1. Misreading of Hitler's Intentions: Western leaders, particularly British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, believed that appeasement could satisfy Hitler's territorial demands and maintain peace. However, Hitler's ultimate goal was to gain dominance over Europe and establish a "Greater German Reich." Appeasement allowed Hitler to gain territory without facing significant consequences, reinforcing his belief that he could continue his expansionist agenda.
2. Encouraged German Expansionism: The success of appeasement in the Sudetenland crisis of 1938 emboldened Hitler to pursue further aggressive actions. It showed him that the Western powers were willing to make concessions to avoid war, which allowed him to continue his expansionist policies with little resistance.
3. Failure to Address Japanese and Italian Aggression: While appeasement was primarily focused on appeasing Germany, it also inadvertently facilitated the aggressive actions of Japan and Italy. Japan was pursuing expansionist policies in the Pacific, while Italy had ambitions in North Africa and the Mediterranean. By appeasing Germany, the Western powers weakened their ability to effectively respond to these other threats.
4. Lack of Collective Security: Appeasement undermined the concept of collective security, which aimed to prevent war through mutual assistance and cooperation among nations. By appeasing aggressors, the Western powers failed to uphold their commitments to collective security and allowed individual nations to pursue their interests at the expense of international peace and stability.
5. Moral Failure: Appeasement has been widely criticized as a moral failure, as it involved the sacrifice of democratic values and principles in the name of appeasement. It undermined the credibility and moral standing of the Western democracies in the eyes of the world.
In conclusion, appeasement was a mistake in World War 2 because it failed to prevent war and allowed aggressive powers to escalate their actions. It fostered a sense of impunity among the Axis powers and contributed to the outbreak of the most destructive war in human history.