Chamberlain whole-heartedly believed in appeasement. According to him everything possible should be done to avoid another European or world war from breaking out - including giving in to 'reasonable' demands made by Hitler.

• Hitler and Chamberlain met in Berchtesgaden on September 15, 1938. Chamberlain wanted to find out
  • what Hitler's demands were regarding Czechoslovakia
  • what he could do to pacify Hitler and prevent war from breaking out

Chamberlain, aged 69, had never flown in an aeroplane before he visited Hitler!

• Hitler demanded the incorporation of the Sudetenland into the German Reich
• He justified his demand by saying that the 3.5 million German-speaking people living in the area gave it a German majority.
• Chamberlain saw this as a reasonable request - and a good enough one to justify appeasing Hitler.
• One week later Chamberlain returned to Germany with a document he had drawn up after speaking to the British and French governments. Forcing Czechoslovakia to agree, it suggested the following:

• Chamberlain presented Hitler with his plan - and Hitler promptly rejected it!
• He now demanded that the whole of the Sudetenland be incorporated into Germany one week later, on October 1, 1938.
• The Czech government refused.
• A war between Germany and Czechoslovakia could have led to World War II at this point.