The New Federalist

April 1, 1988

Pages 5 & 8

American Almanac

Appeasing Your Enemy After the War Has Begun: September 1938 !une 19"#: $art %
by &olly Hammett 'ronberg

1938: (e)ille *hamberlain an+ A+olf Hitler 1988: &i,hail -orbache) an+ .onal+ .eagan

In the previous article in this series (New Federalist, ol! II, No! 1", #arch "5$, we recounted how during the course o% 19&8 and still 'ore in 19&9, (ritish Pri'e #inister Neville )ha'*erlain and his )a*inet, and the French

govern'ent o% +duard ,aladier, 'anaged to conduct their diplo'ac- in such a wa- as to guarantee the out*rea. o% /orld /ar II! /e descri*ed ever0'ore %rantic atte'pts *- these govern'ents to appease Adol% 1itler, Fuehrer o% Na2i 3er'an-, and to *u- 4peace %or our ti'e4 at the price o% strengthening and e'*oldening Na2i 3er'an-5s war 'achine! And we saw how this appease'ent led precisel- to the outco'e the Appeasers sought to avoid6 war! The lesson we drew %or toda-, %or the Appeasers5 govern'ent called the 7eagan ad'inistration (now deep into its love a%%air with the dictators o% the 8re'lin$ is that appease'ent *rings war! This is no less true toda-, as we con%ront the aggressions o% the 9oviet +'pire, than it was 5: -ears ago! At the end o% the last article, we le%t the Appeasers in the %right%ul position o% having *rought a*out, *- their cowardice and deceit, that which thedreaded 'ost, 1itler5s invasion o% Poland on 9ept! 1, 19&9! The Appeaser govern'ents in (ritain and France were tied to Poland and her de%ense *treaties which esta*lished *e-ond a shadow o% a dou*t that, i% 1itler invaded Poland, (ritain and France would *e co'pelled to declare war on 3er'an-! In %act, (ritain5s 'utual de%ense pact with Poland had *een signed on Aug! "5, 19&9;onl- one wee. *e%ore 1itler hurled his ar'ies across the Polish *order! (ound as she was *- this wee.0old treat- to de%end Poland, did (ritain do so< Not at all! In the last seven da-s leading up to 1itler5s decision to a*andon diplo'ac- in %avor o% *lit2.rieg, the (ritish and French did ever-0 thing the- could i'agine;and, as we saw in the previous article, 'anthings no sane person could i'agine;to paci%- 1itler and a*andon Poland to Na2i con=uest! >et, as we also saw, the Appeasers were not success%ul! 1itler grew angr-, and then angrier6 (ritain and France had pro'ised hi' repeatedl- (i% secretl-$ that the- would give the Na2i 7eich its territorial clai's in Poland ; the Free )it- o% ,an2ig, and a land strip across the Polish )orridor! At the sa'e ti'e, (ritain and France pro'ised their Polish allies that thewould de%end Poland5s clai's, not 1itler5s, in these 'atters! Hitler -ets /mpatient 1itler waited, increasingl- i'patient, %or the Appeasers to deliver, as thehad done so resoundingl- a -ear *e%ore, at the ti'e o% the #unich Pact!

/hen their pace o% appease'ent did not see' to hi' %ast enough, the Fuehrer struc., invading Poland at dawn on 9ept! 1 with (as he had warned ,an2ig 1igh )o''issioner 8arl (urc.hardt in August$ 4the %ull %orce o% a 'echani2ed ar'-, o% which the Poles have no conception!4 (ut as we also saw, 1itler was certain that the Appeasers would not ta.e even this *rutal invasion as a casus belli;a cause %or war! 1e could not *elieve that (ritain and France would honor their treaties with Poland, and co'e to her de%ense! Nor did he *elieve that (ritain and France would declare war on hi', si'pl- *ecause he was ta.ing *- %orce what ?ondon and Paris had alread- agreed were his @ust de'ands in Poland! In his assess'ent o% the Appeasers, 1itler was %unda'entall- right! (ritain and France had no intention;had never had an- intention;o% 'ilitarilde%ending the Polish allies with who' the- had signed such eAplicit de%ense treaties! The Appeasers 'eant to use their treaties with Poland as a wa- to rein in the intracta*le FuehrerB *ut as %ar as an- co''it'ent to Poland hersel% was concerned, the Appeasers 'eant to sell her out as grace%ull- and discreetl- as possi*le! All this the (ritish and French diplo'ats had 'ade prett- plain to 1itler, in secret dealings with hi' which were %or*idden *- their treaties with Poland! The (ritish waited no 'ore than a %ew hours a%ter signing the Anglo0Polish Treat- on Aug! "5, *e%ore the- su*verted it and %louted its ter's, *- having their diplo'ats tell 1itler the treat- had no teeth in it! A%ter all, the Appeasers thought, 1itler had a 'ore co'pelling argu'ent than the Poles6 he disposed o% the resources o% the 3reater 3er'an 7eich, and a power%ul ar'-! That 7eich now included al'ost all the areas stripped %ro' 3er'an- *- the cri'inall- stupid ersailles Treat- that ended /orld /ar I! 9ince 1itler had co'e to power in 19&&, 3er'an- had retrieved the 9aarlandB re'ilitari2ed the 7hinelandB 'ade Austria a province o% 3er0 'an-B a*sor*ed the 9udetenland o% )2echoslova.iaB turned the re'ainder o% )2echoslova.ia;(ohe'ia, #oravia, and 9lova.ia;into protectorates o% the 7eichB and gotten *ac. the port cit- o% #e'el, %ar awa- in ?ithuania! The French had not 'arched when 1itler re'ilitari2ed the 7hineland in 19&CB neither France nor (ritain had =ui**led when 1itler a*olished the Austrian state in 19&8B France and (ritain *oth attended with indecent enthusias' 1itler5s destruction o% )2echoslova.ia in 19&8 and earl- 19&9!

(- the su''er o% 19&9, the onl- areas that had *een ta.en %ro' 3er'an- in 1919, and not -et returned, were ,an2ig (inside, *ut not part o%, Poland$ and the Polish )orridor! /ith a view to 4annihilating Poland4 (as he eAplained to his s-'pathetic listener 9ir Nevile 1enderson, the (ritish a'*assador in (erlin$, on Aug! "&, 19&9 1itler had concluded with Dose% 9talin the 1itler0 9talin Pact, which would co'e into operation during the invasion o% Poland! It is with the invasion o% Poland that we pic. up the thread o% our stor-! /ar had *egun;*ut not %or the Appeasers! At 56&: a!'! on 9ept! 1, (rit0 ain5s 3eneral ?ord 3ort told his countr-5s )a*inet that 4The 3er'ans are through4 the Polish *order areas! Ten 'inutes later 1itler spo.e on the radio %ro' (erlin, announcing that his soldiers were %ighting %or 4the honor and vital rights4 o% 3er'an-, which he vowed to secure 4against no 'atter what adversar-!4 (- C a!'! )racow and 8atowice were *eing *o'*ed! (- that ti'e, too, the shape o% the %ront and the *attle had *eco'e clear! 3er'anhad invaded Poland at 'an- points! ,an2ig was not the issue, 'ani%estl-, nor the )orridorB Poland was! (- her Aug! "5 Treat- with Poland, (ritain was *ound to act i''ediatel-! 9he did not! The (ritish Foreign E%%ice, co''unicating with Nevile 1enderson in (erlin, wondered i% 3er'an- 4could ! ! ! li'it the hostilities until -ou had *een to ?ondon!4 In other words, Na2i invasion o% Poland was not a reason %or war0even i% last wee.5s Anglo0Polish Treat- said it was! As 3er'an troops overran Polish territor-, 1enderson continued to urge the arrival in (erlin o% a Polish plenipotentiar-, to su*'it at gunpoint to all o% 1itler5s de'ands! For a second ti'e that wee., 1enderson 'ade a ludicrous suggestion6 that the Polish negotiator *e #arshal +dward 7-d209'igl-, co''ander in chie% o% Poland5s ar'-, whose 'en were now *attling the Na2i colu'ns! It still did not stri.e the +nglish'an as strange, that Poland5s top 'ilitar- 'an should leave his countr- as it was torn apart *- invasion, in order to travel to the capital o% the invader and give in! The wires *etween ?ondon and Paris hu''ed appease'ent that 'orning o% 9ept! 1B discussion revolved around the possi*ilit- o% allowing the 3er'ans to withdraw %ro' Poland, preparator- to a peace con%erence, at which (rit0 ain and France would sponsor 1itler5s 4peace%ul4 ta.eover o% ,an2ig and the )orridor! As Polish cities were *o'*ed *- the ?u%twa%%e, the Appeasers drea't o% a second #unich con%erence to paci%- 1itler as the %irst #unich con%erence had, clearl-, %ailed to do!

Again, as *e%ore #unich, the /estern allies turned to Ital-5s (enito #ussolini to 'ediate! The- still hoped #ussolini could eAercise enough restraint on his AAis partner, to convince the Fuehrer to a*andon his war against Poland in order to get the sa'e spoils, without the war! For his part, as his ar'ies stor'ed Poland, 1itler on 9ept! 1 apprised 9wedish *usiness'an (irger ,ahlerus o% 4his anAiet- not to *ring a*out a world war!4 1itler5s words were ai'ed at ?ondon, the neAt destination o% the 9wede, who was the principal *ac.0channel inter'ediar- *etween the two capitals! 1itler declared that he 4was not *ent on a war o% con=uest,4 and was prepared 4to discuss 'atters with 3reat (ritain!4 All he wanted %irst, was to crush Poland! ,ahlerus co''unicated the Fuehrer5s thoughts to ?ondon! At lunchti'e 9ept! 1, the (ritish )a*inet concluded grate%ull- that 1itler5s invasion o% Poland was no cause to operate (ritish treat- o*ligations to the invaded countr-! (ut one thing the (ritish )a*inet, and even Neville )ha'*erlain, were clear on! There could *e no negotiations, no 'ediation, 4while 3er'an troops are invading Poland!4 To per'it that would prove to the world how worthless the Appeasers5 treat- ties were! There%ore, )ha'*erlain asserted that 3er0 'an withdrawal 'ust *e a precondition %or the con%erence which, he hoped, could reali2e 1itler5s Polish a'*itions! >et no ti'e li'it %or 3er'an with0 drawal was suggested!

/n 0heir 12n Wor+s: 0he 3anguage of Appeasement

4a)i+ 3loy+ -eorge (ritain5s /orld /ar I Pri'e #inister

En 1itler, 19&F6 4A 'agnetic, d-na'ic personalit- with a single0'inded purpose! ! ! ! I onl- wish we had a 'an o% his supre'e =ualit- at the head o% a%%airs in our countr- toda-!4 Sir Horace Wilson Inti'ate o% Neville )ha'*erlain

En #unich, 19&86 4I% we two, 3reat (ritain and 3er'an-, can co'e to agree'ent regarding the settle'ent o% the )2ech pro*le', we shall si'pl*rush aside the resistance that France or )2echoslova.ia hersel% 'a- o%%er to the decision!4

Sir (e)ile Hen+erson (ritish A'*assador to (erlin

En propaganda, 19&86 4I do wish it 'ight *e possi*le to get at an- rate The Times, )a'rose, (eaver*roo. Press, etc!, to write up 1itler as the Apostle o% Peace! It will *e terri*l- shortsighted i% this is not done!4 -eorge 1r2ell (ritish Author

En 1itler5s Mein Kampf, 19G:6 4I should li.e to put it on record that I have never *een a*le to disli.e 1itler! ! ! ! The %act is that there is so'ething deepl- appealing a*out hi'! ! ! ! Ene %eels, as with Napoleon, that he is %ighting against destin-, that he can5t win, and -et that so'ehow he deserves to!4

$olan+ As,s for Help /hile the Appeasers5 )a*inet in ?ondon pondered its situation, Polish leader )ol! Dose% (ec. called in %ro' /arsaw (in the 'iddle o% an air raid whose clangor was clearl- audi*le over the telephone line$ to de'and that (ritain ta.e so'e action! For eAa'ple6 how a*out an air raid on western 3er'an-, to ta.e pressure o%% the Poles< (ec. reported that the Na2is were *o'*ing 'an- towns, with high civilian casualties! The Anglo0Polish Treat- was clear, (ec. said! 1is countr- was *eing invaded, and (ritain was co'pelled to act! (ec. de'anded that (ritain deliver 1itler an ulti'atu'! Instead, the Appeasers, in the person o% (ritish Foreign 9ecretar- +dward ?ord 1ali%aA, sent 1itler a note! The diplo'atic di%%erence was not lost on 1itlerB he .new it 'eant that, although what he called his 4First 9ilesian /ar4 against Poland was %rowned upon in ?ondon, his *ad taste in having started a war could *e overloo.ed, i% he 'odi%ied his *ehavior! The (ritish note warned that 1itler 'ust suspend aggressive action against Poland and withdraw his troops;*ut no ti'e li'it %or suspension o% action, or withdrawal, was set! Paris and ?ondon were a%raid that an- 'ention o% a deadline would eAasperate 1itler, and harden his heart still 'ore against the 4peace con%erence4 the Appeasers desired! (ut a strange pheno'enon was *eginning to sweep (ritain, and sha.e to the core the %oundations o% Neville )ha'*erlain5s %oreign polic-! That pheno'0 enon was a stirring in what is called pu*lic opinion! (ritons were de'and0 ing action against 1itler! The (ritish pu*lic, polled and interviewed across the Isles, had eApected war to *e declared, i% not on 9ept! 1, certainl- *- the 'orning o% 9ept! "! A%ter all, that was the clear, precise 'eaning o% the Anglo0Polish Agree'ent! And -et no such declaration was %orthco'ing! This see'ed all the stranger, as the scope o% the 3er'an invasion *eca'e clearB *ecause *- 9aturda- 'orning, 9ept! ", no one in the world dou*ted that 1itler was the aggressor, deter'ined to con=uer all o% Poland! (ut, since Foreign 9ecretar- ?ord 1ali%aA had in his note to 1itler set no ti'e li'it %or a repl-, 1itler did not repl-! 1e si'pl- went on attac.ing! As Na2i pan2er units deci'ated Polish cavalr-, as Na2i dive *o'*ers pounded Poland5s cities;the inde%atiga*le (ritish and French organi2ers o% the elusive peace con%erence threw the'selves into renewed action! There was a%ter all a hope that 1itler could *e induced to accept at the *argaining ta*le %ro' the', what he see'ed deter'ined to ta.e with his own hands!

Indeed, Italian Foreign #inister )ount )iano told French Foreign #inister (onnet, he had it on good authorit- that 1itler 'erel- wanted until 9undanoon, 9ept! &, to 4wor. out and consider the =uestion o% an ar'istice and con%erence!4 This produced what was called in the diplo'atic dispatches 4livel- satis%action4 in Paris! (ut in ?ondon, the prospects were growing di''er %or a 4peace con%erence4 as the encore to 1itler5s assault on Poland! +ven in the govern'ent, there were voices warning that )ha'*erlain5s progra' was doo'ed! 9ecretar%or /ar 9ir ?eslie 1ore0(elisha told the )a*inet that 4I was stronglopposed to %urther dela-, which I thought 'ight result in *rea.ing the unito% the countr-! Pu*lic opinion was against -ielding an inch!4 Again that new consideration, pu*lic opinion! In (ritain5s parlia'entars-ste', a govern'ent could %all on the instant, i% a no0con%idence vote were ta.en! 1aunted *- that prospect, as the streets o% ?ondon *egan to %ill with angr- crowds, )ha'*erlain5s )a*inet %inall- agreed to 1ore0(elisha5s proposal o% an ulti'atu' to *e handed to 1itler;the thing (ec. had wanted, *ut could not get! The ulti'atu' the )a*inet sought, was to eApire at 'idnight, 9ept! "0&! (ut, despite the vote o% the )a*inet, no ulti'atu' was issued! True to his and )ha'*erlain5s vision o% ta'ing 1itler, ?ord 1ali%aA re%used! Instead, he issued 'ore 4warnings!4 1itler ignored the'! 5Symbolic With+ra2al5 The French )a*inet %inall- 'et to consider its own position the night o% 9ept! "! And that 'eeting evolved a new approach! 9ince 1itler would re@ect utterl- the (ritish de'ands %or withdrawal, the French as.ed, 4)ould there not *e a third solution ! ! ! a s-'*olic withdrawal o% a %ew 'iles<4 In other words, how would it *e i% France and (ritain, Poland5s treat- allies, gentl- re=uested the Fuehrer to withdraw his troops a %ew 'iles, still leaving the' deep in Polish territor-< At that ver- 'o'ent, Neville )ha'*erlain was addressing the (ritish 1ouse o% )o''ons! There he astonished all its 'e'*ers *- %ailing to issue an ulti'atu', or announce a state o% war! 7ather, he spo.e o% new negotiations with 1itler! )onte'porar- e-ewitness accounts are revealing! 4Ene and all were .e-ed up %or the announce'ent that war had *een declared,4 one #e'*er later wrote! (ut no ti'e li'it was given, no ulti'atu' issued! 4The 1ouse was aghast ! ! ! oo2ing hostilit-4 at )ha'*erlain5s govern'ent,

another recalled! 4For two whole da-s the wretched Poles had *een *o'*ed and 'assacred, and we were still considering within what ti'e li'it 1itler should *e invited to tell us whether he %elt li.e relin=uishing his pre-H4 1is speech ended, )ha'*erlain sat down to silence! Not a cheer was raised %or hi' *- an- Tor- Part- supporter! 1ad a vote *een ta.en then, his govern'ent would have toppled! 9o tense was the 'ood that the 1ouse5s )hie% /hip, )apt! #argesson, %eared ph-sical violence! That sa'e night, 9ir 1oward 8ennard, (ritish a'*assador to Poland, wired desperatel- %ro' /arsaw, 4I trust I 'a- *e in%or'ed at the earliest possi*le 'o'ent o% our declaration o% war!4 )ha'*erlain and 1ali%aA ignored his plea! The 3er'ans, 1ali%aA wired *ac., 'ust 4have as 'uch ti'e as possi0 *le to consider their repl-4 to 1ali%aA5s note! (ut 1itler had no intention o% repl-ing! 9oon, the Polish a'*assador in ?ondon was telling 1ali%aA the Poles were *eing po''eled, their 'ilitar- situation worsening *- the 'inute! 9till, 1ali%aA i'posed no ti'e li'it! Britain5s 6ltimatum #eanti'e, the )a*inet, horri%ied *- )ha'*erlain5s per%or'ance in the 1ouse, de'anded to 'eet again! At length, an ulti'atu' was decided upon, %orced on a reluctant )ha'*erlain and 1ali%aA *- a %urious )a*inet! 9till hoping against hope, 1ali%aA contrived not to trans'it it until 1: hours a%ter the )a*inet 'eeting ended! Perhaps 1itler would do so'ething help%ul, 1ali%aA 'used;li.e announce his decision to withdraw! It was not to *e! Finall-, a heav-0hearted 1ali%aA trans'itted his govern0 'ent5s ulti'atu' to (erlin! It arrived at the (ritish e'*ass- there, in Nevile 1enderson5s hands, on the sunn- 9unda- 'orning o% 9ept! &! (e%ore he trans'itted it, 1ali%aA had idioticall- wired 8ennard, 4In the 'eanti'e it is accepted 3er'ans are attac.ing onl- 'ilitar- o*@ectives!4 The Poles had alread- reported that civilians were d-ing in the thousands %ro' 3er'an *o'*s, *ut no one in ?ondon see'ed to have heard this report! The (ritish ulti'atu' to 1itler was set to eApire two hours a%ter its deliverto the 3er'an govern'ent! I%, *- then, 1itler had not agreed to withdraw his invading ar'- %ro' Poland, then 3reat (ritain would consider hersel% in a state o% war with 3er'an-!

Nevile 1enderson too. down his cane and his natt- *owler hat, and dressed with care %or what was to *e his %inal 'eeting with the Fuehrer! 1e o'itted (as he hi'sel% reported in his deluded *oo., 4Failure o% a #ission4$ the red carnation he custo'aril- wore in his *uttonhole! The occasion, he thought, was too grave to warrant such a touch! 1enderson went directl- to 1itler5s o%%ice in the 7eichschanceller-, there to %ind 1itler hi'sel%, his Foreign #inister Doachi' von 7i**entrop, and translator Paul 9ch'idt! 1enderson stood *e%ore 1itler5s des. and read, in 3er'an, the teAt o% the ulti'atu'! 1itler sat 'otionless, hands %olded on the des.top, %ace eApressionless, staring straight ahead! For what see'ed an eternit- he was silent! At length, he turned toward 7i**entrop and de'anded (4savagel-,4 it was said$, 4/hat neAt<4 7i**entrop could onl- answer6 4I *elieve we can eApect a si'ilar ulti'atu' %ro' the French within the hour!4 1itler said nothing to 1enderson, and 1enderson withdrew! The two hours tic.ed awa-, and /orld /ar II *egan! That night, Adol% 1itler le%t (erlin %or the Polish %ront! 1e would *e on hand in person, %or the rest o% his First 9ilesian /ar! (ut now that war had *eco'e a continental war! And there is no dou*t that 1itler was shoc.ed *- this result! 1ad not (ritain and France pro'ised hi', at ever- turn, that ,an2ig was his, the )orridor his< 1ad he not *een en0 couraged in ever- possi*le wa-, up to his invasion o% Poland and *e-ond, to 'a.e his de'ands .nown that the- 'ight *e %ul%illed< And %inall-, had he not *een told, in ever- possi*le wa-, that (ritain and France would not %ight %or Poland< 1e had ga'*led, as he had so o%ten *e%ore, and this ti'e he had lost! 1e was in%uriated at the (ritish! 1e thought the- had 'isled hi' into a general war, which his de%iance would not let hi' duc.! 9till, even with the victorious powers o% /orld /ar I lined up against hi', 1itler could not *elieve that France and (ritain would %ight %or Poland! And he was right! ,eclare war, the- 'ight, to save their tattered honorB %ight war, the- would not!

Was 0his War7 (ritain5s *ehavior was rather surprising %or a countr- at war! ((), %or eAa'ple, *anned *roadcasts *- 9ir 1orace 7u'*old, a %or'er (ritish a'*assador in (erlin, and #e'*er o% Parlia'ent 1arold Nicholson, *ecause the- were considered too anti03er'anH /ith the war onl- three wee.s old, the tireless ,ahlerus was *ac. in action, shuttling *etween ?ondon and (erlin! 1itler told ,ahlerus to co''unicate to ?ondon that his onlcondition %or peace was 4an entirel- %ree hand in Poland!4 4(e-ond this,4 the Fuehrer said, he was 4entirel- prepared to @oin in guaranteeing the status =uo o% the rest o% +urope!4 Perhaps France or a neutral countr- should ta.e the %irst step in setting up a con%erence to that end! 1itler proposed #ussolini! The (ritish, in tal.s with ,ahlerus, suggested the Iueen o% the Netherlands instead! Thus, as *ac.0channel tal.s continued a'ong 3er'an-, France, and (ritain, 1itler, in the %ield in Poland, could assure his generals that their rear in western 3er'an- was secure! France and (ritain would not invade! Not one Allied soldier was sent against 3er'an-5s /estwall %orti%ications! No action %ro' the /est co'pelled 1itler to pull troops %ro' the Polish %ront! Poland su%%ered and died alone, in %ive wee.s5 ti'e, *ecause her allies did nothing to relieve herB not even when, on 9ept! 1F, she was invaded a second ti'e;this ti'e %ro' the east *- 1itler5s treat- partner, 9oviet 7ussia! 9trangest o% all, (ritain and France never even declared war on the 9oviet Jnion! The /est5s treat- ties to prostrate Poland still operated, one 'ight have supposed! ?ondon and Paris had at least 'ade the gesture o% declaring war on 1itler! (ut when the 7ed Ar'- entered a Poland alread- de%eated *1itler5s troops, ?ondon and Paris deplored the action, and no 'ore! The French govern'ent plu'*ed new depths o% per%id-! It %louted in everparticular France5s treat- o*ligations to Poland, which speci%ied that 4as soon as the principal 3er'an e%%ort develops against Poland, France will launch an o%%ensive action against 3er'an- with the *ul. o% her %orces, starting on the 15th da- a%ter the %irst da- o% the general French 'o*ili2ation!4 No such action ever too. place! 3eneral 3a'elin, French co''ander in chie%, told his govern'ent that he could not 'ount a serious o%%ensive against 3er0 'an-5s under'anned /estwall 4in less than a*out two -ears ! ! ! in 19G10 G"!4 +ven then, he said, he could do it onl- with the 'ost 'assive 'aterial assistance %ro' (ritain and the Jnited 9tates!

>et 3er'an- had onl- "& divisions in the /est! In the sa'e sector, France and (ritain together disposed o% 11:! /ere not other options open to the /estern Allies< (o'*ing< Fro' the outset the French had insisted that (ritain not *o'* 3er'an-5s industrial 7uhr region, %or %ear o% 3er'an reprisals against France! Too, the (ritish Air co''anders did not approve o% it! 4(o'* the (lac. Forest<4 cried one! 4(ut that5s private propert-! NeAt -ou5ll *e as.ing 'e to *o'* the 7uhr!4 /arsaw %ell on 9ept! "F, 19&9;%ell into a night'are s-'*oli2ed *- Ausch0 wit2! The /estern govern'ents5 thoughts turned to peace! /hat point in %ighting 1itler, when the o*@ect o% the French and (ritish treaties had *een wiped %ro' +urope5s 'ap< 1itler thought the sa'e! 1e returned triu'phant to (erlin! There, on Ect! C, *e%ore the 7eichstag, he 'ade his 4peace o%%er4;the last o% those 3reat Peace 9peeches that had *ewitched the /est since 19&&! /h- should this war in the /est *e %ought< For restoration o% Poland< The Poland o% the ersailles Treat- will never rise again! ! ! ! It would *e senseless to annihilate 'illions o% 'en and to destro- propert- worth 'illions in order to reconstruct a state which at its ver- *irth was called an a*ortion *- all those not o% Polish eAtraction! ! ! ! 3er'an- has no %urther clai's against France! ! ! ! At no ti'e and in no place have I ever acted contrar- to (ritish interests! ! ! ! I *elieve even toda- that there can onl- *e real peace in +urope and throughout the world i% 3er'an- and +ngland co'e to an understanding! ! ! ! Ene thing is certain! In the course o% world histor- there have never *een two victors, *ut ver- o%ten onl- losers! #a- those peoples and their leaders who are o% the sa'e opinion now 'a.e their repl-! And let those who consider war to *e the *etter solution re@ect '- outstretched hand! (ut, 1itler warned the group around /inston )hurchill, the new First ?ord o% the Ad'iralt- in )ha'*erlain5s )a*inet, I% ! ! ! the opinions o% #essrs! )hurchill and %ollowers should prevail, this o%%er will have *een '- last! Then we shall %ight!

)ha'*erlain and ,aladier %inall- repliedB *oth de'anded guarantees and speci%ics *e%ore their countries would la- down their ar's! The- were war-, at last, o% the pro'ises and o%%ers o% this 'an! >et still the- longed %or an understanding with hi'! (ritish 1o'e E%%ice 9ecretar- 9ir 9a'uel 1oare wrote ?ord ?othian, then (ritain5s a'*assador to /ashington, that the (ritish should tr- to discover 1itler5s position 4rather than to 'eet his speech with a curt and i''ediate re%usal!4 /hen )ha'*erlain %inall- did re%use 1itler5s o%%er (neither i''ediatel- nor curtl-$, (ritain5s %or'er Pri'e #inister, ,avid ?lo-d 3eorge, attac.ed )ha'*erlain %or doing so! A %ew da-s a%ter )ha'*erlain 'ade his pu*lic response, Jndersecretar- o% 9tate %or Foreign A%%airs 7!A! (utler con%ided to the 9oviet a'*assador to ?ondon, Ivan #ais.-, that 4The (ritish govern0 'ent would *e read- to 'a.e peace even to'orrow, i% it received assurance that the understanding reached would ensure peace %or ": or "5 -ears! ! ! ! In such an event the (ritish govern'ent would *e prepared, in the event o% a lasting peace, to 'a.e i'portant concessions to 3er'an- even in respect to colonies!4 Poland had *een 'assacred6 (ritain had loo.ed the other wa-! Now, (ritain was prepared once again to put 45i'portant concessions4 into 1itler5s *loodhands! Not onl- that! In co''unicating this to #ais.-, the representative o% the 9oviet govern'ent which was 1itler5s partner in destro-ing Poland, the Foreign E%%ice was conve-ing in the 'ost c-nical wa- possi*le to 1itler and 9talin, that (ritain still wanted a deal! The deep desires o% the Appeasers were well conve-ed in a New York Times lead editorial written a da- or so a%ter 1itler delivered his Peace E%%er! 4/e have no reason to dou*t 1err 1itler5s word,4 the Times wrote! I% he sa-s he wants peace, o% course he 'eans it! And, o% course, 1itler did 'ean it! /h- should he want war< /hen he desired another piece o% +uropean real estate, he could alwa-s %ight another 49ilesian /ar4 to get it! This the Times o'itted to sa-! Instead, the great li*eral paper urged the govern'ents o% (ritain and France to ta.e 1itler5s outstretched hand, and chided the' %or see'ing reluctant!

0he price they pai+ for peace: total 2ar

!ust as he promise+8 Hitler annihilates $olan+9

$olish !e2s being +eporte+ after the (a:is ta,e Warsa29

(a:i troops marching into 4enmar,9

Hitler an+ his troops at 3e Bourget Airport after the fall of ;rance9

Hitler5s ;inal Solution: the concentration camp o)ens9

Sit:,rieg (ut, at long last, )ha'*erlain and ,aladier were co'ing to understand so'ething the Times did not! Their govern'ents could not survive the political eAplosions that would *e set o%%, i% 1itler5s Peace E%%er were accepted! The- would not la- down their ar's;*ut neither would the- use the'! #ilitaril-, the- did nothing! It was an eerie period;France, (ritain, and 3er'an-, the greatest powers o% +urope, at war, *ut no war was waged! This is the period the 3er'ans called the Sitzkrieg, the (ritish, 4The Phon/ar!4 French and 3er'an troops %aced each other across the 7hine! And the peace ca'paign devised *- 3oe**els5 Propaganda #inistr- did its wor. on the 'orale o% the French soldier! 4/h- do -ou %ight in the /est<4 Na2i lea%lets and French0language *roadcasts de'anded! 4Nothing to %ight a*out! >ou are %ighting a war %or the (ritish +'pire!4 France and (ritain waited and did nothing! (ut 1itler did not wait, not even %or )ha'*erlain5s repl- to his Ect! C Peace 9peech! Instead, on Ect! 1:, he called together his 'ilitar- chie%tains, read the' a 'e'orandu' on the state o% the war and the world, and slapped on the ta*le ,irective No! C %or the )onduct o% the /ar! In the directive 1itler ordered6 a! Preparations are to *e 'ade %or an attac.ing operation ! ! ! through the areas o% ?uAe'*ourg, (elgiu', and 1olland! This attac. 'ust *e carried out as soon and as %orce%ull- as possi*le! *! The purpose will *e to de%eat as strong a part o% the French operational ar'- as possi*le, as well as allies %ighting *- its side, and at the sa'e ti'e to gain as large an area as possi*le in 1olland, (elgiu' and northern France as a *ase %or conducting a pro'ising air and sea war against +ngland! The 'e'orandu' 1itler read to the generals declared6 The 3er'an war ai' is the %inal 'ilitar- dispatch o% the /est, that is, destruction o% the power and a*ilit- o% the /estern Powers ever again to *e a*le to oppose the state consolidation and develop'ent o% the 3er'an people in +urope! ! ! !

(- no treat- or pact can a lasting neutralit- o% 9oviet 7ussia *e ensured! ! ! ! The tri%ling signi%icance o% treaties has *een proved on all sides in recent -ears! The greatest sa%eguard against an- 7ussian attac. lies ! ! ! in a pro'pt de'onstration o% 3er'an strength! (- Ect! 1", when )ha'*erlain 'ade his response to 1itler5s Peace 9peech, 1itler5s directive and 'e'o had *een 3er'an Ar'- polic- %or two da-s! The %uture was gri' %or the Appeasers;*ut, characteristicall-, the- were opti'istic! An+ Blit:,rieg /e 'a- 'ove ahead %ro' Ect! 1", to that da- siA 'onths later, in the spring o% 19G:;April 9, at dawn;when the 3er'an ar'- *lasted into Norwaand ,en'ar.! The other targeted lands soon %ollowed6 (elgiu' and the Netherlands were invaded #a- 1:, and %ast overrun *- soldiers and 'achin0 er- %ighting the new .ind o% war called (lit2.rieg! En that sa'e da-, Neville )ha'*erlain was driven %ro' the head o% (ritain5s govern'ent, to *e replaced *- /inston )hurchill! To the d-ing da- o% his govern'ent, Neville )ha'*erlain and his %ellow Appeasers had not given up hope o% an understanding with Na2i 3er'an-! In April 19G:, as 1itler5s ar'ies ravaged Norwa- and ,en'ar., ?ord 1ali%aA co''unicated to the 3er'an opposition the (ritish govern'ent5s position6 i% 1itler were re'oved, the (ritish would accept a Na2i 3er'anunder the leadership o% 1er'ann 3oering! Further'ore, 1ali%aA 'ade clear, (ritain would recogni2e the status =uo in )2echoslova.ia and Poland (total 3er'an control o% the %or'er, and 3er'anK9oviet control o% the latter$;the spoils o% 1itler5s wars o% nerves and con=uest! These were points on which )ha'*erlain eAplicitl- eApressed hi'sel%! 1itler would certainl- have to go;he had proven hi'sel% %ar too trou*leso'e! 41e 'ust either die, or go to 9t! 1elena, or *eco'e a real pu*lic wor.s architect,4 )ha'*erlain wrote! (ut 3oering and the rest o% the Na2i hierarch- could sta-! #a- 19G: *rought 'ore than the invasion o% (elgiu' and the Netherlands! It also *rought the (attle o% France;which raged %or @ust siA wee.s, %ro' #a- 1: until Dune "1, when 1itler dictated his ter's to a *eaten, de'oral0 i2ed nation! The despair and c-nicis' o% the Appeasers, in%ected France5s 'ilitar- co''anders and civilian leaders ali.e! En #a- 15, (ritain5s new

Pri'e #inister /inston )hurchill was awa.ened *- a desperate call %ro' his French counterpart (*- now Paul 7e-naud held the post$! 4/e have *een de%eatedH /e are *eatenH4 7e-naud cried! )hurchill later wrote that he could not *elieve the great French Ar'- had *een *eaten in %ive da-s! Nevertheless, it was so! NeAt da-, )hurchill %lew to France! In co'pan- with 7e-naud and 3eneral 3a'elin, he as.ed the latter, 4/here is the strategic reserve< Eu est la 'asse de 'anoeuvre<4 3a'elin, )o''ander in )hie% o% the Allied Ar'ies in +urope, shoo. his head and shrugged6 4Aucune;there are none!4 As has o%ten *een said, in the 9econd /orld /ar, France re%ought the First! 9he did so *ecause her leaders had supposed the- would never again have to %ightB had cra%ted all her %oreign polic- and diplo'ac- to the end o% Ap0 pease'ent, and declined to learn the 'ost *asic lesson o% statecra%t6 that in order not to ris. war, one 'ust *e prepared to 'a.e war! And so, *ecause her polic- was Appease'ent, her %ate was de%eat! There is to France5s sad stor- an honora*le and great eAception6 a -oung 'ilitar- 'an who' )hurchill 'et at 3a'elin5s head=uarters on that visit to France, an eApert in tan. war%are whose *oo. had revolutioni2ed war0 'a.ing! (Alas, it had *een read, not *- his superiors in the French Ar'-, *ut *- his adversaries;chie% a'ong the' Adol% 1itler, 3en! 1ein2 3uderian, and 3en! Frit2 #anstein, the three 'en who planned the (attle o% France!$ In 3a'elin5s tent, )hurchill approached the -oung 'an and whispered, 4?5ho''e de l5heure4B 4#an o% the hour!4 The -oung 'an5s na'e was )harles de 3aulle! France had lost the war long *e%ore the /ehr'acht invaded! (ut what o% (ritain< 1er polic- too had *een Appease'ent! )ha'*erlain and 1ali%aA and all the rest, 'ade sure o% it! And -et (ritain did not %old! There are 'an- reasons %or this, told and retold in the histor- *oo.s! There is onl- one that need interest us here, *ecause it *ears on Appease'ent and its opposite! (e%ore the (attle o% (ritain had *egun, the )ha'*erlain govern'ent had %allen, and the roc. on which it had %oundered, was outraged pu*lic opinion! /hen, on #a- 8, 1itler5s ar'ies too. Norwa-, #e'*er o% Parlia'ent ?eo A'er- rose in (ritain5s 1ouse o% )o''ons and turned to Neville )ha'*er0 lain, who was presiding! A'er- *egan, 4This is what Eliver )ro'well said

to the ?ong Parlia'ent when he thought it was no longer %it to conduct the a%%airs o% the nation6 5>ou have sat too long %or an- good -ou have *een doing! ,epart, I sa-, and let us have done with -ou! In the na'e o% 3od, goH45 That was the senti'ent in (ritain;%ar di%%erent %ro' France5s de'orali2a0 tion! There eAisted in (ritain the potential to 'o*ili2e her people to %ight! And even Neville )ha'*erlain understood, at long, long last, that his dawas done! En #a- 1:, as 3er'an- invaded 1olland, (elgiu', and France, )ha'*erlain resigned his o%%ice! After2or+ As historians have co''ented, Adol% 1itler won the war o% 19&9;the war that ended in the railwa- carriage at )o'piLgne, on Dune "1, 19G:, when France5s leaders surrendered! 1itler had indeed *een correct6 i% he had not eApected the /estern powers to declare war on hi' 9ept! &, he was surelright in insisting that the- would not wage that war seriousl-! The war that %ollowed a%ter Dune 19G:, was a di%%erent war! (ut Eld +urope, %or whose preservation the Appeasers had striven so 'ightil-, and %or whose doo' the- were so utterl- responsi*le, died %orever in Dune 19G:, when 1itler con=uered France!