Like hard times, history repeats itself.
Boisterous, ruthless, sure he was marching down the road to destiny, Adolf Hitler got a surprise: Neville Chamberlain wanted to come see him.
Dapper, thin face, smugness hiding an insecure heart, Chamberlain flew to Germany. Sitting in Hitler’s paneled study in the Bavarian mountains laid a deal on the table, said he’d give Hitler part of Czechoslovakia – if Hitler agreed to a lasting peace.
A week later, flying back to Germany, thin smile on his face, Chamberlain purred he’d worked it out – France had agreed. Surprising him, shaking his head, Hitler told him that wasn’t enough.
The truth was Hitler never wanted just part of Czechoslovakia – he wanted it all. And he wanted Poland too. But he hid that.
Back in London, fuming, Chamberlain asked Mussolini to step in: France, Britain, Germany, Italy went to a summit in Munich. Mussolini laid a deal on the table. All four signed it. Then England and France told Czechoslovakia it had to give part of its country to Germany – or fight Hitler alone.
Czechoslovakia gave in.
Back home in London, beaming, hearing cheers, Chamberlain boasted he’d bought ‘peace in our time.’
Hitler took the gift of part of Czechoslovakia then told his army to get ready to march on to Prague to take the rest. Chamberlain’s happiness lasted five and a half months until Hitler marched into Prague.
Then Hitler locked eyes on Poland.
Ground crumbling beneath his feet, rattled, calling Hitler ‘the commonest little dog’ he’d ever seen, Chamberlain promised he’d protect Poland. But by then hardly a soul trusted his promises.
Seven years later World War II ended.
But Czechoslovakia and Poland fell under the thumb of another tyrant, Stalin.
Forty years passed, America won the Cold War, the Soviet Union fell apart, at last Poland and Czechoslovakia were free.
Forty more years passed.
Putin’s not boisterous – he’s quiet but ruthless. Out to make a deal, Trump offered him part of Ukraine. Told Zelensky to agree – or fight Russia alone. Hardly a leader in Europe trusts Trump’s promises anymore.
History repeats itself but today hardly anyone remembers the past. Munich’s forgotten. Americans like J. D. Vance say Ukraine doesn’t matter to us. But what happens in a fallen world if Ukraine’s not all Putin wants?
This article first appeared on Talking About Politics and is reposted here with the kind permission of the author.
About author Carter Wrenn: In 1976, Carter Wrenn managed Ronald Reagan’s campaign in North Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary. For twenty years, along with respected Raleigh Attorney Tom Ellis, he led Senator Jesse Helms’ national political organization – leading two national independent campaigns to elect Reagan, and supporting Jack Kemp and Steve Forbes in their campaigns for President. In North Carolina he has directed nine successful statewide campaigns, including five successful elections to the United States Senate. He agrees Ronald Reagan was dead right when he observed, ‘Watching backstage politics is like looking at civilization with its pants down.’
Boisterous, ruthless, sure he was marching down the road to destiny, Adolf Hitler got a surprise: Neville Chamberlain wanted to come see him.
Dapper, thin face, smugness hiding an insecure heart, Chamberlain flew to Germany. Sitting in Hitler’s paneled study in the Bavarian mountains laid a deal on the table, said he’d give Hitler part of Czechoslovakia – if Hitler agreed to a lasting peace.
A week later, flying back to Germany, thin smile on his face, Chamberlain purred he’d worked it out – France had agreed. Surprising him, shaking his head, Hitler told him that wasn’t enough.
The truth was Hitler never wanted just part of Czechoslovakia – he wanted it all. And he wanted Poland too. But he hid that.
Back in London, fuming, Chamberlain asked Mussolini to step in: France, Britain, Germany, Italy went to a summit in Munich. Mussolini laid a deal on the table. All four signed it. Then England and France told Czechoslovakia it had to give part of its country to Germany – or fight Hitler alone.
Czechoslovakia gave in.
Back home in London, beaming, hearing cheers, Chamberlain boasted he’d bought ‘peace in our time.’
Hitler took the gift of part of Czechoslovakia then told his army to get ready to march on to Prague to take the rest. Chamberlain’s happiness lasted five and a half months until Hitler marched into Prague.
Then Hitler locked eyes on Poland.
Ground crumbling beneath his feet, rattled, calling Hitler ‘the commonest little dog’ he’d ever seen, Chamberlain promised he’d protect Poland. But by then hardly a soul trusted his promises.
Seven years later World War II ended.
But Czechoslovakia and Poland fell under the thumb of another tyrant, Stalin.
Forty years passed, America won the Cold War, the Soviet Union fell apart, at last Poland and Czechoslovakia were free.
Forty more years passed.
Putin’s not boisterous – he’s quiet but ruthless. Out to make a deal, Trump offered him part of Ukraine. Told Zelensky to agree – or fight Russia alone. Hardly a leader in Europe trusts Trump’s promises anymore.
History repeats itself but today hardly anyone remembers the past. Munich’s forgotten. Americans like J. D. Vance say Ukraine doesn’t matter to us. But what happens in a fallen world if Ukraine’s not all Putin wants?
This article first appeared on Talking About Politics and is reposted here with the kind permission of the author.
About author Carter Wrenn: In 1976, Carter Wrenn managed Ronald Reagan’s campaign in North Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary. For twenty years, along with respected Raleigh Attorney Tom Ellis, he led Senator Jesse Helms’ national political organization – leading two national independent campaigns to elect Reagan, and supporting Jack Kemp and Steve Forbes in their campaigns for President. In North Carolina he has directed nine successful statewide campaigns, including five successful elections to the United States Senate. He agrees Ronald Reagan was dead right when he observed, ‘Watching backstage politics is like looking at civilization with its pants down.’
