Appeasement and the Road to War The Czech Crisis 1938

Aims: To identify why Czechoslovakia was vulnerable after the Anschluss. Examine the reasons why Hitler was interested in Czechoslovakia.

Key Characters Neville Chamberlain British Prime Minister Eduard Benes Czech President Konrad Henlein Leader of German Sudeten Party

Czechoslovakia Created by peace treaties at end of the Great War – Treaty of Saint Germain. Population = 14.7 million Over 3 million Germans in Sudetenland A successful democracy Alliances with France (1924) and Soviet Union (1935).

Czechoslovakia 1938

Why Does Hitler Want Control of Czechoslovakia? Remove the threat of a well-armed country which has alliances with France and Russia. Czechs/Slovaks are ‘Untermenschen’ – inferior races. Czechoslovakia is the ‘doorway to Russia’ – further expansion eastwards The country is an obstacle to his plans to expand eastwards – Lebensraum Wanted Czechoslovakia’s economic wealth e.g. iron/coal industries, armaments factories. Make the Sudeten Germans part of a greater Germany – this was his excuse to the outside world.

The Czech Crisis - 1938 Aims: Examine the growing tension over Czechoslovakia in 1938. Identify Britain’s attitude towards Czechoslovakia.

The Beginnings of the Czech Crisis From 1935 the Nazi Government helped fund the Sudeten German Party. The party was led by Konrad Henlein. Hitler encouraged Henlein to stir up trouble in the Sudetenland and challenge the Czech government. Hitler argued that Sudeten Germans were being unfairly treated by the Czech Government. By 1938 there were regular outbreaks of violence in the Sudentenland and Hitler was ready to take action.

The Crisis Grows ‘The Sudeten Germans are being bullied by the Czech government. They must be allowed to live in peace. The German nation will not stand by and watch other German suffering. The Sudeten Germans are not alone. They are not defenceless!’ Hitler speaking at the Nuremberg Rally, 12th September 1938.

Britain’s Attitude to Czechoslovakia It was not an area of vital British interest. Blamed the Czech Government for not doing more to resolve the situation with the Sudeten Germans. France was Czechoslovakia’s ally - if France went to war Britain would have to support France. Above all else avoiding war was more important.

Chamberlain’s Meetings 15th September 1938 - Berchtesgaden Agreement in principle – Sudetenland to be given to Germany. 22nd September 1938 - Bad Godesberg Hitler demands immediate withdrawal by 1st October 29-30th September 1938 - Munich Sudetenland to be given to Germany

28th September – Black Wednesday ‘How horrible and unbelievable it is that we should be getting ready for war, trying on gas masks and digging air raid shelters in Britain because of a far away quarrel between people that we know nothing about.’

The Munich Agreement 1938 Aims: Examine the consequences of the Munich Agreement Identify public and political reaction to the Munich Agreement

The Munich Agreement 1938 Munich Agreement Signed by Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier. It allowed transfer of Sudetenland to Germany. Joint Anglo German Agreement Signed by Chamberlain and Hitler after the Munich Agreement. It said it was the desire of the two countries never to go to war again.

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Public and Political Opinion Many applauded Chamberlain’s role at Munich and the fact that war had been avoided. Chamberlain believed he had achieved his aim of ‘peace in our time’. Politically there was concern about how an agreement had been reached. Hitler wanted a German speaking area returned to Germany – another of the wrongs of Versailles that should be put right. After Munich there was a general hardening of attitudes towards Hitler. Many felt he could no longer be trusted.

Positive Viewpoints About the Munich Agreement Britain’s armed forces were not ready for war. The Anschluss had already weakened Czech defences – the Sudetenland was surrounded by a Greater Germany In reality, Britain and France could not have prevented an attack on Czechoslovakia due to its location and public opinion. Britain secured extra time to rearm and build up her military strength – the aircraft built during the next year helped the country to survive the Battle of Britain in 1940. Britain had no other allies to depend on – the League was ineffective, US isolationism, lack of support from the Empire and there was much suspicion towards the Soviet Union.

Negative Viewpoints About the Munich Agreement Britain and France had effectively surrendered to Germany’s threats. A fair and democratic country – Czechoslovakia – had been betrayed. Britain and France lost a potentially useful ally in a future war against Hitler. Czechoslovakia was now open to further Germany aggression – less than 6 months later, Hitler took over the rest of the country and then had valuable military resources under his control. After March 1939, Hitler was free to take action against Poland and Russia. The Soviet Union had been alienated by the Munich Agreement – potential opposition to Hitler in the future had been divided.

The End of Czechoslovakia and of Appeasement Aims: Examine the fate of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Identify how attitudes towards appeasement began to change.

Source D is a cartoon by David Low published on 30th October 1938

The End of Czechoslovakia Hitler’s promise that he had ‘no more territorial demands in Europe’ only lasted 6 months. In March 1939 he marched his troops into the western part of Czechoslovakia. There were no Germans living there. Chamberlain realised appeasement had failed and Hitler could not be trusted.

David Low Cartoon

The End of Czechoslovakia and of Appeasement ‘Have we to accept that Hitler will not stop and that he cannot be trusted to keep his promises? Must we now face the real possibility that only war will stop the spread of Nazi power? If that is true then at least we can say that we have not caused the war. We have done all we could to prevent war. We have also gained some time to prepare ourselves. We are stronger now then we were last year. I now accept that our previous policy towards Hitler has not given us the peace we had hoped for. Europe now trembles in fear of what Hitler will do next. We can see from the map that his next target may be Poland. Let me say now that Britain will help Poland if they are attacked by Germany’ Chamberlain, end of March 1939