It didn’t just before World War II, and it won’t now

President Trump is trying to justify withdrawing support for Ukraine’s efforts to repel an unprovoked invasion by Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Trump claims World War III is imminent and his policy is aimed at preventing it. He also claims we need to reach an agreement or understanding with Putin. These claims prompted me to review events leading to World War II and some events of the war. 

As Germany started re-arming in 1935, tension rose in Europe. The Munich Agreement involved several European powers, including Germany and Britain. The agreement allowed Hitler to annex large parts of Czechoslovakia. Britain’s prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, said it meant “peace in our time,” but the agreement was subsequently known as “appeasement.” It was signed September 30, 1938.

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, initiating the war in Europe. The much heralded peace did not even last a year. The war in Europe did not end until May 8, 1945. We will never know if standing up to Hitler in 1939 would have prevented the war. We do know appeasement failed.

On August 24, 1939, barely a week before the invasion of Poland, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed. Named after the foreign ministers who negotiated it, the treaty was a non-aggression pact between Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. Each pledged not to attack the other. With Stalin’s pledge not to attack, Hitler was confident that he could. 

The pact lasted longer than the Munich Agreement, but on June 22, 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa—the invasion of the Soviet Union. Although the invasion was effectively halted by December, 1941, Moscow was besieged until January, 1944. Hitler’s invading forces fought across Ukraine, causing massive destruction and millions of casualties. 

When Germany eventually retreated, followed by the Soviet army, it was again largely across Ukraine. Again, massive casualties and destruction ensued. 

Now we see Russian armies invading Ukraine, causing casualties and destruction. Ukraine can’t catch a break, and now we are abandoning them as Chamberlain did Czechoslovakia. Trump is following a policy of appeasement.

My conclusion: Dictators like Hitler, Stalin and Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted. They will not honor agreements. Appeasement does not work. Now is the time to stand up to Putin by supporting Ukraine.

One of the reasons Stalin had such difficulty in repelling Hitler’s forces was his purge of his top military commanders during the Great Purge of 1937-1938. Trump’s purge of our top military and security leaders and experts is great cause for concern. We cannot believe Putin. He cannot be appeased. We need military and intelligence services led by the most competent people. Personal loyalty to Trump should not be a factor.

Patricia Wilson is retired. She lives in Equinunk, PA.