Prior to the September 1939 German invasion of Poland,England maintained a policy of appeasement, aiming to avoid war through diplomatic concessions to Nazi Germany. Led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Britain shifted toward a more confrontational stance only in March 1939, issuing a security guarantee to Poland after Hitler violated the Munich Agreement.
Key aspects of England's position included:
- Appeasement Policy (1937–March 1939): Chamberlain sought to avoid a repeat of World War I by allowing Germany to rectify perceived injustices of the Treaty of Versailles. This culminated in the 1938 Munich Agreement, where Britain allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland.
- The Polish Guarantee (March 31, 1939): Following Germany's occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia, Britain ended its policy of appeasement, pledging military assistance if Polish independence was threatened.
- Military Preparation: While aiming for peace, the government accelerated rearmament, including improvements to air defenses, following the 1938 crisis.
- Alliance Efforts: Britain attempted to form a coalition, including the Soviet Union, to deter German expansion.
- Final Ultimatum: When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain initially tried to negotiate, but public and political pressure forced a declaration of war on September 3, 1939, after an ultimatum for German withdrawal was ignored.
References
- Imperial War Museums - How Britain Hoped To Avoid War With Germany In The 1930s
- Holocaust Encyclopedia - Appeasement and 'Peace for Our Time'
- Holocaust Encyclopedia - Invasion of Poland, Fall 1939
- GOV.UK blogs - What’s the context? 31 March 1939: the British guarantee to Poland
- Wikipedia - Munich Agreement