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British and French appeasement, to 1938Fear over spread of Communism

During the 1930s, Britain followed a policy of appeasement - giving Hitler what he wanted in order to keep the peace. There are a variety of reasons for this policy and debate around its effectiveness. Use this Higher History guide to learn about The Spanish Civil War, attitudes to the Paris Peace Settlement, and the effectiveness of appeasement.

Part of HistoryAppeasement and the Road to War

Fear over spread of Communism

Many British politicians regarded as a greater threat than Nazi Germany. Their negative views were reinforced by the brutal show trials if the 1930s in Stalin's Soviet Union. A common saying at the time was:

better Hitlerism than Communism

During the 1930s, Britain had a National Government. This was formed from members of the Conservative, Liberal and Labour parties. The largest group came from the Conservative party.

The Conservatives believed that Hitler's Germany could be a strong defence against possible Soviet plans to invade Europe. Soviet involvement in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) raised suspicions about their aims.

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