The Sudeten Crisis Czechoslovakia 1938 to 1939

Aims of the lesson By the end of this lesson you will Describe the causes and events of the Sudeten crisis of 1938 Evaluate the importance of the Munch Agreement and appeasement as a policy Evaluate the importance of the annexation of the Czech lands in 1939 in discrediting appeasement as a political policy

The position of Czechoslovakia

Appeasement This was the response of Britain and France to German aggression in the 1930s It basically means giving the aggressor what he wants in order to keep peace It is most closely identified with Neville Chamberlain – the British PM from 1937 to 1940

In favour of appeasement Germany had some legitimate grievances and up to 1938 was only seeking to put these right People feared another war only 20 years after the slaughter of the trenches It gave Britain and France time to build up her forces in preparation for war Was it worth going to war over small countries that no one had heard of

Against appeasement The policy relied on Hitler acting honourably and keeping his promises Britain and France were seen as being weak as a result and letting down their friends With every conquest Hitler got stronger and more difficult to defeat The bully was seen as getting away with picking on her weaker neighbours

The Sudeten Crisis Three million German speakers lived in Czechoslovkia – area also contained the Skoda Tank factory and coal deposits An ideal place for Hitler to take Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Germans to claim that they were being maltreated in order to give Hitler and as an excuse to invade Czechoslovakia

April 1938 German troops began to mass on the Czech border. Benes (Czech President) ordered his men to stand and fight Britain and France asked Benes to make concessions but it was clear that Hitler would accept nothing less than the annexation of the Sudetenland 121th September – Hitler promised his support for the Sudeten Germans

September 1938 Sudeten Germans rioting in the streets – crushed by the Czech government 15 th September – Hitler and Chamberlain met at Bertesgarten – forced the Czechs to accept the transfer of parts of the Sudetenland where the majority were German speakers Met again on the 22 nd – Hitler demanded the whole of the Sudetenland

Preparing for war Chamberlain returned to Britain and prepared for war – trenches dug etc In the meantime Mussolini persuaded Hitler to host a four power conference at Munich on the 29 th September to solve the crisis once and for all Leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Italy invited but not the Czechs or Russians

The Munich Conference It was agreed that the whole of the Sudetenland become part of Germany immediately Czechs forced to accept this and German troops invaded on the 1 st October On the 30 th September Chamberlain and Hitler agreed to discuss all matters and not to go to war with each other Agreement was criticised by the likes of Winston Churchill but avoided war