Transcript Origins of World War II Appeasement

Origins of World War II
Appeasement
Brandon, Connor, Eloise, Paul, Zach
Thesis
• World War II was caused by the
willingness of the League of Nations to
appease Germany, as in German
Occupation of the Rhinaland, the
Annexation of Austria, and the Annexation
of Czechoslovakia.
German Occupation of the
Rhineland
• In 1935, Hitler began to rebel against the Treaty
of Versailles, beginning with rearmament and
sending troops into the Rhineland.
• Although many countries condemned this
occupation, no actions were taken against
Germany.
• Since Hitler was able to occupy the Rhineland
with no consequences, he decided to make more
demands, and the League of Nations continued to
appease him. This was the cause of World War II.
Annexation of Austria
• Neville Chamberlain, new Prime Minister of
Britain, decided to appease Hitler in order to
avoid war.
• Hitler took advantage of this by annexing Austria
on March 13, 1938.
• Hitler then demanded more: the return of
Germany to the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia).
• Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement here shows
how it was easy for Hitler to gain power,
ultimately causing a World War to break out.
German Annexation of
Czechoslovakia
• In response to German demands, Czechoslovakia
prepares for war.
• On September 29th, 1938, Hitler met with Mussolini,
Chamberlain, and Premier Edouard Daladier of
France in Munich. They quickly agreed to allow
Hitler to annex the Sudetenland and other parts of
Czechoslovakia.
• Chamberlain was convinced that this agreement
would satisfy Hitler. On the contrary, it caused a
World War.
• World War II began because the other leaders were
too willing to give Hitler what he wanted.
Support
• “An appeaser is one who feeds a
crocodile – hoping it will eat him
last”
• –Winston Churchill,WWII
<http://thinkexist.com/quotation/an_appeaser_is_one_who_feeds_a_crocodilehoping/188920.html>
Rebuttal
• Although the Treaty of Versailles initially
angered Germany and led to Hitler’s rise to
power, appeasement was what magnified
the conflict and ultimately caused World
War II. The Treaty of Versailles could not
have been completely responsible for the
war because all of its demands were not
even carried out. They were empty threats.