Untold

World War II: London and Berlin Plotted Second “Munich Agreement”

After invading Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1939, Hitler demonstrated he no longer needed approval of his aggressive policies by Chamberlain and Daladier. European countries feared the growing Nazi aggression and showed less confidence in England and France after the countries had failed to provide European security. Thus London and Paris faced risks to lose influence on the continent.

As a rule, most historians who deal with the events of 1939, focus on the Anglo-Franco-Soviet or Soviet-German diplomatic contacts. However, the survey would be incomplete without the analysis of the Anglo-German relations, which were not cut off after Hitler had annexed Czechoslovakia. Moreover, there are plenty of reasons to assume that in spring of 1939 the idea of appeasement- to achieve an agreement with Germany based on the division of spheres of influence- still was supported by many in Great Britain.

The position of the British government was the following: on the one hand, Hitler`s ultimatum on Danzig`s occupation (he made to the Polish government on 21st of March), caused serious concern in London. Prime Minister Chamberlain said if Germany seized Poland`s resources it would undermine the British interests. On the other hand, London was aware it should avoid confrontation with Axis countries. That is why the plan was to go further with the policy of appeasement and at the same time demonstrate an ability to use force when necessary. London agreed that Germany could annex Danzig (also known as the Polish Corridor) but it did not approve Hitler`s plans to occupy the whole Poland. On 31st of March the British government provided guarantees of independence to Warsaw.