| Original caption: “British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, on his way to see Adolf Hitler to discuss peace or war, finds a broad smile for a German Army officer saluting him on his arrival at Berchtesgaden.” United Kingdom Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (March 18, 1869 – November 9, 1940) greets a Nazi German Heer (“Army”) officer at the Berchtesgaden train station. Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) at Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) sent his special train to Munich for Chamberlain and his entourage, who took a chartered British Airways Lockheed Electra from Heston Aerodrome to Munich, a 7-hour flight. This was the 1st of 3 meetings between Chamberlain and Hitler, that culminated in the 4-Power Agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland and withdraw French and British support for the Czech government. At center is Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); and with his back to camera, Staatsminister (“Minister of State”) Otto Meissner (March 13, 1880 – May 27, 1953). Ribbentrop and Ambassador to London Doctor Herbert von Dirksen (April 2, 1882 – December 19, 1955) met Chamberlain when the Electra landed at Munich. Meissner met Chamberlain at the Berchtesgaden train station. After 7 tiring hours on the plane, Chamberlain, who was 69 at the time and making his 1st flight, arrived at Hitler’s residence, the Berghof. On September 19, Chamberlain recorded the meeting in his diary: “I felt quite fresh and was delighted with the enthusiastic welcome of the crowds who were waiting in the rain, and who gave me the Nazi salute and shouted “heil” at the tops of their voices all the way to the station. There we entered Hitler’s special train for the three hour journey to Berchtesgaden…All the way up there were people at the crossings, the stations, and at the windows of the houses, all heiling and saluting…We drove to the Brown House a good deal higher up the mountain.” Hitler, hiding his deep satisfaction of the event, did not even walk down the steps to greet his guest. He waited for him at the top of the stairs, surrounded by General der Artillerie Wilhelm Keitel (September 22, 1882 – October 16, 1946), and a few other members of his entourage…That was the 1st of 3 historic meetings between Hitler and Chamberlain. Hitler said in very clear but polite terms that he had decided that the Germans in the Sudetenland had the right to self-determination and to be reunited with the Reich if they so desired. If they could not do so alone, he would help them even at the risk of a world war. The Führer complained about “British threats,” but Chamberlain cleverly pointed out that threats should not be confused with warnings. Chamberlain asked his younger and excited host: “Why did I come all the way over here to waste my time?” Hitler coldly replied that if he had obtained an immediate guarantee from the British government on self-determination for the Sudeten Germans, he would be ready to discuss the matter. After more than 3 hours, Chamberlain closed the 1st round of talks and adjourned to consult his cabinet in London. Chamberlain’s intention was to avoid a world war at all costs. The territorial guarantees of Czechoslovakia were an afterthought. Lord Walter Runciman (November 19, 1870 – November 14, 1949) who had been appointed as mediator, had advocated returning the Sudetenland to Germany as well. But Chamberlain had exceeded his mission endorsement from his cabinet. All he accomplished was a vague promise not to invade Czechoslovakia in the near future; he had gained nothing for the Czechs or for lasting peace. In the immediate aftermath of the Munich 4 Power Pact, Chamberlain would be hailed as a hero; but his reputation would be reviled for decades after the horrors of World War II as an appeaser. Lately, scholars have argued that he recognized that the United Kingdom wasn’t ready for war and bought time to build up her armed forces; thus his reputation was somewhat rehabilitated. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0823.jpg |
| Image Size | 176.33 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1292 x 996 |
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| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 15, 1938 |
| Location | |
| City | Berchtesgaden |
| State or Province | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
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| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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