Munich Moment

A decision to appease an aggressor that's likely to come back as a worse crisis.

Origin

At the 1938 Munich Agreement, Britain and France let Nazi Germany annex the Sudetenland in exchange for promises of peace. Neville Chamberlain returned saying he'd secured 'peace for our time.' Within a year Germany had invaded Poland. The episode defined 'appeasement' as a cautionary tale for the rest of the 20th century.

Modern usage

Hauled out in any debate about confronting authoritarian regimes. To 'have a Munich moment' is to be tempted into appeasement; 'no more Munichs' is the rallying cry against it.

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