Peace for our time was a hollow boast

between him and Hitler, signed by both men.

The more important one was the Munich Agreement, signed in the city after Britain, Germany, France and Italy had convened to decide the future of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

This was the newly coined name for portions of Czech territory along Germany’s borders mainly inhabited by German speakers.

Czechoslovakia wasn’t even invited to the conference at which it was decided to allow Germany to occupy the Sudetenland, despite the fact it was of strategic importance to the country as it contained most of its defences.

The agreement was signed in the early hours of September 30, but was dated the day before.

Chamberlain’s policy of “appeasement” towards Germany in the 1930s was always controversial.

Winston Churchill was firmly opposed, as he sought to find a peaceful solution to Hitler’s desire to create an enlarged German homeland. But at the time many Britons were terrified at the thought of another conflict, and the Munich talks were held against a background that had seen the Royal Navy mobilised just days previously due to German sabre-rattling.

While Chamberlain was feted as a hero on his return, things quickly soured for him and Europe.

He was forced to resign as Prime Minister in May 1940 and died just six months later, with his reputation in tatters.