‘Still Hope’

Facts!

The cartoon entitled “Still Hope” was published on the 1st September in Punch Magazine, a British weekly of a satirical nature.

It was created by artist Leslie Illingworth.

Breaking the Enigma

Due to the satirical nature of the magazine it was very likely that Chamberlain was being portrayed as delusional believing he could still avoid war. This piece is most probably anti-appeasement

4

The storm implies that even though Chamberlain is trying his hardest he cannot fix the situation no matter how hard he tries, because a storm is something that is caused by nature and cannot be stopped or withheld.

The storm represents Hitler because he cannot be stopped by anyone, no matter how hard Chamberlain tries.

5

Chamberlain’s wings signify that he is (at least) attempting to be angelic and fix the situation with Germany. However these wings can be seen as a sign that the artist at least understood what Chamberlain was trying to do, even though not necessarily agreeing with him

6

Chamberlain is carrying an olive branch as a sign of peace towards Germany.

7

Chamberlain’s briefcase means that he is still on the job and is always at work.

8

These mountain’s are the Sudetenland and the surrounding land is Czechoslovakia. This seems plausible as this cartoon was made about the same time as the Czechoslovakian crisis.

9

Chamberlain being in the air could imply that he believes he is above everything and has better things to do than deal with Germany and Sudetenland.

Why Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939

Hitler– Hitler could now invade Poland without fear of

Russian invasion– Hitler could get back land lost to Poland because

of the Treaty of Versailles and begin to acquire Lebensraum

– This would prevent an alliance between the USSR, Britain and France stopping Hitler carry out his plans

Why Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939

Stalin– The Soviet Union would not have to got war with

Germany over Poland– The USSR did not trust Britain and France enough to

ally to save Poland, now he need not have to– Poland was hostile to the USSR and had fought a war

in the 1920s. This could mean Stalin’s revenge as well as getting back lost land from the creation of Poland

– This would give Stalin time to regroup his armies for an eventual war with Germany

Next lesson Policy of Appeasement and to finish Nazi Soviet Pact .Then Year Ten work is completed.