History UsefulNotes / NevilleChamberlain

Munich was also not a clear-cut example of NSDAP-German aggression or expansionism - the ethnic Germans of Bohemia-Moravia had consistently voted for extremist nationalist parties (Communist or Fascist) who had advocated independence or political union with Germany in every general election since the country's formation in the aftermath of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The demands for Polish territory in 1939 were very different as The World had had a very dramatic insight into Hitler's actual and astonishingly radical agenda (re: the annexation of Bohemia-Moravia and the subjugation of Slovakia).

Whilst his quote is mostly recalled for its ironic value, Chamberlain was neither naïve nor stupid. "Appeasement" was seen as the ''only'' politically acceptable option, and Hitler's megalomania was not apparent [[VillainWithGoodPublicity thanks to his meticulous management of his public image]]. Though he publicly proclaimed that the move would avert war, he started Britain's programme of rearmament just to be on the safe side. His wisdom and foresight paid off when he was forced to declare war upon Germany in aid of Poland in September 1939… and the public rallied behind him and a war [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption they then understood was inevitable]].[[note]] French public opinion, on the other hand, was at least partly of the opinion that Poland was none of their business.[[/note]]

Chamberlain's treatment in the modern media almost [[NeverLiveItDown begins and ends with the famous 'peace in our time' quote]].[[note]] [[BeamMeUpScotty Which was actually 'peace FOR our time]]'. [[/note]] As Prime Minister, he signed the doomed Munich Agreement with UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, declared there would be 'peace for our time', [[HeadInTheSandManagement stuck his head in the sand]] and ignored Hitler's aggression, and was forced to resign due to health issues, but only after [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII declaring war on Germany for her declaration of war on Poland.]]

Chamberlain's treatment in the modern media almost [[NeverLiveItDown begins and ends with the famous "peace in our time" quote]].[[note]][[BeamMeUpScotty Which was actually "peace for our time]]".[[/note]] As Prime Minister, he signed the doomed Munich Agreement with UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, declared there would be 'peace for our time', [[HeadInTheSandManagement stuck his head in the sand]] and ignored Hitler's aggression, and was forced to resign due to health issues, but only after [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII declaring war on Germany for her declaration of war on Poland.]]

Chamberlain was the last PM to date who never faced the electorate as party leader or Prime Minister until UsefulNotes/LizTruss in 2022; his predecessor Baldwin had contested (and won) the general election of 1935, and his successor Churchill would contest (and lose) the subsequent general election, in 1945.

* Portrayed by Jaroslav Radimecký in the Czechoslovak film ''Film/DaysOfBetrayal''.

-->-- '''UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill,''' on Neville Chamberlain

-->-- '''UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill,''' on '''Neville Chamberlain'''

!Neville Chamberlain in fiction:

Whilst his quote is mostly recalled for its ironic value, Chamberlain was neither naïve nor stupid. "Appeasement" was seen as the ''only'' politically acceptable option, and Hitler's megalomania was not apparent [[VillainWithGoodPublicity thanks to his meticulous management of his public image]]. Though he publicly proclaimed that the move would avert war, he started Britain's programme of rearmament just to be on the safe side. His wisdom and foresight paid off when he was forced to declare war upon Germany in aid of Poland in September 1939… and the public rallied behind him and a war [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption they then understood was inevitable]]. [[note]] French public opinion, on the other hand, was at least partly of the opinion that Poland was none of their business.[[/note]]

Whilst his quote is mostly recalled for its ironic value, Chamberlain was neither naïve nor stupid. "Appeasement" was seen as the ''only'' politically acceptable option, and Hitler's megalomania was not apparent [[VillainWithGoodPublicity thanks to his meticulous management of his public image]]. Though he publicly proclaimed that the move would avert war, he started Britain's programme of rearmament just to be on the safe side. His wisdom and foresight paid off when he was forced to declare war upon Germany in aid of Poland in September 1939… and the public rallied behind him and a war [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption they then understood was inevitable]] [[note]] French public opinion, on the other hand, was at least partly of the opinion that Poland was none of their business[[/note]].

no winners, but all are losers."'']]-]

The most important factor in his decision not to risk war was undoubtedly his (correct) judgement that the British and particularly French public would not support war if he had been seen to reject diplomacy. A big part of the popular support behind the later [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII coup by Marshal Pétain and Admiral Darlan]], and the lack of prominent [[LaResistance French partisan movements]] until 1943, was a widespread belief that Britain had selfishly dragged France into a war that wasn't in her interests. The USSR's rhetorical willingness to defend Czechoslovakia's sovereignty would not have translated into a Soviet–German war either, as the military dictatorship of Poland[[note]]Poland having already fought the UsefulNotes/PolishSovietWar of 1919-21 and had little trust in Stalin[[/note]] would ''never'' have given their greatest enemy military access.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/neville_chamberlain_1.png]]

Chamberlain's history in the modern media almost [[NeverLiveItDown begins and ends with the "peace in our time" quote]].[[note]][[BeamMeUpScotty Which was actually "peace for our time]]".[[/note]] He became Prime Minister of the UK, signed the Munich Agreement with UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, declared there would be 'peace for our time', [[HeadInTheSandManagement stuck his head in the sand]] and ignored Hitler's aggression, and then had to resign after [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII declaring war on Germany for her declaration of war upon Poland.]]

That's good enough for high school history, but there's a lot more to him–and his decisions–than that. For a start, while he was a member of the Conservative Party, he was not really a Conservative. He described himself as a Unionist, referencing the defunct [[UsefulNotes/PoliticalIdeologies Liberal]] Unionist party his father had been in.

Prior to his premiership, he held a variety of government positions (notably two terms as Chancellor and three terms as Minister of Health) where he consistently advocated such reform measures, notably his passionate support for unemployment compensation. He was roughly in the middle of British politics during his age - he advocated a restructuring of the economic system and welfare payments to the needy, unlike many other Conservatives, but was against the nationalising of industries and redistribution of wealth advocated by the Labour Party. Unlike the (very) aristocratic Churchill, Chamberlain's father (Joseph Chamberlain, himself a very influential politician) was a self-made businessman, Unitarian, and keen radical reformer who passed his passion for improvement down to his son. Notably, Chamberlain was more fondly remembered by the British working classes than Churchill, who was hated by many (even after the war) for his suggestion that tanks be deployed against strikers. [[HeAlsoDid He also]] oversaw the first significant improvement in relations between [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles the UK and Ireland]] since Irish independence in 1922.

Website/ThatOtherWiki has [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain plenty of information about him]].

Chamberlain was the last PM to date who never faced the electorate as party leader or Prime Minister until UsefulNotes/LizTruss in 2022; his predecessor Baldwin had fought (and won) the general election of 1935, and his successor Churchill would fight (and lose) the subsequent general election, in 1945.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/neville_chamberlain_1.png]]

Chamberlain is the last PM to date who never faced the electorate as party leader or Prime Minister until UsefulNotes/LizTruss in 2022; his predecessor Baldwin had fought (and won) the general election of 1935, and his successor Churchill would fight (and lose) the subsequent general election, in 1945.

Chamberlain is the last PM to date who never faced the electorate as party leader or Prime Minister; his predecessor Baldwin had fought (and won) the general election of 1935, and his successor Churchill would fight (and lose) the subsequent general election, in 1945.

On September 1, 1939, the ''Wehrmacht'' crossed the border into Poland, a country that Britain and France had promised to defend from German aggression. Recognizing that the time for peace was over, Chamberlain issued an ultimatum to Hitler: withdraw his forces immediately, or face war. On the deadline date of September 3, no withdrawal was imminent, and so Britain formally declared war, soon followed by France and the Commonwealth countries. Unfortunately, a surprise invasion by the USSR meant that the Polish campaign was over in less than a month, before any meaningful assistance could be rendered. The Allies and Germans then faced several months of non-combat, known as the "Phoney War" or "Sitzkrieg." Following the fall of Norway, Chamberlain faced an extremely stormy debate on the whole issue in the House of Commons and calls for his resignation. The Government won, but only with a majority of 31, which Chamberlain felt was enough for him to resign, with Churchill taking over on 10 May 1940 (the day the Germans started their long-anticipated invasion of France).

[[quoteright:278:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chamberlain_hitler.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:278:[-Yes, in fact, this ''was'' once the same image used to illustrate the HeadInTheSandManagement article.-]]]

Wiki/ThatOtherWiki has [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain plenty of information about him]].