Invasion of Czechslovakia Flashcards
Why did Hitler want to invade the Sudetenland?
It has 3 million German-speakers.
It was home to forts, railways and industries which could be used as part of Hitler’s war effort. (i.e the Skoda Factory produced glass and lignite which could be used to make tanks and other weapons.)
What happened?
Hitler’s first move was to order the Sudeten Nazi Party to demand full autonomy for ethnic Germans from Czech leader Benes, knowing that these demands would be refused. He then circulated tales of Czech atrocities towards Sudeten Germans and emphasised their desire to once again be under German rule, in an effort to legitimise his annexation of the territory. This would give him an excuse to invade.
If his intentions weren’t already clear enough, 750,000 German troops were sent to the Czech border, officially in order to carry out manoeuvres. Unsurprisingly, these developments greatly alarmed the British, who were desperate to avoid another war.
How did Britain and France react?
When Benes turned to Britain and France for help…
Britain said that they did not have a treaty that would force them to help and the British armed forces were not prepared for a war.
France did have a treaty, but they did not want a war.
What was the Munich Crisis?
In April 1938, Hitler flew to see his ally Mussolini to ask for support.
German generals were worried that Britain and France may act. However, Hitler was confident that they wouldn’t.
Konrad Heruein creates riots in Czechslovakia.
What was the Munich Agreement?
15th September 1938: Chamberlain flew to Germany to meet with Hitler. He agrees with him and says Czechslovakia’s Sudetenland should be given to Germany as long as he doesn’t use military force.
- France agrees as long as they promise to protect the rest of Czechslovakia.
- Benes was not present as this meeting and disagrees, however if Benes didn’t agree he would have to fight Germany alone.
29th September 1938: Munich Agreement
Britain and France let Hitler have the Sudetenland as long as he doesn’t invade the rest of Czechslovakia. Hitler signs and Chamblerain flies back to London, hailed a hero for avoiding war.
- The USSR was not present at the Munich Conference.
What happened when Hitler invaded the rest of Czechslovakia?
On 15 March 1939, German troops marched into Czechoslovakia. They took over Bohemia, and established a protectorate over Slovakia.
Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia was the end of appeasement for several reasons:
-it proved that Hitler had been lying at Munich
-it showed that Hitler was not just interested in a Greater Germany (the Czechs were not Germans)
-17 March 1939: Chamberlain gave a speech saying that he could not trust Hitler not to invade other countries
-31 March 1939: Chamberlain guaranteed to defend Poland if Germany invaded
-The takeover of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, allowed Germany to strengthen.
-the large Czech army was removed as a threat
Czech airfields that were in range of many German cities were lost
-the Czech armaments industry, including the Skoda works were taken over by Germany after March 1939. The German army took over large numbers of Czech tanks.
