The British Public and the German Threat in 1935–1936

The article delves into the reaction of British society to the actions of Nazi Germany in the years 1935–1936, as Germany undertook steps aimed at dismantling the established system of international relations in Europe based on the Treaty of Versailles. The international situation that arose as a result of these actions posed a challenge primarily to those countries that were at the foundations of this system. Great Britain was one of the main states that had to speak in favour of the principles of the existing international system. Drawing from press materials, political statements and declarations, as well as contemporaneous diaries and memoirs, the author reconstructs the nuanced stance of British society towards the potential threat posed by the Nazi regime. The spectrum of opinions regarding the intentions of the German leadership, the reasons behind radical pronouncements and actions of Hitler, are examined.