What was appeasement, and was it a cowardly approach? - Presentation

Appeasement was a diplomatic policy adopted by Britain in the lead-up to World War II, where concessions were made to Adolf Hitler in the hope of avoiding conflict. The strategy is closely associated with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who famously declared "Peace in our time" following the Munich Agreement in 1938. This agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion. The policy of appeasement is debated in educational settings, with students encouraged to explore whether Chamberlain's approach was justified or if it was a cowardly surrender to Hitler's demands. The subsequent outbreak of World War II and the failure of appeasement to prevent further aggression by Nazi Germany provide a backdrop for these discussions.

Winston Churchill, a contemporary critic of appeasement and Chamberlain's successor as Prime Minister, believed that negotiating with Hitler was futile and that the Munich Agreement represented a "total and unmitigated defeat". Chamberlain's efforts to maintain peace and Churchill's staunch opposition are contrasted in classroom debates and discussions. Students are asked to engage with various resources, including speeches and historical accounts, to form their own opinions on the policy of appeasement. They are tasked with writing persuasive pieces, taking a stance on whether Chamberlain's attempt at peace was a prudent effort to spare Britain from war or a misguided and ultimately unsuccessful strategy.