How Appeasement (Almost) Worked: World War II 1929-1939

[@CallMeEzekiel]

📺 Tune in to our Twitch streams www.twitch.tv/callmeezekiel 📢Play War Thunder for FREE: wtplay.link/callmeezekiel 💥New and returning players get an exclusive bonus pack.🪖 🫶Support our videos on: www.patreon.com/CallMeEzekiel kzbin.info/door/nZ1r94_Ptz_1gN5VBnE0Mgjoin 🙏PayPal: www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=EAQPBZ8VHGFL6 discord.gg/zNhjjt77RC www.reddit.com/r/CallMeEzekielOfficial/ twitter.com/CallMeEzekielYT 📨Free newsletter: callmeezekiel.substack.com/ 📚Main sources and further reading: John Charmley, Chamberlain and the Lost Peace: amzn.to/3QxWvAO Tim Bouverie, Appeasement: Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill, and the Road to War: amzn.to/3y4oaTH Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II: amzn.to/3JPe9MS James Holland, The Rise of Germany, 1939-1941: The War in the West: amzn.to/3WsGIr5 Norrin M. Ripsman and Jack S. Levy, Wishful Thinking or Buying Time? The Logic of British Appeasement in the 1930s: www.jstor.org/stable/40207135 Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Crypto: 💸 🟠BTC: bc1qj2szqj0h0rj2zz5x0zdhr8fzrh85zmatwxht26 🔵ETH: 0x0344A4aF3eCe5F8E5C0f65FC4c7eB667bf31cD60

[@oanebontoi3860]

Cheese video when?

[@Lol-ft8bi]

26:00 during the later czechoslovak general mobilisation the army grew in size by 1milion men

[@konradoziom2225]

As of appeasment, I have seen info that British and France forced Polis Army to not mobilize, because they were negotiating with Germany. Because of that Germans have far larger numerical advantage then if Polish Army was fully mobilised. Then Polish Generals made defense plans based on alliance with Britain and France, that was more politicly motivated, then strategiclly. Or in short, to defend entire Polish border. To sum it up, Polish Army on 1 of September, 1939 wasn't fully mobilised and have to defend on far larger front, then they had to. At least their navy escaped before the war. (And Piorun[Polish navy destroyer] could 1v1 Bismarck[German navy battleship]. It was a draw!)

[@Mr.DalekLK]

A big minus for cooperation with War thunder, which robs players

[@undercoverjesus9352]

31:50 bro why is the hungary ball in romania? i mean yeah, want transylvania back, but bruh

[@IvanLuelmo]

So easy to "negotiate" when you give away land that isn't yours.

[@dirremoire]

The British are experts at giving away land that isn't theirs.

[@melvinbrotherofthejoker436]

So easy to say to fight when you aren’t risking your neck

[@thebritishtwat1317]

I mean tbf they didnt give the land away they just said they wouldnt fight Germany over someone elses land.

[@rexisnox577]

@@melvinbrotherofthejoker436That was the issue though, giving up land or telling them to fight, the British never risked their neck. “Czechoslovakia, just give up this Sudetentland, this Hitler dude is chill” “Poland, fight on, we’ll help you in a few years” the British never fought with their own men.

[@Awesomewithaz]

​@@melvinbrotherofthejoker436the people whose lands were being taken were saying they would like to fight.

[@adamsuchyna6775]

In Czech Republic, when it comes to Munich, we call it Munich dictate, Munich betrayal or ,,O nás bez nás” (About us without us). We are still pissed about it and Chamberlain with Daladier are still blamed and hated.

[@marcbuisson2463]

And rightfully. Although Daladier, when he came back in France, he was sure he would get politically destroyed. Only to be acclamed for having saved peace. Yeah no, we were a lost cause. And we ended up being way less prepared in 1940 than in 1938, and Germany way better prepared. Czech tanks formed a significant share of the panzer divisions who made us fall. Our political class and Daladier himself knew it was a f*ckin' bad idea, yet we thought we could not face Germany without the UK support.

[@thatonedemon7867]

Tak, as said. Also, we havent just backed down, we were prepared to fight, it was our president (Edvard Beneš), who gave the order to stand down. For the determiantion of our people, one of our best authors said: "Ta doba a ta noc, to byla svým způsobem nejhezčí noc tohoto národa, protože tenkrát ten národ stál jako jeden muž a jako jedna žena a nebál se". (That time and that night, in a way, was the beautifullest night of that nation, because that nation stood as one man and one woman and was not afraid)

[@attilaabonyi8879]

Understandable

[@JoboGamezzz]

Feels for Czechia

[@Ghost-df4og]

Shouldnt have been oppressing germans

[@thatguywhoanimids]

POV: You’re Neville Chamberlain and you just got news of Germany taking the rest of Czechoslovakia

[@manofarmageddon92]

You're*

[@kittycatwithinternetaccess2356]

surprised Pikachu face

[@ILikeElevators]

Uhhm *You're 👆🤓

[@The_whales]

“You lied to me” The (former)Austrian painter: what did you expect?

[@michaelsilver253]

SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT

[@ewcc8847]

Really love the small details like making the rifles accurate to whoever is holding them, small things like that scream commitment!

[@dinoman2545]

Yeah but why did the German army have the Italian L3

[@fiorinopizio4554]

Hitler: I want that thing Chamberlin: You cant have that thing Hitler: *takes thing* Chamberlin: Ok fine you can have that thing but nothing more Hitler: i want that thing

[@fesco4752]

Oversimplefied reference

[@littleartist81]

And repeat

[@judykimnguyen8393]

Yoinks

[@treyflorek8592]

Yea

[@fredrickmansav6852]

classic socialist

[@CliffCardi]

Chamberlain: So you promise you won’t be annexing any more territory, Herr Hitler? Hitler: Well yes, but actually no.

[@SzymonTopol]

Hearing just how many times brittan had opportunity to stand up to germans, make Italians an ally, etc only to faulter, halt their allies, alienate potential allies, underestimate, just makes me angry. Although I thought, you'd mention, how the Allies stopped Poland from calling full mobilization prior to the war outbreak

[@crazyhawk5056]

The diplomatic failures can be placed on poltitions of the time, but the faults of the military industries is major factor that isn't addressed majorly but it dictates forgin policy. I can see how this could have been changed but incompitance was everywhere. Ww1 was something that every was scared from, towns all over Europe lost their sons and fathers leaving loved ones to miss them, never again was the general consensus. Context is a much grander thing when looking at the whole picture but just a tldr.

[@ProgressiveConservative]

Wait until you hear about Britain refusing peace with Germany even when Germany was offering to help maintain the empire and there was no reason for Britain to fight Germany anyways. All that happened after ww2 was the America became the world power instead of Europe.

[@angeloluna529]

i cannot blame chamberlain since the majority of the public oppose creating another war and it would be political suicide to do so, he was in a lose lose situation.

[@road-eo6911]

@@ProgressiveConservative "Wow! Those selfish, imperialistic Brits! How dare they reject a peace treaty from a bloodthirsty regime that aimed to control all of Europe?! It's not like their entire policy revolved around trying to AVOID having a single superpower in mainland Europe for 300 years! Right?! Right??"

[@符俊翔-i9g]

​​@@road-eo6911that policy is whay make them bankrupt after ww1 and is what make the empire gone after ww2 lmao.

[@SmallPotato2313]

Lets not forget that czechoslovakia didnt want to back down. We were prepared to fight (proof mobilisation) but if we still stubbornly refused after the munich betrayal we would be labeled as the aggressors not the germans. Let that sink in how spineless this "strategy" of appeasement was

[@olgagaming5544]

The fall of Czechoslovakia was the biggest strategic blunder of XX century. Mountainous fortifications falling without a single shot. Then its arms and riches proceeded to fuel the war for years.

[@robertkalinic335]

​​​​@@olgagaming5544 Those fortifications were neglected and they dragged their feets with fulfilling the plan until late, most of them were surprisingly small two three guys positions. Then you have hungarians with big ass front under Slovakia and Austria flanking Czechia, Poland wouldn't let Russians through to help and West sees CSK only as proxy to bargain with germans. Plan was to delay and retreat into Slovakian mountains, this was lost long before it became issue. Paint it like this and its clear there isn't any choice.

[@Witnessmoo]

Yeh we are doing the same thing now with Ukraine. It’s fucked up. Westoids are cowardly

[@dirremoire]

Czechoslovakia could have mounted a ferocious resistance by itself. Why it didn't is beyond me.

[@robertkalinic335]

@@dirremoire You are trolling right?

[@itsquitemessy]

I was playing this in the background whilst i was playing HOI4, and the declaration of war speech at the end was perfectly timed with Germany declaring war on Poland in HOI

[@celtic4518]

Germany rearms: France & Britain simultaneously: You've got this one righ- France & Britain simultaneously: But I'm brok- Britain: You know what? Let them have the Rhineland its basically their backyard. France: Right, and Austrians are basically German. France and Britain Simultaneously: Either way, our army's will be ready, and we can just hold from belgium like last time. 🤝 (I know it's more complicated, but I thought this was funny)

[@Kaiserboo1871]

Ok that’s hilarious, and accurate (if a bit simplified) but still. I can imagine it like a sitcom, complete with a laugh track.

[@Fallout3131]

@@Kaiserboo1871same I could see it 😂

[@minestar2247]

You almost forgot the Soviets who were like : common, guys, this is dumb, my plans for collective security are way better Ok screw it in gonna do apeasment on my own, bit better

[@beng.9344]

💔

[@Elenrai]

When two empires have broke teenager energy

[@JacobBennett-yr3tn]

A NEW CALLMEEZEKIEL VIDEO IS BOUTA DROP 🗣️🔥

[@ProfoundMentalRetardation3]

ok

[@jameswebb4171]

The art in this episode is absolutely incredible

[@oliversherman2414]

Germany: Annexes Austria and Czechoslovakia Britain and France: Oh no! Anyway....

[@oliversherman2414]

@user-wj6dt5bq3w I know

[@Squareptune]

Babe, a new CallMeEzekeil video dropped.

[@bayross3562]

french here, i wanted to scream so hard at some of the moments my country and Britain did... GOD.

[@greeneagles337]

Important to remember the politicians of this era saw World war 1 firsthand. They were willing to try absolutely anything before going through that hell again. They gave it a noble effort and I don’t blame them.

[@bayross3562]

@@greeneagles337 agreed in all honesty, but still it was painful to watch this video.

[@tefky7964]

@@greeneagles337 They were willing to sacrifice rest of Europe just to save themselves, so nah, fuck them.

[@Dromaeosaurs]

I haven't been watching your videos for like 10 months, and holy molly, the jump in quality is astounding!

[@General_Dane]

12:47 Enemies unlocked: France, Italy and UK. Reason? Forgot their island in the Mediterranean Sea.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

Man the whole protecting the Sudetenland Germans by annexing Czechoslovak lands parallels the whole Crimea DPR and LPR situation. Though I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Russian political leadership. Still at lest this time the allies stood up earlier.

[@yeboxxx_channel_2505]

I know right? I have to address the similarity of the situations over and over to the kolosům of the debates about the recent war.

[@Hypogean7]

There's a ton of differences about that situation. For one, there's a connecting border.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

@@Hypogean7 I may have misunderstood you, but there was a land border between germany and Czechoslovakia just as much as there was a land border between Russia and Ukraine

[@yeboxxx_channel_2505]

@@Hypogean7 .. What the heck do you think Is the Border that existed before the war in Ukraine?? It's the exact same situation.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

@@yeboxxx_channel_2505 I'm not sure I know that word. the arena in Rome?

[@ignasmatulevicius7953]

This suprised me very pleasantly. Tbh didnt expect much because so much youtubers already did this topic, but this micro look at it was truly amaizing. Already watched this three times. Good work :DD

[@SomeWeirdDudeExpert]

39:27 don’t you just hate when the hoi4 ai guarantee a nation u wanna attack..

[@PIRATE99A]

A very interesting video for a very interesting topic. Chamberlain shouldn't be forgiven for betraying the Czechs, France shouldn't be forgiven for their complacency, and the Soviets shouldn't be forgiven for striking a deal with the devil.

[@mynamesnotshanekid813]

Honestly, collective security with the soviets would have stopped a lot of these betrayal. Maybe.

[@PIRATE99A]

@@mynamesnotshanekid813 Big issue is the Soviets had absolutely no way to intervene in the conflict. Likely they were just bluffing to force the west into a war, or to get another excuse to invade Poland and Romania.

[@mynamesnotshanekid813]

@@PIRATE99A I mean, they could of pressured them through occupation of Romaina or Poland as deterence if collective security was ensure through treaties with the rest of the imperial core. It's not like siding with the people that slaughtered the people that shared values with the soviets is high on their bucket list. However, the commitment to this would probably not be a large force as the great purge happened and the soviet officers were scarce after Stalin merced the Trotskists and the ones standing next to the Trotskists.

[@PIRATE99A]

@@mynamesnotshanekid813 If the Soviets and/or allies pressured the Polish and Romanians it probably would have resulted in them siding with the Germans. Imagine the Soviet experience in Finland but from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

[@mynamesnotshanekid813]

@@PIRATE99A not the polish and Romainans, the Germans! Through occupation of the poles and the roma who's sovereignty can be assured through collective security. A world where Munich never happened but an early anti-hitler alliance.

[@00700A]

,,(...)Peace is a precious and a desirable thing. Our generation, bloodied in wars, certainly deserves peace. But peace, like almost all things of this world, has its price, a high but a measurable one. We in Poland do not know the concept of peace at any price. There is only one thing in the lives of men, nations and countries that is without price. That thing is honor.'' Józef Beck polish minister of foreign Affairs. Response to German ultimatum in may

[@someuser835]

It’s kinda funny how much messed up stuff the soviets did in their own country, but when it came to international law, they just went: umm actually… 🤓☝️

[@rustr01]

LOL, the Soviets at least tried to do something, unlike Britain, which "saved" Europe and gave us "eternal peace."

[@chewxieyang4677]

Anything for the first and only socialist state to be treated as a legitimate entity, I suppose.

[@pirokai7462]

Trey tried to do like 15 alliance with the allies, but the allies always said "nuh uh"

[@publichearing8536]

​@@pirokai7462just like Germany

[@MelihKaanEker]

And Ezekiel says appeasment worked because of "more allies". If they had went to war when the USSR called them to, Germany would've been curb stomped in it's infancy. *87 million dead and millions orphaned* it just works 😊👍

[@ovca410]

32:20 Yeah, Germans weren't ready for war at all in 1938. Their divisions were undermanned, since they simply didn't have the capacity to train more men, economy was close to crashing from constant rearmanent and Oster conspiracy was boiling. If only the Czechoslovaks didn't back down. The history would have been so much better

[@asafatl3296]

Or worse we may never know

[@formgrya6927]

wow wow wow, don't go rewriting history here. The Czechoslovaks didn't back down, they were forced to back down when neither France nor Britain would give them the support they required to defend themselves. It was the British who made the fateful move to sacrifice Czechoslovakia in the vain hope that this was the best option. It was in fact the worst option, and a year and a half later the Germans were masters of the European continent.

[@Fallout3131]

I like how you blame it all on Czechoslovakia but the two great powers left them to die 😂

[@Rigginssss]

​@formgrya6927 They could have easily said no and fought the Germans and in all likelyhood would have won. The Czech military was probably the single most advanced in Europe at the time and they had a massive arms industry and complete geographical dominance over its main enemies of the Germans and Hungarians in the form of the Sudetenland mountain fortifications and the Tatra and Carpathian mountains. The Germans did not have the capacity to wage war at the time and most certainly didnt have the manpower or buildip to break through the mountains or even break the czech air force. You also have to look at the fact that Romania would have without a doubt supported the Czechs in a war with the Germans, same with the Yugos and the Polish.

[@enriqueperezarce5485]

@@RigginssssHighly unlikely, the Czechs were framed as breaking the peace, so a lot of nations would be neutral, especially against the soviet threat faced in the east. The situation your proposing is too ideal of a situation for Czechoslovakia, the fact of the matter is 1938 was the worst year simply because it couldn’t fight Germany alone

[@blakehenry9030]

The tragic part is the western allie went to war for Poland at the start and abandoned her at the end

[@publichearing8536]

it's almost as if poland was a pawn

[@SkyHighMelody]

I think its interesting how reactive france was to anything britain did, just following suit whenever they have to take a stance. its allmost like they were a vassal of Britain

[@KS-PNW]

They did kind of make a policy decision to just let Britain take the lead diplomatically. Mostly due to desperation to avoid another war on French soil.

[@user-chumbuck3t]

The art style, effort, and editting is outstanding... I thank your team and you... top one channel to watch when you can't sleep.

[@Kez_DXX]

Italy, France, Germany and Great Britain consenting to Germany taking chunks of Czechoslovakia without their consent: sunshine and rainbows Germany taking all of Czechoslovakia without consent of Great Britain, France, or Czechoslovakia: madness!

[@tefky7964]

@user-wj6dt5bq3w Ok, Germany did with the rest of Czechoslovakia what they wanted.

[@tefky7964]

@user-wj6dt5bq3w Germany wouldn´t be able to do that if the Allies didn´t betray Czechoslovakia.

[@tyd521]

This video is beautiful, everything about this video is explained well, from the strategies of France and Italy to the explanation of how successful this period was. Major props to you.

[@Justjunniee]

Germany: and I'd would've gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids

[@tefky7964]

Like for pretty well done and informative video, but as a Czech I just have to add few things. 1. At first the ČSR army mobilized 180K reserves+it already had 200K soldiers, but that was just first mobilization as things started to heat up, but general plans in case of war was mobilization of 1 120 000 men. Germany could use around 1,6 million men. It also started real modernization and conscription just 3 years before that, which wasn´t enough time to fully train them. 2. Plan of France to stop Germany was usage of the Little Entente whose members were also Romania and Yugoslavia. In 1938 both confirmed their help in conflict and started to mobilize their own forces. 3.The USSR couldn´t get its forces to ČSR (because both Romania and Poland really, really didn´t like them), but Romania was willing to let pass both resources and equipment and might let pass some forces in case of actual war. Also Soviets prevented Poland from attacking ČSR with Germany, which was great help too. 4. There are still some discussions, but generally it is accepted that ČSR army had resources for 2-3 months of war. Germany had resources for 1 month of war and enough aerofuel, bombs and other things for planes just for 2 weeks. Whole plan of Czechoslovakia was slow defence and retreat to next position rather than full faith in one static line as France did, which would probably prevent some quick war as Germany hoped. 5.As was said in the video Germans weren´t really eager for war either, by that time Germany still didn´t show its power and many Wehrmacht officers were sceptical about their chances, so there were plans for coup in case of war (and chances of coup would drastically increase during the war unless they had miraculous luck). Germany had to fight quickly or probably lose, but in contrast to their campaigns later during the second world war they didn´t have same advantages to actually do blitzkrieg. 6.In the video is said that both the USSR and the Western allies couldn´t get their forces to ČSR and so allies would have to attack from the West... which is what we wanted, their forces weren´t needed here. Even without their support there are to this day wild speculations whether we had to fight alone (and how high chance of winning did we have) or not, but with the help of the Allies the war would be over really quickly. The problem is that the Allies specifically said that in case of conflict they would blame Czechoslovakia, which means that they didn´t just act like our allies or even as neutral countries, but openly helped Germany, which is one of reasons why to this day we call it "Munich betrayal" and why Czechia was only part of the Eastern block where communists won in democratic elections without machinations, because after the war people remembered what the West did and that Soviets (for their own reasons to expand their influence ofcourse) were those willing to help.

[@tefky7964]

Also Germans already had many tanks, but by that time mostly PZ 2., which quite sucked, so during the invasion of France they used Czechoslovak LT vz. 38 on the spearhead thanks to its qualities, which is quite poetic justice.

[@thebestteammate6528]

“GET OFF MY BATTLESHIP” -Admiral Dinkleberry Aboard HMS Hood May 1930’s

[@Petrico94]

I have doubts Chamberlain expected to go to war in X years and now is just not the time, but buying time and being diplomatic was the only good option so it's hard to hate him too much.

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

Apparently the world didn't learn the lesson, that appeasement doesn't works

[@SquidMonke4]

? Im pretty sure no one is apeasing

[@Happyman28778]

From the looks of it the narrative of this perspective of the interwar era is: Every leader was told they did not have a military or economy that could confidently engage in a major conflict for another 10+ years and as such every nation sought to push the time of war back just long enough to arm there military Under these circumstances where you don’t really have a way to actually oppose your enemies what do you do? Delay and negotiate. And that’s exactly what happened: a combination of unfortunate circumstances and incorrect information is what led to the 2nd World War in the favor of the Germans

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

@@Happyman28778 and what do you think is leading the next one, the exact same thing.

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

@@SquidMonke4 yes they are, just look at what is happening at the UN.

[@SquidMonke4]

@@JoaoSoares-rs6ec how did they appease. Please tell me

[@Usual_User]

Your videos are so high quality, so interesting and funny! I wish i had spare money - just to support you, because i never seen history taught in such a format (that can be even shown in schools and im sure kids will be interested in this)

[@keegandecker4080]

What the hell did you say that the KZbin censors keep pushing off the video? You explained the mustache man’s point of view, didn’t you squidward?

[@akumaking1]

Because OurTube is run by regressive lefties

[@Kacper-tx2gz]

MOM WAKE UP NEW EZEKIEL VID JUST DROPPEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!1!1!!1

[@changingpeopleslivesmoon2993]

Ok son I’m up

[@judahcalloway4360]

I think ezekiel is planning to make a massive ww2 video

[@pieeater108]

That would be cool, there are aspects of WWII that are very ‘haram’ to analyse tho so we’ll see

[@מ.מ-ה9ד]

The second goal of the appeasement also was went horribly. A) We all know that the British army wasn't prepared at all. B) The USSR, Italy, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria allied Germany, while the UK lost Poland and Czechoslovakia even before the war between them started.

[@090giver090]

a) It was prepared. Battle of France and Low Counties was botched not by lack of supply and material. b) USSR didn't join the war between UK and Germany, limiting itself to trade opportunities (that prompted the German invasion of 1941). And Italy, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria didn't ally Germany untill way after the fall of France.

[@מ.מ-ה9ד]

@@090giver090 A) I didn't refer to anything regarding supplies and material B) The USSR literally invaded their close allies... Before that, it was willing to help Czechoslovakia even without the UK. Italy and especially Romania were their allies as well...

[@מ.מ-ה9ד]

@user-wj6dt5bq3w Without France only, obviously... it was shown in the video. That's because of the French-Soviet pact. It's just that France wouldn't do anything without the UK as well.

[@oanebontoi3860]

I love your content man you and your team make history fun and easy to understand please make more videos. Btw please do anying with romania. I hope this video will be good.

[@MellonAM]

LETS GOOOO NEW VIDEO, perfect time for lunch aswell

[@Dogofwar41]

Congrats on 120k man I remember when you only had I believe it was like 10k or a bit more you make such good videos I hope you keep it up man

[@AntonioArcoraci-dv4vz]

This without a doubt callmeezikel finest video video since 55 days in Peking and The Russo-Japanese war videos. Keep up the amazing work.

[@HVACSoldier]

32:54 “I have been talking with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and I have in my hand a piece of s#it.” 😂. IF only he had said that instead.

[@norap668]

This video is perfect for those taking AICE international history in highschool! Literally the entirety of chapter 3 in a video! Amazing work Ezekiel, people will be using this to study for years!

[@tiagomd3811]

I mean... His work is fantastic, but he basically just read E.H Carr's chapter on the interwar period and made a video out of it. Carr is a really good historian so that's good.

[@thechangeling3851]

I'm glad my great great grandparents were savy enough to get out of the Czech Republic seeing the writing on the wall between the nazis and the soviets... My grandmother actually asked "why did you not beleive the allies promises?" At one point and got a blunt "do you think the big powers actually cared about us? Some small country in the center/east of Europe? My dad saw ww1 and knew that we were either used to justify a war on others, or a stone to add to a pile...either way both people most likely to do either would not have left us this time"

[@arwing20]

I'm glad you gave Chamberlain a fair shake. He knew Germany would never stop with its invasion of neighbouring countries but couldn't confront them with the state the military was in at the time. He wasn't just a naïve fool or a coward.

[@DokturProfesur]

The big problem I have with Appeasement is that, while yes it did buy time, that time was wasted by the British and the French. When the call to battle had been made, what did the French do? They largely sat on the border, unwilling to advance into German defenses that didn't exist. The British? They dropped leaflets. They could have done so much with what they had, and yet they chose not to. They could have even granted Italy some largely petty colonial posessions to get them on their side, and chose not to. While the argument could be made that the Soviet Union would get involved on Germany's behalf if France and Britain made a major push against Germany during the war with Poland, we will never know, and personally I think it was an injustice to the peoples of eastern Europe that their only hope was content to wait for Germany to come to them.

[@thepaperplush9340]

Like he said in the video, just because the diplomats did their job doesn’t mean the generals did

[@kalkuttadrop6371]

That's not the fault of the diplomats told to stall for time though

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

Ya this is why the “oh it was all a ploy to prepare for the war” always feels like an ex post facto justification for incompetence to me. If appeasement was genuinely a plan to covertly prepare for war while avoiding it long enough to actually stand a chance then why were all of the appeasement powers so utterly inept at the beginning of the conflict? A conflict they have, in theory, been preparing for for years? Some will blame the generals but it goes beyond that, industry wasn’t prepared, stockpiles weren’t prepared, reservists weren’t prepared, I could go on. These nations were not, in any way shape or form ready for a major conflict after years of appeasement and “preparations”. Not to mention the fact that at every turn they actively chose to sacrifice various peoples and opportunities to continue appeasement even when they could have tried to pressure Germany or Italy and backed down if war actually looked likely. When golden opportunities presented themselves they were passed over in the name of “peace” and ultimately just made the war that much bloodier. If there truly was a stealth policy of preparation happening behind the scenes this would have been the perfect opportunity to slow Germany down without risking direct conflict but no, they just folded straight away.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

​@@Mankorra_Gomorrah You can blame WW1 for that. NONE of them wanted to fight another war no matter how long ago the last one was. France surrendering in 1940 was couched on the idea that they DON'T WANT war again on French soil. But as Churchill said in light of 1938: in the choice between dishonor and war, they chose dishonor and war came. You can't just throw meat to a wolf to keep it away from you because you will run out of meat and the wolf will hunger for meat...

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 yes but this literally just disprove the entire argument that appeasement was some 40 dimensional chess play to buy time to prepare for a war with Germany. If they never had any intention of preparing, then appeasement is exactly as misguided and self defeating as it looks on the surface. As Ezekiel says at the end of the video, the French and British had a massive advantage at several points and didn’t even really need to prepare that much but they continuously committed to appeasement and ultimately made the situation worse costing both of them far more lives.

[@IamGaps]

Massive W for mentioning Engelbert Dollfuss bro 😩👍🏽🇦🇹

[@simula152]

It's like feeding a bear with your friend thinking the bear won't be hungry again tomorrow.

[@thethirdsicily4802]

I know the immense amount of work that goes into these videos, but an episode on the rise of Fascism in Italy would he a fantastic video.

[@lorenzopizzolato5434]

I just love the background music

[@bobboothby9175]

Chamberlain was between a rock and a hard space. There was little chance the UK and France could really do much to stop the Nazis. He had to act like he made a good deal for peace. He knew better. He sacrificed his legacy to give UK a chance to gain strength. He had to hope someone would make that happen. No guarantees. Luckily Churchill stepped in and did his best. Barely pulled it off. Hold the fort until the US got involved. Still no guarantees but luckily American industry came to the rescue. Kudos to Chamberlain.

[@pedrobarbosaduarte3704]

Bruh i swear italian, french and english politics are something else 💀

[@botangabriel3492]

Great video. Interesting analysis of interwar period that is usually overlooked

[@tiagomd3811]

It's not his analysis, it's E.H Carr's

[@angeloluna529]

honestly it sucks to be in chamberlain's position, you're stuck in a situation where you have to painstakingly slowly restore a military due to a bad economy, the public ready to bash you if you show any hints of waging war against the germans and you have to stall out the germans as much as possible when slowly building the military's full potential only for armchair historians to mock and belittle you because you didnt attack germany. imagine he and his allies did defeat germany by starting WW2 only to be ousted out of office and historians calling him a warmongerer?

[@NapoleonAquila]

You have the choice between war and dishonour, you got both - Churchill probably

[@Archon3960]

If the League existed back then, Napoleon would've invaded Europe in a few years. 😂

[@user-rt2ix1dt1r]

Rehabilitation of the appeasement policy.... It is interesting, but you forget a thing about it : on 1939, due to Chamberlain diplomacy, the URSS is on Germanys' side of the war. It should not have happened, but for the appeasement policy

[@thomasriggins1299]

Great storytelling, I subscribed even tho I've been a fan for a bit! Really like it thanks for making it, it's a historian's dream.

[@weidenkuh13]

@CallMeEzekiel Very nice video once more. I especially appreciate the HOI4 music and effects.

[@The_United_States_Of_America76]

poor old Neville tried his best to keep the world in peace

[@LuisLopez-iw5zx]

“Do or do not there is no try”

[@vegetableman3911]

@@LuisLopez-iw5zxdid you just quote yoda?

[@LuisLopez-iw5zx]

@@vegetableman3911 perhaps…

[@Adamdidit]

Ok sure. But in the real actual world.... He had them re-arming and re-training the entire time. It's not like they didn't know. They just didn't have the support, manpower, or prep until they built it up.

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of How Appeasement (Almost) Worked: World War II 1929-1939 momentum 100

[@user-nt5fu7no4k]

I hope to catch some attention with this, it'd be interesting to see the German perspective of appeasement and how it changed the lives of its citizens both new and old before the war

[@balticbvll2987]

Honestly never knew how many times the UK stopped France from going to war, I personally thought both of them were cowardly and reluctant.

[@bryanmarco4515]

7:32 a little anecdote: During the Paris conference, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, when the conference confirmed only the annexation of Trento, Trieste and Istria but not Dalmatia as a whole and the port city of Fiume, asked those present to concede the other territories for which Italy had fought. He was so convinced of his position that he burst into tears. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau remembers the episode like this: I wish to pee as easily as the Italian Prime Minister cries. The reason why Dalmatia and Fiume were not ceded to Italy, apart they're also claimed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia) but also because formally the United States and the League of Nations didn't recognize the Treaty of London (secret agreement in which the British government promised the Italian army the unredeemed territories if had sided with the Entente). Italy also made a big bad impression as the Treaty of London was declassified by the Soviet Union who found the signed documents in the archives, adding to Italy's reputation as a dishonest opportunist to the world. P.S. I wrote the Italian army and not the Italian Government because the latter was actually unaware of the Treaty before entering to war

[@Kenionatus]

It really does seem like it's impossible to have any large scale organisation without things going horribly wrong 50% of the time. Any size of organisation, really...

[@celtic4518]

Great videos and the quality keeps improving!!

[@Ploxtifs_OldAndDeadAccountXD]

Fun fact: the “umbrella man” conspiracy regarding JFK was just some random guy referencing JFK’s father supporting Chamberlain’s efforts for appeasement….

[@MaximusCyborgius]

7 may is crazy

[@jims8828]

The key was the Chain Home radar early warning system, the world's first successful radar early warning system for detecting incoming enemy aircrafts. Before such a system, "bombers could always get through" as the air strategist Donet remarked in the 1920's. Because fighters needed high initial altitude to convert potential energy to kinetic energy in a fast diving attack, by the time enemy bombers were in visual range the defending side's fighter-interceptors just taking off from airfields would be easy pickings for incoming bombers and escorting fighters. UK did not have the strategic depth necessary to defend London in the southeast of the country from incoming bombers attacks before the Chain Home radar system. It took late 1937 to early 1940 to finish installing the radar towers all along the south coast and east coast of England. So if war had started in 1938 instead of late 1939, Germany would have won the air war over southeast England, and RN would have been sunk by Luftwaffe in the English Channel before German tanks showing up in East Anglia. British government would have to withdraw to Canada. The door to the Atlantic would be wide open to German submarines and raiders based out of British and Irish ports. The entire east coast of North America would be open to constant attacks therefore would have to sign treaty favorable to Nazis, celebrating Nazis in the Canadian Parliament more than 75 years earlier than in our real time line. Chamberlain buying time to finish the Home Chain radar system was the only feasible strategy to have a chance at winning the war.

[@flefeeff925]

This video came 2 months too late. I had this exact topic in my A-level exam :(. Thank you for this video non theless

[@UncleSofthands]

Honesty, I am happy to see a more charitable viewing of Appeasement and Chamberlain. Man had horrible and terrible options, and people still call him an idiot for not taking the horrible option. Critism of this stubject usally is usually hosted by Captain Hindsight. At the very least, we are not making the same mistake with Putin. For now, anyway

[@baneofbanes]

Thing is appeasement also allowed the Germans to gain strength as well. The horrible option was coming sooner or later, and appeasement allowed the Germans to build up enough strength to take all of Europe and knock the French out of the war.

[@baneofbanes]

And no we are very much making the same mistake with Putin. Aid to Ukraine has been overly politicized and what is sent isn’t being sent fast enough, in large enough numbers, and most importantly there’s still many systems they need they we haven’t sent yet.

[@dirremoire]

@@baneofbanes After learning a bit about the recent history of Ukraine, I can see why Putin had no choice. Especially after Ukraine took zero action to implement the Minsk Accords. Also, as a taxpayer, I don't want my goverment to send another penny to Ukraine.

[@baneofbanes]

@@dirremoire yah sure thing Ruski.

[@dirremoire]

@@baneofbanes Look, there are millions of military aged Ukrainian males abroad. Maybe I would care more about Ukraine if these men were rushing home to defend their homeland. On the contrary, they're doing everything they can to stay out of Ukraine.

[@Wakbo514]

Something that can be said about the Versailles treaty, is that ironically, for the French, this treaty wasn't harsh enough. They wanted Germany to be completely dismantled to weaken the german enough to be easily manageable for the french army in case of another war. When they saw the new treaty modified by the americains and british, they knew Germany won't be weaken at all and they would have face them once again in roughly 20 years.

[@RealMasterWindu]

that was an AWESOME introduction.

[@brandonprendergast7806]

Never thought I'd be more excited to watch through a patreon real... 🤭

[@langeweileonline4720]

14:10 and germany actually never did take any hostile action against france until France declared war on Germany

[@ryujibackyeah4189]

Did you know that Germany lost ww1?

[@changingpeopleslivesmoon2993]

Every one knows that

[@martind5653]

Maybe the first WW. But what about the second one?

[@changingpeopleslivesmoon2993]

@@martind5653 they lost the second one to

[@wheatyes2104]

OH, that explains Hoi4's map. I was wondering why France wasn't Syndicalist and the German monarchy was toppled. Thanks!

[@Jus2812]

No shit sherlock

[@OrangeSheepPlayz]

This is a great video! Keep up the great work!

[@sp00kypumpk1n]

thank you for covering this time period!

[@A_RandomFrog]

i like cheese

[@oanebontoi3860]

Cheese

[@michaldworakowski187]

Mozzarella is the best

[@pineygamez]

We all like cheese

[@Kacper-tx2gz]

Me too bud, me too.

[@changingpeopleslivesmoon2993]

🧀

[@melvinlemay7366]

I love this channel and it's presentational style so much.

[@Heartsping_Kit]

8:42 France with Luxembourg on top is so cutee 💞💞

[@PhantomFly_Br2]

Holy moly, this video was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@twotone3471]

What I've never gotten was if Poland was the point of no return, why did the Allies not declare war on the Soviet Union?

[@tefky7964]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXK1oKGpm7qCrNk

[@Witnessmoo]

The British and French didn’t need to buy time with appeasement… Germany was still a featherweight due to the Versailles treaty in 1935! The French and British could have rumbled the Germans easily enough. They just didn’t have the stomach for it.

[@bornawatermelon5807]

Bro has better content than nost tv shows

[@WispyKatt]

The Germans refused to even sign a trade agreement with the British. Civ 6 buffs: *trembling as the voice of the Civ 6 England leader asks for trade agreements over and over again.*

[@solffie9613]

love your videos, they feed my love for history, thank you for the amazing content :D

[@Nothing-1w3]

*PEACE IN OUR TIME*

[@nobodymcgee]

This video appeased me.

[@toastedbread359]

This is such a well made video i learned alot about this period that i didnt before (also the countryballs were awesome!!)

[@Mark761966]

THIS is quality content!

[@roelant8069]

33:04 Damn, you got me there. I thought "man, I never knew Chamberlain sounded so much like John Cleese" only to find out that audio was from a skit John Cleese did to make fun of this whole debacle xD

[@moxoph3682]

Very good Video but I couldn't help but notiece that you were using a lot of Hearts of Iron IV stuff

[@TeyvillDost]

Aaaaand they basically do a rerun of that with Putin -/

[@zombieoverlord5173]

Tbf Hitler didn't have nukes

[@TeyvillDost]

@@zombieoverlord5173 yup, which means the situation is even worse. Though that insect would be too scared for his life to actually use the strategic ones, I reckon

[@stargazer-elite]

@@TeyvillDost that’s assuming any of Russia’s nukes work there’s many reasons to believe they don’t even work. a Russian nukes are maintained anywhere like how the rest of the military is. They likely don’t work especially considering nukes take a lot more effort to maintain combine with the corruption and there’s no way any of them work or at least a lot of them don’t work.

[@abroxyz98]

Music lists please.

[@matthewbeach2669]

Your anger comes from hindsight. Me watching this made me feel a lot better about the whole situation has there actions make sense from what they where working with at the time.

[@bob_0146]

Nice god of war ragnorok music