British Policy of Appeasement

Appeasement is a diplomatic strategy that makes concessions to aggressive foreign powers to avoid war. Britain attempted to appease Hitler in hopes of preventing another war after World War I (1914–1918). World War I had devastated Europe and brought catastrophic losses. Britain was not prepared for another war, even more so after the Great Depression hit in 1929. 

While appeasement had been British policy under multiple prime ministers, it is primarily associated with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain, who took office in 1937, believed Hitler could be reasoned with. He along with some Britons thought that agreeing to some of Hitler's demands would prevent war and avoid entangling Britain in yet another costly conflict after World War I. Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement was strongly opposed by Conservative Member of Parliament and future prime minister Winston Churchill.