by Stephanie M.

Created on: April 21, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Throughout history, people have sought scapegoats on whom to pour their blame. Post World War II, Adolf Hitler was universally demonized, and his character and foreign policies were blamed for the Second World War. However, this is a short-sighted analysis as Allied nations pursued policies of appeasement that encouraged Hitler's recklessness. To appease is to give a bully what he wants in order to avoid conflict, and in the 1930's, Britain and France maintained this strategy in order to dodge a war with Germany. In hindsight, this actually contributed to Hitler's invasion of Poland in September of 1939.

During the 1930's, Europe was in the midst of the Great Depression. With the memory of the Great War still fresh, Europeans were distancing themselves from the possibility of another war. The Kellog-Briand pact of 1928 was intended to end "war as an instrument of national policy." At the same time, America was maintaining a policy of isolationism. This alienated the French and British from seeking their help and, as a result, they were not confident enough in their military power to oppose Hitler's aggression.

The infamous Treaty of Versailles strictly limited Germany's military armaments. However, its severe terms invoked international sympathy and in 1935 Hitler openly breached Versailles and re-armed his nation. Global reaction to his blatant disregard of the treaty was mild. Britain, Italy, and France signed the Stressa Front agreement in response, vowing to oppose powers threatening European peace, but they also appeased and allowed Germany to increase her navy. Hitler was beginning to learn that the Allies were frivolous with their promises. Shortly after, in 1936, Hitler was given the opportunity to test these arms. Immediately after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the revolution's leaders asked Germany for aid. In July, Hitler sent his troops, arguing that he was saving Spain from "communist barbarism". Historians generally agree, though, that he was acting in his own military and financial interests, gaining crude resources from his excursion. In addition, it was a way to become a closer ally with Italy as Mussolini was increasingly falling under Hitler's influence, in part due to Germany's support of Italy during the 1935 Abyssinian Intervention.

Both the Locarno Pact and the Treaty of Versailles specifically forbid military occupation of the Rhineland. However, in March of 1936, Nazi troops marched in and seized control. Hitler gave orders that

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