Question : The Policy of appeasement strengthened the fascist powers and led to the Second World War. Critically evaluate. There was a growth of facists in Italy and Nazis in Germany in the Post 1st World War Period. The Western Powers tried to channelize the hostility of the facists and Nazis towards socialism and democracy against the growth of socialism and communism. There are various examples of appeasement made by the Western powers to the facists of Italy and Nazis of Germany. Some of them are: • Japanese invasion of China: China being a member of League of Nation appeals the league for sanction against Japan to stop aggression. Britain and France were indifferent. • Japan’s militarisation: There was a growing militarisation of Germany under the Nazi leader Hitler who threatened the communists .Though it was a violation of the treaty of Versailles, nothing was done by the Western Powers to stop Germany. • Italian Invasion of Ethiopia: Western Powers did nothing to punish Italy for its aggression against Ethiopia. • Spain civil war: When Germany and Italy were helping one section of the army of Spain under the leadership of General Franco against the newly elected popular front comprising the democratic, socialistic and communist, only Soviet Union came forward to help Spain but Britain and France remained indifferent. • Invasion of Austria: When in March 1938, Germany invaded Austria and it was a violation of the peace treaty of Versailles, yet the Western Power did not oppose Germany. • Munich Pact: The last event of the Western Power’s appeasement of Germany was Munich Pact. When Germany coveted Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia which was important for Germany for its expansion towards Soviet Union, instead of meeting the threat posed by Germany, the prime ministers of Britain and France met Hitler and Mussolini at Munich and signed Munich pact. According to this pact, both the powers agreed the Germany’s tern without the consent of Czechoslovakia. All these activities of appeasement led Germany to make more demand. It also made one thing clear for Soviet Union that this appeasement policy of the Western Powers was to direct Germany towards Soviet Union. Under this condition Soviet Union had been pleading for some alliance with the Western Powers and later on in 1939 Soviet Union had signed an agreement of Non aggression with Germany which shocked the anti-facists.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:00:49 +0000