The Sudentenland (Part 1 - March-August 1938) Flashcards
Who was the leader of Czechoslovakia?
Edvard Benes
Why was Benes horrified at in March 1938?
Anschluss now meant Czechoslovakia was surrounded on THREE fronts
What did Benes predict in March 1938?
That Czechoslovakia would be next on Hitler’s list of countries to annex (take over)
What does Reich mean?
German for ‘empire’
(Hitler wanted to build a ‘Thousand Year Reich (Empire)’)
What made Benes even more nervous than Anschluss?
The fact that neither Britain and France had done anything to prevent Anschluss.
Benes was worried they also would not act to prevent a German takeover of Czechoslovakia
What agreement did Czechoslovakia have with France?
A treaty which obliged France to defend Czechoslovakia if it was invaded
Although the British did not have a treaty with Czechoslovakia, why did they feel obliged to support the Czechoslovaks?
The British felt obliged to support the French
After Anshchluss, what had Hitler told Chamberlain?
‘Czechoslovakia has nothing to fear from the Reich’
Was Hitler telling the truth when he said, ‘Czechoslovakia has nothing to fear from the Reich’?
No. He was lying.
Why did Hitler have designs (his eyes) on Czechoslovakia?
The country - created by the Treaty of Versailles - included a large number of Germans, mostly in the Sudetenland.
Approximately how many German-speakers lived in the Sudetenland?
3 million
Who was the leader of the Nazi Party in the Sudetenland?
Konrad Henlein (HEN LEIN)
Think of a chicken on a washing line. Hen - lien.
What did Konrad Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Nazis, demand in May 1938?
That the Sudetenland become part of Germany
After Henlein’s announcement in May 1938 (that the Sudentenland should be part of Germany) what did Hitler declare?
That he was prepared to fight Czechoslovakia if necessary
When Hitler declared in May 1938 that he might invade Czechoslovakia, what was the reaction around Europe?
The news put Europe on full alert
Why was Czechoslovakia a different military prospect compared with Austria? (3)
- Britain, France and the USSR had promised support
- Benes, the Czech leader, was prepared to fight
- The Czechs had a modern army
Why was the Sudetenland a key military asset for Czechoslovakia?
It contained forts, railways and industry.
If Czechoslovakia lost this, she would be basically defenceless.
What happened through the summer (May-August) around Europe?
Tensions rose as people expected war
Why were people particularly nervous in the summer of 1938 about bombing?
The Spanish Civil War suggested a European war would bring similar CIVILIAN bombing raids
In the summer of 1938, what happened around Britain?
People and local government started digging air raid shelters
