Appeasement.

Munich: the edge of war, is a fascinating film and all the more relevant in the light of the current Ukraine situation. I had always understood that Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement was tantermount to conspiring with Hitler's Reich. The film suggests that Chamberlain was set on buying time so that Britain could rearm. I think the truth probably lies somewhere in a murky middle between these two positions. Chamberlain's motivations and drivers being as complex as the political moment. The film simplifies the politics of the situation in late 1938, it's not an historical lecture. The French involvement in the Munich meeting is omitted entirely. The British ruling class's attitude to Stalin's Russia is barely mentioned. As an entertainment, and as a way into this particular history I very much liked the film. Jeremy Irons is Neville Chamberlain, a great performance. And I think it is probably fairer to view Chamberlain not as an evil coniver with Hitler, but as someone who seeking to avoid war, and wishing to maintain popularity at home, was prepared to sacrifice Czechoslovakia and many of its people. A morally questionable position, but unsurprising given his party allegiance and background. One thing the film shows graphically is the change to Germans, people polarising, as the country slid into fascism. If you want to know more about the historical background of the moment Wikipedia does a decent job.

Jeremy Irons as Neville Chamberlain. (Another unknow photographer.)