History of Europe

What was the purpose of policy appeasement by France and britatin during 1930?

Appeasement was a policy pursued by France and Britain during the 1930s in response to the increasingly aggressive actions of Nazi Germany. The main purpose of appeasement was to avoid war by making concessions to Germany in the hopes that it would prevent further aggression and preserve peace.

Key reasons for the policy of appeasement:

1. Desire for Peace: Both France and Britain were traumatized by the devastation of World War I and were determined to avoid another major conflict. They believed that appeasing Hitler and allowing him to expand Germany would prevent war.

2. Underestimation of Hitler: France and Britain underestimated Hitler's true intentions and ambitions. They held a hope that he could be satisfied with limited territorial gains.

3. Economic Concerns: The Great Depression had caused severe economic problems in both countries. The focus was on domestic recovery, and there was a reluctance to engage in military spending or confrontations.

4. Weakness of the League of Nations: The League of Nations, created to prevent war, had failed to effectively address Germany's violations of the Treaty of Versailles.

5. Neutrality: Isolationist sentiment in both countries made them reluctant to intervene in continental European affairs. They believed that conflicts could be avoided by remaining neutral.

Appeasement policy resulted in concessions to Germany, including the allowance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria (Anschluss), and the occupation of the Sudetenland. However, these concessions failed to prevent war, as Hitler continued to pursue his aggressive expansionist goals. The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 marked the failure of appeasement as a strategy for maintaining peace in the face of aggression.