> An agreement was quickly reached on Hitler's terms

> Shortly afterwards, Hitler reneged on his solemn promises to respect the integrity of Czechoslovakia

> Today, the Munich Agreement is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement, and the term has become "a byword for the futility of appeasing expansionist totalitarian states".

Giving in to the demands of the aggressor may "stop" the war for the time being, yes. It doesn't actually solve the problem.

Surely it's obvious in talking about the second world war that it didn't work? I'm not holding it up as some sort of exemplary negotiation. I was just saying Actually yes, they did try.

Agreed, but your original comment didn't really provide that context.

For 11 months. Wow.

My point is (surely obviously? I do know the war happened!) not that it worked out greatly, just that yes, they did think they might talk Hitler down.

If you really get into it, there's an argument that it bought valuable time; that maybe it was only ever supposed to be a delay, but I think that might be giving too much credit - a positive sure, just perhaps not the intention: Chamberlain returned to London declaring 'peace for our time'.

> If you really get into it, there's an argument that it bought valuable time;

To whom? To Hitler? Because the Allies didn’t prepare for what was coming.