Nazi Regime and Second World War

Abstract

The news of Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor in January 1933 came as a great blow to Gooch. His life was deeply affected by the establishment of the Nazi regime and he returned once more to active political life. Helping the victims became one of his foremost tasks. Though Gooch in the 1920s could hardly have foreseen the satanic nature of the new order more than most observers, he showed general prescience in his worry about the effect Germany’s treatment at the hands of the victors might have on her. Without being uncritical of German policy during the Weimar Republic, he emphasised constantly during the 1920s and early 1930s the urgency of a return to normal conditions and the necessity of alleviating the disadvantages under which Germany laboured. He was a strong critic of French harshness not only at Versailles, but also in the Ruhr invasion of 1923. He welcomed the more conciliatory spirit shown by the French in the Locarno treaties and in Germany’s belated admission to the League. Among French statesmen, he singled out for praise Briand, whom he called a sincere friend of peace in May 1930,¹ and Herriot, whom he described as ‘a real leader’ at the beginning of January 1933.² But throughout this period he was worried about the pace of concessions and fully aware that time might run out.