Study this source. Source E 'I believe that the policy of engagement with Herr Hitler was the correct one. When I became Prime Minister in 1937, Britain's a...

Source analysis

Source E is a private letter by Neville Chamberlain from 1940, defending his policy of appeasement. Chamberlain argues that Britain's armed forces were not ready for war in 1937-1938, with the RAF outnumbered by the Luftwaffe and bombing defences inadequate. He claims the Munich Agreement allowed Britain to build radar stations, produce Spitfire fighters, and strengthen defences. He insists that fighting in 1938 would have meant fighting 'alone and unprepared.' The source is self-serving, since Chamberlain is defending his own decisions after they had been widely criticised, but his military arguments have some historical basis.

Contextual knowledge

The case that appeasement made war more likely: each concession encouraged Hitler to make further demands. The Rhineland (1936) led to Anschluss (1938), then the Sudetenland (1938), then the invasion of Czechoslovakia (1939). Germany also used the time after Munich to build up its military, and it gained the Czechoslovak arms industry, including the Skoda works. Appeasement damaged the anti-Hitler coalition: the Soviet Union was not invited to the Munich Conference, undermining trust in Britain and France and arguably pushing Stalin toward the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Appeasement destroyed collective security and showed smaller nations they could not rely on Western democracies.

The case that appeasement was rational: Chamberlain's point about rearmament has merit. The Chain Home radar network, developed during 1938-1939, proved crucial in the Battle of Britain (1940). Britain's military spending increased significantly after Munich. France was also reluctant to act alone. Public opinion in 1938 strongly favoured avoiding war.

Mark scheme (Levels of Response) [12 marks]

• Level 1 [1-4 marks]: Simple statements. For example, 'Chamberlain says appeasement gave Britain time to prepare.' No evaluation of the statement.
• Level 2 [5-8 marks]: Uses sources OR own knowledge to argue for or against the statement. May discuss how each concession emboldened Hitler, or how Britain used the time for rearmament, but does not fully integrate both sides.
• Level 3 [9-12 marks]: Uses BOTH sources AND own knowledge to construct a balanced answer. Evaluates the source critically (noting Chamberlain's self-interest), weighs the arguments for and against, and reaches a supported conclusion. A strong answer might argue that while appeasement allowed some military preparation, the overall effect was to strengthen Germany more than Britain and to destroy the anti-Hitler coalition, making a larger war more likely.

Exam reminder: When a source's author has a clear motive, always identify that motive and explain how it affects the reliability of their argument. Chamberlain writing in 1940 to defend his own policy is not the same as an objective historical analysis.