Peace for our time

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Neville Chamberlain holding the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Munich. He is showing the piece of paper to a crowd at Heston Aerodrome on 30 September 1938. He said:

"...the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is the paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine (waves paper to the crowd - receiving loud cheers and "Hear Hears"). Some of you, perhaps, have already heard what it contains but I would just like to read it to you ...".

Later that day he stood outside Number 10 Downing Street and again read from the document and concluded:

"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time."

The phrase "peace for our time" was spoken on 30 September 1938 by British prime minister Neville Chamberlain in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement,^[1]^[2] often misquoted as "peace in our time". It is primarily remembered for its ironic value. The Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Hitler in an attempt to satisfy his desire for Lebensraum or "living space" for Germany. The German occupation of the Sudetenland began on the next day, 1 October.

One year after the agreement, following continued aggression from Germany and its invasion of Poland, Europe was plunged into World War II.

1 Cultural references
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Cultural references

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The expression "Give us peace in our time, O Lord" came from the liturgy of the Church of England's Sunday morning service in the Book of Common Prayer 1662. As such, it would have been well known by the general public at the time, even those who were not regular churchgoers, and would explain why Chamberlain's phrase has often been misquoted.
"Peace In Our Time" is a 1984 song by Elvis Costello which is critical of Ronald Reagan. The lyric refers to Neville Chamberlain, imperialism, totalitarianism and social control, commenting on their relation to then current world politics and social conditions in Europe and the United States.
"Peace in Our Time" is also the title of Big Country's fourth studio album.
Monty Python's Flying Circus made a reference to Peace for our time in their sketch The Funniest Joke in the World, where the treaty is referred to as "Britain's great pre-war joke".
Freeciv peace treaties are concluded with the quote "Yes, peace in our time."
The line was parodied in a controversial Daily Mirror front page during Euro 96 before England's semi-final game against Germany, as "Pearce in our time".
In the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Klingon general Chang shouts "no peace in our time!" when discussing the upcoming peace between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.
The satirical paper The Onion's 1999 book Our Dumb Century features a phony 1938 issue headlining Chamberlain's promise of "London Laid Waste In Our Time."
In the Babylon 5 episode The Fall of Night, an Earth Alliance diplomat named Frederick Lantz comes to the station to negotiate a non-aggression pact with the increasingly expansionist Centauri Republic. When confronted by Captain Sheridan, he says, "We will, at last, have peace in our time."
The Marvel Comics 2006 crossover event, " Planet Hulk ", had a 4-part history, releases 88 through 91, called "Peace in our Time".