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Interpretations of Appeasement - Coggle Diagram
Interpretations of Appeasement
Appeasement was a terrible 'Mistake'
Interpretation of Winston Churchill, became widely accepted and popular
Critical of appeasement, but did not argue that the policies were immoral
Addressed Chamberlain's good intentions but misjudgment of Hitler
Told story as though he had been only politician to recognize Appeasement as a mistake
Intended to drum up support for his political career, and create prestige for himself
Claimed that Britain should have formed an alliance with USSR, France and USA
"the long series of miscalculations, and misjudgments, which he [Chamberlain] made." in 'The Gathering Storm'
'The Guilty Men'
Journalists using pen name 'Cato' wrote book 'The Guilty Men'
Named government ministers to blame and attacked their policies
Argued that appeasement had strengthened other countries and weakened Britain
Simultaneously failing to prepare for war and leaving Britain defenseless
Labelled British Politicians as guilty as Germany for causing war
Based on assumption that Britain was strong enough to oppose Hitler
Purpose was to shame politicians out of office, biased an poorly written history, bad quality
"Our rulers turned themselves to the task in a more leisurely manner"
Looking again
Interpretation of AJP Taylor, notable as he had both clarity of retrospect and personal experience and relevance
Argued British leader's could not be blamed for not knowing Hitler's plans, as he did not know them himself
Saw Hitler as statesmen who wanted to strengthen his country, rather than planning for war
Acknowledged the limited options for Britain
Saw Appeasement as an inevitable active choice, rather than failiure
Flaws in treaty AS WELL AS Chamberlain's mistakes led to start of war
"The second World War... had been implicit since the moment when the first war ended"
Revisionism
1970s and 80s, new documents showed that British politicians were unable to stand up to Hitler in the 1930s
Argued that appeasement was not only the sensible and logical policy
Suggested appeasement was natural for Britain
Found tradition of Britain trying to maintain status quo to protect British interests
Some revisionists criticized appeasement, but acknowledged that there was no other option
"It was more or less consistent with the main lines of British foregin policy" - R.J Overy, from 'The Road to War'
Counter-Revisionism
Interpretation of RAC Parker, further studied new documents in 1990s and found they had been read too uncritically
Argued that Britain had given in too easily to Hitler
Acknowledged declining British power did limit Chamberlain's options
But argued that there were alternatives that were no considered
Criticises politicans for not being able to see Hitlers unreasonable nature
States that this led Britain to be underprepared for war
Some argue that British restraints, such as fear of USSR, were self-imposed
"Hitler wanted far more than Chamberlain and his associates would allow" -RAC Parker, 'Chamberlain and Appeasement'