I see a lot of people recently calling Chamberlain “spineless” and saying that he “caved” to Hitler or “sold out Czechoslavakia in exchange for empty promises.” But this is really problematic because you’re not thinking of all the people who would’ve gotten hurt if this deal didn’t go through. I mean, nobody wants a repeat of the Great War. And look, I hate Hitler as much as anyone, but he’s given us his word that he’ll be content with taking only the Sudetenla-

Sorry, what’s that? Oh, I see.

As I was saying, Mr. Hitler has given us his word that he’ll be content with just annexing all of Czechoslavakia.

What was he supposed to do? Throw Europe into a major conflict, just because some fascist seizes power, removes any semblance of democracy, and starts terrorizing minorities?

Look, at the end of the day, capitalist or fascist, we might not see eye to eye on every little detail but it’s important to be the bigger person and reach across the aisle and give them every chance to stop being belligerent.

I mean, after all, if we can’t work together, then who’s going to kill all the leftists?

  • MrNesser@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Chamberlain wanted peace above all. He was facing a political crisis at home and a still recovering economy from WW1.

    The peace deal with the Nazi wasn’t spineless it was a lesson in what not to do when faced with fascism, something that perhaps needs to be relearned the hard way in modern times.

    It’s documented that ultimately he felt like he had failed the country, indeed he never recovered politically.

    • icelimit@lemmy.ml
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      7 months ago

      I think it’s likely that the war may have played out very differently had Sudetenland not been given. Imho it, and the subsequent invasion gave have much more justification and support for a declaration than had he stood firm. As there would have been a large ‘what if’ crowd.

      I could be entirely wrong.

  • gmtom@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I will always come to the defence of Chamberlain from pop-history types.

    He actually saved the UK by massively rearming the country in the lead up to the war, especially so the RAF. If it wasn’t for his actions we would have likely lost the battle for Britain.

    Also fun fact: at the time he was actually considered a war hawk by much of parliament and was pressured into being softer on Hitler than he wanted to.

  • yesman@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Whenever anyone says Chamberlan “gave up” Czechoslovakia I ask one simple question: What was he supposed to do? He could have declared war, like the lion Churchill did for Poland. But I’ll remind you that the only thing England sent to Poland was thoughts and prayers. Followed by over a year of “phony” war.

    Look at a map. You’ll notice that Czechoslovakia is quite far from England. With fucking Germany in between!

    The whole Chamberlan meme is just right-wing propaganda to delegitimize diplomacy. It only makes sense if you don’t think about it.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    7 months ago

    I mean, after all, if we can’t work together, then who’s going to kill all the leftists?

    I think Churchill could have done that on his own

  • ms.lane@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    No, Chamberlain was spineless, against the Royal Family.

    Czechia gave him a plan to crush the Nazis at the first stop, they baulked, since the prince loved Nazis.