Political Leadership on the Eve of War

• Neville Chamberlain served as the Prime Minister of the UK from 1937-1940. Known for his policy of appeasement.
• Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, allowing Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia to prevent war.
• However, Hitler's continual aggression eventually led to the beginning of World War II, and Chamberlain declared war on Germany in September 1939.
• Chamberlain's inability to prevent war weakened his position, and he was replaced by Winston Churchill in May 1940.

Political Parties on the Eve of War

• The Conservative Party, with a majority in the House of Commons, held power. Neville Chamberlain, a Conservative, was the Prime Minister.
• The Labour Party, led by Clement Attlee, was the opposition party. Attlee was a vocal critic of Chamberlain's appeasement policy.
• The Liberal Party was in decline and held only a small number of seats in the Parliament.

Shift in Political Leadership

• Upon the outbreak of the war, Chamberlain's position became untenable, and he was replaced by Churchill in May 1940.
• Known for his powerful and inspirational speeches, Churchill promised nothing but "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" and rallied Britain during its darkest hour.
• Churchill formed a coalition government that included all major parties to cope with the war.

Political Climate and Public Opinion

• The public opinion was initially behind Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, as many remembered the horrors of the First World War.
• However, as Hitler continued to violate the agreements and expand the Nazi territory, the public sentiment shifted.
• By the time Churchill took over the leadership, the public was ready to stand up against Hitler, as reflected in Churchill's decision of war.