Appeasement And The Road To War #15: The Events Of March 1939 Flashcards
When was Teschen given to Poland?
October 1938
When was South Slovakia given to Hungary?
October 1939
Who was Tiso?
Pro-German Slovak leader
What proposal from Hitler did Tiso after being summoned to Berlin relay on 14th March 1939?
If Slovakia declared independence, it would be protected by Hitler
What did Tiso say would happen if parliament opposed his proposal?
Hitler’s troops would simply March in and take Slovakia
What was the result of Tiso’s proposal at parliament?
Parliament agreed and so Slovakia became independent
Since when had Hacha been president?
Benes’ resignation on October 5th 1938
What did Hacha do on the night of 14th March?
He visited Hitler to dissuade him from making Slovakia a German protectorate, he was concerned about Czechoslovakia falling apart
What did Hitler tell Hacha at 1AM?
That troops would be invading in a matter of hours, but Hacha could make it less violent by signing the rest of Czechoslovakia over (Bohemia and Moravia)
Why did Hacha break down and what happened as a result of this?
- Hitler’s threat and a threat to bomb Prague from Goerig
- He suffered a heart attack and was kept alive by injections until his signing at 4AM
What did the German army do on 15th March?
They rolled in Prague in a ten vehicle convoy
Why was Hitler’s invasion of Czech (Bohemia and Moravia) significant?
Because it was his first invasion of a non-German state
When and by who was Ruthenia taken?
Hungary, March 1939
How did Hitler attempt to justify his takeover of Czechoslovakia?
By claiming that the Czechs were subject to a terrorist regime and needed Germans to protect them
How did Hacha attempt to defend his choice of giving up Czech sovereignty without a fight?
He was terrified of Goering’s threat and said he “realised that it was the devil himself talking to me”