posted on Jan, 9 2004 @ 04:46 PM
The Brits didn't back the French after Hitler marched into the Rhineland despite the fact that they were obligated to do so (by treaty). At that time
France and England had overwhelming military superiority over Germany and could have defeated Hitler before he endangered all of Europe. But the
Chamberlain wanted to avoid war at any cost. This probably sounded noble enough until they realized what the cost of 'at any cost' meant. The attack
on Austria (called the Anschluss) after Hitler proclaimed that he wouldn't interfere with Austria was a capitulation from Mussolini (Italy was
Austria's 'protector' and Hitler was loyal to the end to Mussolini for giving him Austria). Then he marched into Sudeten Czechoslovakia without
spilling a drop of blood in real battle because the French and English (ostensibly Czech allies) had convinced President Benes that even were the two
great powers to go to war with Germany, the Sudetenland would nevertheless fall. The Czechs were told that under no circumstances would France and
England go to war with Hitler if the Czechs resisted. However, in the Munich agreement, they solemnly swore to come to the aid of the Czechs if Hitler
tried to annex the rest of the country beyond the Sudetenland. Within seven months, he did exactly this, and the French and English sat back and did
nothing whatever.
The Fuhrer had not completely digested Czechoslovakia when he marched into Poland, but found the Poles to be much more resistant. Now this would not
have happened, had not Hitler already forged a non-agression with Stalin in Russia, in exchange for giving Stalin a cut in the take.
In any case, the British and French finally figured out Hitler makes promises which he obviously has no intention of keeping. It's not clear to me
that America had any obligation to enter WWII before it did. It is pretty clear that France and England did have those obligations after the Munich
treaty, yet they did nothing.