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NevilleChamberlain

Neville Chamberlain

Britain Goes to War

Chamberlain Speaks "In 1939, from the Cabinet Room of 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was forced to declare war on Germany."

Some say he tried his best to avert a war with a country that wanted nothing but war; others say he was blind and foolhardy in trying to deal with Nazi Germany. Through the takeover of Austria, the Munich crisis and eventually the invasion of Poland, England's prime minister, Neville Chamberlain attempted to negotiate with the obsessed and erratic Adolf Hitler.

His was a policy of appeasement. When he had taken office in May, 1937, his focus was on a European solution to German expansionism. He attempted to convince Hitler that war was not worth winning because British re-armament and the weak German economy would make Germany vulnerable to a British economic blockade. Chamberlain also felt that Hitler would set his sites on the East, an opinion that helped him in his decision to abandon Czechoslovakia during the Munich Crisis.

But ultimately, Hitler would have none of it. And so, with the invasion of Poland, a sadly reluctant Chamberlain announced that England was at war with Germany.

First Austria, then Czechoslovakia and finally Poland. On the German march into Danzig, Hitler said "For half a millennium longer this soil has been German, and has remained German, and it will, you can rest assured, remain German." With this invasion, Chamberlain had no choice but to honor his agreement with Poland and move toward war. Hitler, it seemed, was not to be deterred.

After trying to avoid taking his country down this tragic path, Chamberlain angrily denounces Nazi Germany's decision to invade Poland. Radio was there to record this historic moment. This was the first time such a significant moment was conveyed to this nation by radio. Chamberlain told listeners "it is evil things we shall be fighting against." Lord Halifax, the British Foreign Minister, on criticism of the lackluster support of action by Britain against Hitler, comments on Hitler.

War had come to England.

Today, the media keeps covering non news events like the latest attempt by the so called "peace mom" to extend her 15 minutes of fame (which is SO over) and not report and remind us of why America must not bury it's head in the sand in the face of tyrants. Casey would be both hurt and embarrassed to see how his mother has acted in the aftermath of his sacrifice for America and Americans.

Go home, Casey's mom - mourn your son and Thank God that he understood the value and price of freedom - and honor his choice and his commitment. Stop the embarrassment you create for yourself. Your son understood. You need too.

References

http://www.otr.com/neville.shtml

http://www.otr.com/ra/neville.ram

http://www.otr.com/ra/halifax.ram