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Originally Posted by palo5
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Sadly there did not appear to be a master plan, however Hitler was re-arming Germany and showing pretty flagrant signs that he wanted to increase his Country's power base from the early 1930's on.
Britain, France, Russia and the other European powers who were capable of making a stand decided to play a waiting game but at every point Hitler called their bluff and they gave in. The memory of WW I was still haunting many in Europe so I can understand the initial reaction to avoid war if possible. But maybe not at any cost.
Britain wasn't quick enough to build up her armed forces so that when we were forced into the war we were not properly prepared.
Thankfully the allies prevailed but you can't help but wonder what Europe would have been like today if 1920's Germany had been allowed more room to grow and rebuild a non military infrastructure. The high price of reparations imposed on Germany from WWI left the country in poverty and a breeding ground for fascism.
Any number of chances were missed.
Chamberlain comes off badly as although he was a decent enough man he failed to see through Hitler's lies. That "peace in our time" comment has sadly become his albatross.
PS Scounds is right, Baldwin was a dead loss, so much so I'd almost forgotten him.