Munich The Edge Of War (1 Viewer)

[Terp152]

https://www.netflix.com/title/81144852

Watched the movie Munich-The Edge of War last night. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it (maybe you've already seen it). Some drival of a plot where a young German Foreign Office worker and his counter part, a personal secretary to Chamberlain, contrive to take secret documents that prove Hitler wants to conquer Europe to the PM. This was supposed to convince Chamberlain of Hitler's true intentions and thus keep him from signing the Munich Agreement that gave the Sudeten Land to Germany. In the movie, Chamberlain disregards the document and of course signs the Agreement.

The movie does have a stellar cast with Jeremy Irons playing Chamberlain and George MacKay, the lead actor from 1917, as the PM's secretary Jeremy Irons does a decent job with his role IMO. But, he remarked after making the movie, "What we have is Churchill's Chamberlain (he, Irons, wanted to more accurately portray Chamberlain trying to save the world from war). And Churchill was a warmonger who wanted to go to war a yr or two earlier." That's pretty much a verbatim quote. A screen msg at the end of the movie states that the Munich Agreement gave Britain another two yrs to prepare for war and thus was instrumental to winning the war.

I've done a little reading on the subject and there have been some revisionist views as to what Chamberlain accomplished. For instance, instituting a peace time draft, establishment of the Munitions Board, etc. Chamberlain himself wrote from his deathbed he was confident history would approve his actions that gained time to rearm by sacrificing the Czechs. He also had been advised the Dominions may not have supported Britain in another continental war.

So I think this is one of the great questions regarding that period of time. Did the Munich Agreement give crucial time for Britain to rearm and later defeat Germany? Or would it have been better to face the Germans during the Sudeten Crisis and force Hitler to back down, and would he have pulled back? Of course France would have had to been willing to risk war at that time. I don't know enough about their political will, other than to know they were very adverse to an armed conflict with Germany. And the Czechs had a formidable fortified defense line in the Sudeten Land which they forfeited and left them defenseless later.

A bit long winded here but interested to hear what you think of what Chamberlain accomplished.
Chris

 

[JL01]

https://www.netflix.com/title/81144852

Watched the movie Munich-The Edge of War last night. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it (maybe you've already seen it). Some drival of a plot where a young German Foreign Office worker and his counter part, a personal secretary to Chamberlain, contrive to take secret documents that prove Hitler wants to conquer Europe to the PM. This was supposed to convince Chamberlain of Hitler's true intentions and thus keep him from signing the Munich Agreement that gave the Sudeten Land to Germany. In the movie, Chamberlain disregards the document and of course signs the Agreement.

The movie does have a stellar cast with Jeremy Irons playing Chamberlain and George MacKay, the lead actor from 1917, as the PM's secretary Jeremy Irons does a decent job with his role IMO. But, he remarked after making the movie, "What we have is Churchill's Chamberlain (he, Irons, wanted to more accurately portray Chamberlain trying to save the world from war). And Churchill was a warmonger who wanted to go to war a yr or two earlier." That's pretty much a verbatim quote. A screen msg at the end of the movie states that the Munich Agreement gave Britain another two yrs to prepare for war and thus was instrumental to winning the war.

I've done a little reading on the subject and there have been some revisionist views as to what Chamberlain accomplished. For instance, instituting a peace time draft, establishment of the Munitions Board, etc. Chamberlain himself wrote from his deathbed he was confident history would approve his actions that gained time to rearm by sacrificing the Czechs. He also had been advised the Dominions may not have supported Britain in another continental war.

So I think this is one of the great questions regarding that period of time. Did the Munich Agreement give crucial time for Britain to rearm and later defeat Germany? Or would it have been better to face the Germans during the Sudeten Crisis and force Hitler to back down, and would he have pulled back? Of course France would have had to been willing to risk war at that time. I don't know enough about their political will, other than to know they were very adverse to an armed conflict with Germany. And the Czechs had a formidable fortified defense line in the Sudeten Land which they forfeited and left them defenseless later.

A bit long winded here but interested to hear what you think of what Chamberlain accomplished.
Chris

I’m a fan of Chamberlain’s. He gets a bad rap. Sure, Churchill is credited with leading the UK to victory in WWII, but at what cost? The Allies deal with Stalin led to the almost 50-year enslavement of Eastern Europe. Perhaps Chamberlain’s more moderate approach would have led to some better outcomes for the people of Europe.

 

[hotel3alpha]

Jeremey Irons portrayal of Chamberlin was amazing. The plot was a little cheesy, but a good take of fiction mixed with historical facts.

I too felt bad for Chamberlin, its a tough call to judge his actions or per se inactions. But his infamous waving of a peace accord whilst getting off the plane from Germany has sadly stuck in annals of historical memories/flubs. He was a statesman and what he wanted or more so needed was time to fend off the inevitable through negotiations. So, you can't fault him for that.

John from Texas

 

[villagehorse]

Thanks Chris, just watched it and thought it was really good. Robin.

 

[Terp152]

We were taught in school "appeasement" was a bad word and that history blamed Chamberlain's failure to stand up to Hitler as one of the causes for the start of the war. Oddly, little mention was made of French responsibility. Chamberlain was blamed by the British public, rightly or wrongly, for the lack of preparedness. His own party deserted him after the Fall of France and the Norway debacle culminating with the words "In the name of God go" being shouted to him in Parliament (echoing those of Cromwell).

I recommend Troublesome Young Men by Lynne Olson for a history of events leading up to Chamberlain's resignation and the choice of Churchill as PM, though he was not the King's preference.
Chris