I had long felt that British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was considered a weak and ineffective leader whose policy of appeasement with Adolph Hitler not only sacrificed the Czech nation to a German takeover, but also emboldened Hitler's further territorial expansions into east-central Europe. So rather than preventing an outbreak of war in Europe in 1938, the Chamberlain's appeasement policy only served to further strengthen Hitler politically and militarily. Many had expressed the belief that had Chamberlain taken a tougher stand against Hitler's desire to expand into Czechoslovakia, that World War II would have either been prevented or much more limited, saving millions of lives.

However, as is usually the case, there's often much more to the story than is generally understood. David Faber's insightful book, "Munich, 1938", filled in the blanks behind Chamberlain's much discussed "appeasement" of Hitler and his takeover of Czechoslovakia. Faber points out that Hitler's military expansion and plans to invade Czechoslovakia were already in place at the time of Chamberlain's meetings with Hitler. He also explained that the French had an existing mutual defense treaty with Czechoslovakia, and how they were equally complicient in the abandonment of the Czech nation. With German troop movement ready to move into Czechoslovakia, the acceptance of the idea of self-determination for the German speaking Czech's, the previous acceptance by the Czech government to transfer of the Sudentenland to German control, the French and British recognized that the German takeover was a fait accompli. Further, they both recognized that any threats of war had no affect on Hitler's plans, and there was no way they would be able to prevent the German takeover. So with the takeover all but complete, and with no way to prevent it, Chamberlain in consultation with the French hoped that his negotiations would placate Hitler's desire for further expansion and bring, as he said, "Peace with honor-Peace for our time." In hindsight, we clearly see the folly in this hope, but Faber provides a look at the background of the time, brings an number of interesting facts to light, and at least explains why Chamberlain held out this hope.
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This was a very helpful book to get clear in my mind what the British government believed in 1938 when they made so many concessions to Hitler. It also, but not in any depth, discusses France's fragile government situation in 1938. I've been reading many popular books of history on WWII this year, and this book helped by taking me into the step-by-step development of events in Germany, Britain and, to a lesser degree, Czechoslovakia. I actually listened to this book on "Books on CD" and often played it in the car or while I was cleaning my house. It was a good way to distract myself from bad traffic or the drudgery of cleaning. :) I recommend this book if you ask yourself "How could Chamberlain have been such a fool?" After reading this book, you probably will still feel that Chamberlain was blindly and stubbornly sticking to an appeasement policy, but at least you will be fully informed about all the intrigues raging around Europe in 1938. ( )

Of course, we have all heard of Nevil Chamberlain and his piece of paper granting 'Peace in our time' but about the background leading up to that, the personalities involved and the issues? Well researched and detailed, this book takes you back to that time, giving you a feel for the hopes and fears of those involved. Fascinating hearing contemporary accounts of Munich, in hindsight of what was to happen. ( )

This is a well detailed thorough narrative history of the period between Anschluss, the German takeover of Austria, and German takeover of Czechoslovokia. The primary focus is on the Munich Conference which was the first partition of Czechoslovokia. The Munich conference was where Britain, France, Italy and Germany got together and agreed on new borders for Czechoslovokia. The next morning Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler and got him to sign a piece of paper that said England and Germany were going to be friends. Chamberlain then flies home to England.
There is a mob scene at the airport and this is where Neville, Old Boy! utters those famous words"There will be peace in our time" I looked up Chamberlain in the Wiki and he remained the Prime Minister after WWII started and died nine months later, still the P.M.
Meanwhile the Nazis are the people you love to hate, especially Hitler. The nationwide riot against the Jews in Germany, known as Kristallnacht because of all the broken glass, occurs during this time.
The takeover of Austria was nostalgic. Hitler got to visit his parent's graves. He was Austrian, not German. He went back to Vienna where he had lived as a bum before WWI.
Whenever the Germans had a state dinner or luncheon they would have waiters in uniforms and the plates had Hitler's crest on them. Very programmed and severe.
One last tidbit. At Berchtesgaden (write that without looking it up) Hitler had one large room that looked out over the mountain scenery. It had a large picture window with a device that allowed the window to be lowered into the floor. When the window was lowered the room was like a covered porch.
You really have to hate all of those people for what they did to Czechoslovokia. Hitler got them all scared about going to war. Hitler's generals were scared about going to war too, they thought they would lose. So the English and the French tell the Czechs that it's time to take one for the world. And no you don't get to come to the conference where we decide your fate. An extreme example of cowardice, corruption and hypocrisy which is seen again and again throughout history with variations. ( )