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Neville Chamberlain and British Rearmament: Pride, Prejudice, and Politics (Contributions to the Study of World History)
Neville Chamberlain and British Rearmament Pride Prejudice and Politics - Contributions to the Study of World History Author:John Ruggiero A reexamination of Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy, this study challenges prevailing images of Chamberlain as a tragic hero--a man of peace, naively impressed by the dictators, who did his best under difficult circumstances to prepare his country for war. Instead, the author suggests that Chamberlain dominated his government and demonst... more »rated an uncanny ability to manipulate those around him in support of his own personal vision of Britain's national interest. The failure to rearm to a level consistent with imperial obligations presented a formidable problem. The British Government admittedly, had no good option available to it; however, Chamberlain was prepared to endure the humiliating consequences of appeasement, even if it meant peace at any price. He did so for personal, political, and prejudicial reasons. This study analyzes Chamberlain's role in the rearmament program and sheds new light on appeasement by illustrating the connection between the policy and Britain's attempts to rearm.« less