals for Europe is to remove the suspicions and animosities that have so long "poisioned the air". I think the goals and the overall way he saw things were to happen were positive..
Chamberlain says the object of that conversation was to try to extend the personal contact that he had established with Herr Hitler, which he thinks is essential to modern diplomacy. he thought the agreement was symbolic of the desire of the two countries to never go to war with one another again. also Anglog-German relations is important to the two countries and to Europe. He is so supportive of the Germans and he tries to convince everyone to follow his trust.
Chamberlain signed the treaty with Hitler in order to keep peace,and avoid war. His overall tone was extremely optomistic and almost unrealistic. He believed that this conference would lay a "foundation of peace" ,however it just fueled the fire for war. I dont think that he should have trusted Hitler, even though my opinions are biased because I know what the future has in store, because he has already gone against the treaty that was put in place to keep peace.
Dante' Johnson
He says the agreement is good because it prevents another war, which no one wants. He seems really naive. He says that no pacts or agreements were made but they were "just getting to know each other better." He believes that Germany is sincere and will keep it's promise in not wanting war. I believe what he wanted was reasonable: he just didnt want another devestating war.
In his speech Chamberlain had a clearly optimistic tone as he truly believed that what he was doing was going to resolve what was going to be war and in order to achieve his goals he signed the treaty that was basically based on a fragile trust that Germany would not declare war on them. Although Chamberlain chose what he thought was the best option, it probably was the most harmful in the long run especially when Chamberlain allowed Germany to regain their navy. I also noticed that one person behind the meeting was Mussolini, who was a Fascist like Hitler. Chamberlain also mentions that it is the "desire of the people" and asks who would doubt the "desire of the people".
He was working for "Peace in our time," so it was important to make peace with Hitler. His tone is, at first down and depressing, but by the end rises to a hopeful and inspiring tone. They disgussed war between the two and keeping peace, and the territories Hitler wanted. They have laid the foundations for peace, or so he thinks.... He immediately believes everything Hitler says, and never mentions any fears of distrust or complications, only that he does not see peace coming in his day, which is maybe a hidden fear.
Just like Mr. Prill said, the guy was stupid for beliving Hitler. I could imagine Hitler just sitting there trying not to laugh when he was talking to Neville.
Possibly the most ironic and amusing document of the year. My favorite quote was :
"Secondly, a revolution is not
a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a
picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined,
so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind,
courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution
is an insurrection, an act of violence by
which one class overthrows another"
by Mao
Now it is: "I do not know why that conversation should give rise to suspicion, still less to criticism" by Chamberlaine referring to the Munich Agreement
Chamberlain stated that the Munich Agreement was necessary to keep peace. He says, " The Questoin of Czechoslovakia is the latest and most dangerous". He believes that "everything depends upon the there being sincerity and goodwill on both sides". Both sides were not sincere. Chamberlain seems so proud and thrilled that he has secured "peace in our [or now his] time". Chamberlain says that Anglo-German relations were discussed and he states that the Anglo-German naval agreement was symbolic that they would never go to war against eachother. The real triumph is "peace" in Europe, made possible by Chamberlain... sadly the peace is all just an illusion. Chamberlain believes that all sources of differences between nations should be made. I don't agree with Chamberlain's policy of appeasement. This appeasement results in greater conflict. I understand that Chamberlain was in a tough situation. Imagine the differences if the LoN was a success as well as Wilson's 14 points and self-determination. Would WWII be necessary if Wilson's plan was succesful? Chamberlain is "guilty of facile optimism". How ironic that he would declare war on Germany in 1940, 2 years later.
Chamberlain thought th only way to keep the peace would be to sign a treaty with Hitler. He is optimistic and seems to think this treaty will stop all further hostlities between Germany and Great Britian. He thinks the Munich Conference laid the ground worl for peace throughout all of Europe and that is his overall goal. Unfortunately it isn't a very reasonable goal given the current state of Europe.
Chamberlain signed this treaty in order to create/keep peace with Hitler and Germany.. even though it is evident that doing this will be impossible. His tone is very hopeful and optimistic of the situation, but it is sortof just ignorance on his part..
Chamberlain signed a treaty in order to preserve peace in Europe. Chamberlains tone during the speech is defensive; He is wondering what the rest of the world will think. His goals for Europe is to keep peace. In my opinion i do not think the goals are reasonable because they are made with Hitler.
I think that chamblerain is only making this deal because of his "Peace in our time" idea. If he had used common sense and paid attention to the atrocities that germany was involved in such as their Air force "Tests" then he would have realized that Hitler was lieing the entire time.
I feel that this speech was more to convince himself than his people. This also shows some of the four main things that started WWII, including fear of defeat (that is why he is trying to make peace with germany) and how great britain and france allows for everything (ex. only giving germany a slap on the hand for most of the things they did that were forbidden by the Treaty at versaille)
i am sorry but how gubbible can one person be? how can u take hitler as a good guy. he is a sly individual and i dont understand why chamberlain could sign a treaty and tell the whole parilment that hitler is such a nice guy? he didnt have enough facts if they had dug deeper they would have seen ww2 coming
He signed a treaty with Hitler so they would not ever fight again and there would be peace in Europe once again. Overall, Chamberlain is very optimistic and for Hitler and Mussolini who he thinks have been misunderstood and mean no harm really and he is relieved and happy that the continent is now "at peace". Czechoslovakia was discussed at the Munich Conference and Hitler and Mussolini's real intentions for Europe.
Chamberlain was so focused on maintaining european peace that it was almost like he tried to make things seem not as bad as they actually were. And i think its really funny that he said the britain and germany would not go to war with each other, when they discussed how hitler wanted to take over more territory. And in the future hitler is just going to get greedier and greedier in territorial means.
I think Chamberlin signed this for peace sake. In the text it says that he will recongnize Anglo-German realtions and he agrees. even though in the Treaty of Versailles it says that those relations shall never happen again he seems to not care. He says will anyone deny this? This choice in my opinion was a unwise one because he trusts them so much.
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