#OTD20 | September 30, 1938
'Peace In Our Time': Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement
September 30, 1938: It is a day of both relief and historical irony as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returns from Munich, waving a piece of paper and declaring it to represent "peace in our time."
In an effort to avoid what seemed like an inevitable descent into another world war, Chamberlain had just signed the Munich Agreement, a pact that allowed Adolf Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of no further territorial aggression.
The agreement is highly controversial, not least because it is made without Czechoslovakia's involvement or consent. The term "appeasement" becomes synonymous with this diplomatic maneuver, and will be widely critiqued as a failed strategy in the years that follow.
Despite Chamberlain's optimistic pronouncement, "peace in our time" proves to be tragically short-lived. Less than a year later, World War II erupts when Hitler's Germany invades Poland.
The Munich Agreement remains a cautionary tale in international relations, demonstrating the potential pitfalls of appeasement and underscoring the complexities of diplomacy in times of escalating tension.
The Guardian
Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement are chronicled in part one of our World Word II series, "World War II - The Road to War."
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#OTD20
Step back in time to experience the significant events that happened on this day in the 20th century.
September 15, 1916: First Use of Tanks in Combat
#OTD20 — September 15, 1916: History is made as military tanks roll into combat for the first time during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Somme Offensive.
September 13, 1948: Margaret Chase Smith Elected to Senate
#OTD20 — September 10, 1948: Margaret Chase Smith is elected to the U.S. making her the first woman to serve in both chambers of Congress.
September 12, 1962: JFK Pledges “We Go to the Moon…”
#OTD20 — September 12, 1962: JFK delivers his “We Go to the Moon” address at Rice University, challenging the nation to land a man on the moon within the decade.
September 11, 1973: Coup Topples Government in Chile
#OTD20 — September 11, 1973: a military coup topples the democratically-elected government in Chile.
September 9, 1916. Woodrow Wilson Urges Patience on Women’s Suffrage
#OTD20 — September 9, 1916: President Woodrow Wilson speaks in Atlantic City, urging patience on the issue of women’s suffrage.
September 8, 1945. Korea Partitioned at 38th Parallel
#OTD20 — September 8, 1945: American troops arrive in Korea, initiating the division of the peninsula along the 38th parallel.
September 8, 1945: Huey “The Kingfish” Long Shot
#OTD20 — September 10, 1935: Senator Huey Long, a prominent figure during the Depression-era politics, is shot while at the Louisiana state capital in Baton Rouge.
September 7, 1940. Luftwaffe attacks. London Blitz Begins.
#OTD20 — September 7, 1940: The Blitz of London begins as the German Luftwaffe launches a devastating attack on the city. By day’s end, one thousand Londoners are dead.
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