why did Neville Chamberlain want to appease Hitler?
Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940, believed in the policy of appeasement towards Hitler and Nazi Germany for several reasons. One of the main reasons was that he wanted to avoid another devastating world war like World War I, which had only ended two decades earlier. Chamberlain believed that by giving in to some of Hitler's demands, he could prevent a larger conflict from occurring.
Additionally, after the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression, Britain was economically and militarily weakened, and Chamberlain felt that the country was not ready for another war. He also believed that by appeasing Hitler, he could buy time to rearm and strengthen the British military.
Chamberlain also hoped that by appeasing Hitler and meeting some of his demands, he could prevent further aggression and expansion by Germany. He believed that through negotiations and concessions, he could maintain peace in Europe and avoid a larger conflict.
Ultimately, Chamberlain's policy of appeasement was heavily criticized, as it ultimately failed to prevent World War II and allowed Hitler to continue his aggressive expansionist policies.