Hitler - Info sheet

Appeasement was a diplomatic policy adopted by Britain and France during the 1930s, which aimed to prevent war by making concessions to aggressor nations, particularly Nazi Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. The approach involved allowing Hitler to annex certain territories and make various political and military gains in the hope that his demands would be satisfied and further conflict avoided. This policy is often scrutinised and debated, with some viewing it as a cowardly surrender to Hitler's aggression and others arguing it was a strategic move to buy time for military preparation. The effectiveness and motivations behind appeasement continue to be a subject of historical analysis and discussion.

Adolf Hitler, the infamous leader of the Nazi Party, ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945 and steered the world into the devastating conflict of World War II by his invasion of Poland, followed by a series of aggressions against other European countries. His dictatorship is notorious for the genocide of six million Jews, known as the Holocaust. Hitler's ascent to power was significantly influenced by the widespread dissatisfaction in Germany following their defeat in World War I and the harsh conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, which blamed Germany for the war and imposed severe territorial and financial penalties. These factors, coupled with the economic depression that caused mass unemployment and poverty, created a fertile ground for Hitler's rise and the eventual outbreak of World War II, leaving an indelible impact on Britain and the world.