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Article: The Munich effect: Mark Rathbone analyses the continuing influence of the Munich conference on post-war events.(THE UNPREDICTABLE PAST)
- Article from:
- History Review
- Article date:
- September 1, 2009
- Author:
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As Neville Chamberlain returned to 10 Downing Street on 30th September 1938 after the Munich Conference, he went to the first floor window to acknowledge the crowd which had gathered outside and declared, 'My good friends, this is the second time in our history there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.'
Few shared Churchill's alternative view of the Munich agreement, that it was 'a total and unmitigated defeat', but as the events of 1938-39 moved rapidly towards their tragic denouement, it became hard to avoid the conclusion that Chamberlain's attempt to come to terms with Hitler had been misguided. ...