Study this source. Source B 'Mr. Chamberlain has returned from Munich waving his piece of paper and declaring "peace for our time." But what peace has he se...

Source analysis

Source B is a British newspaper editorial from October 1938, written immediately after the Munich Agreement. It is sharply critical of Chamberlain, mocking his claim of 'peace for our time' by arguing the agreement simply gave Hitler what he wanted without a fight. The source's central message is contained in its final sentence: Chamberlain 'has not prevented war' but 'merely postponed it.' It frames the Munich Agreement as a betrayal of Czechoslovakia ('a democratic nation and an ally of France') and warns that Hitler has learned 'he can take what he wants simply by threatening war.' The editorial's tone is one of alarm and condemnation.

Contextual knowledge

The source reflects the minority view in Britain at the time that opposed appeasement. While most of the British public initially welcomed the Munich Agreement with relief, critics like Winston Churchill called it 'a total and unmitigated defeat.' The editorial proved prophetic: in March 1939, Hitler broke the Munich Agreement by invading the rest of Czechoslovakia, demonstrating that his ambitions extended beyond uniting German-speaking peoples. This convinced Chamberlain that appeasement had failed, leading to the British guarantee to Poland in March 1939. The source's warning that Hitler had learned 'he can take what he wants' echoes the argument that appeasement emboldened aggression rather than preventing it.

Mark scheme (Levels of Response) [7 marks]

• Level 1 [1-3 marks]: Simple paraphrase. For example, 'The message is that the Munich Agreement was bad.' No use of specific source details.
• Level 2 [4-5 marks]: Identifies the message with supporting source details. The message is that appeasement was a disastrous policy that encouraged further aggression. Uses specific language ('peace for our time,' 'merely postponed it,' 'threatening war') to support the interpretation.
• Level 3 [6-7 marks]: Explains the message using source details AND contextual knowledge. Places the editorial in context (minority anti-appeasement view, subsequent events proving it correct), considers the significance of the British newspaper perspective, and explains why the message was presented this way (alarm at what was perceived as weakness).

Exam reminder: When identifying a source's message, look for the strongest language and the author's conclusion. The message is what the author wants the reader to think or feel, not just a summary of facts mentioned.