The Sudetenland (Part II - September-October 1938)

Question 1

Throughout the summer of 1938, what had many people in Europe expected?

Answer 1

War to break out

Question 2

When did the problem of Czechoslovakia reach its crisis point?

Answer 2

In September 1938

Question 3

Who was Prime Minister of Britain in 1938?

Answer 3

Neville Chamberlain

Question 4

What did Chamberlain do in mid-September 1938 when the Czechoslovakia problem reached crisis point?

Answer 4

He flew personally to meet Hitler

Question 5

When did Chamberlain first meet Hitler

Answer 5

15 September (mid-way through the month)

Question 6

Where did Chamberlain first meet Hitler on 15 September 1938?

Answer 6

Berchtesgaden (BERCH TES GADEN)

Question 7

Where was Berchtesgaden?

Answer 7

In the mountains of Bavaria (South Germany).

Hitler’s retreat - the Berghof - was located there.

Question 8

How did the first meeting, at Berchtesgaden, appear to go?

Answer 8

Generally well

Question 9

What was agreed at Berchtesgaden? (2)

Answer 9

That all areas with of the Sudetenland with 50% + (i.e. a majority) Germans would be handed over to Germany.

This was subject to approval by the British, French and Czech governments.

Question 10

After the meeting at Berchtesgaden on 15 September, what did the French and British do?

Answer 10

A few days later (19 Sept.) they presented Hitler’s demands to the Czechs.

Question 11

Why did the points agreed on 15 Sept at Berchtesgaden not end up being the final agreement?

Answer 11

On 22 September (approx. one week after the first meeting) at a second meeting at Bad Godesburg (GOD - ES - BURG), Hitler changed his mind and demanded all of the Sudetenland.

Question 12

When Hitler demanded all of the Sudetenland at the 2nd meeting at Bad Godesburg, what did Chamberlain do?

Answer 12

Told Hitler his demand were unreasonable and flew home to prepare Britain for war

Question 13

After the Bad Godesburg meeting, which parts of the British and French armed forces were mobilised?

Answer 13

The British navy and the French army

Question 14

How did Hitler justify his demands at Bad Godesburg?

Answer 14

He claimed the Czech government was mistreating Germans in the Sudetenland

Question 15

Why did Hitler agree to a third meeting at Munich?

Answer 15

He realised that he was on the brink of a European war, for which Germany was (probably) not yet ready.

Question 16

Where did the third and final meeting take place?

Answer 16

Munich

Question 17

When did the Munich meeting take place?

Answer 17

29-30 September

Question 18

Who was present at the Munich meeting/Munich Conference? (4)

Answer 18

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy

Not Czechoslovakia - despite the fact it was her future being decided.

Question 19

What was agreed at the Munich Conference in late September 1938?

Answer 19

That Hitler could have the Sudetenland

Question 20

When the terms of the Munich Conference were presented to the Czechs, why did they agree to the terms?

Answer 20

They had no choice.

Either they accepted the terms or face the full might of the German army - ALONE.

Question 21

What did Chamberlain do a few hours after the Munich Agreement was signed?

Answer 21

Visited Hitler personally and persuaded him to sign a document promising to work to promote peace across Europe

Question 22

After Chamberlain personally persuaded Hitler to sign the document after the Munich Conference, what was Chamberlain able to do?

Answer 22

Chamberlain flew home and could use the joint declaration to claim to the British public that he had secured ‘peace for our time’

Question 23

What happened on 1 October 1938 (the day after the Munich Agreement was signed)?

Answer 23

German troops marched into the Sudentenland

Question 24

When German troops marched into the Sudetenland, who also took Czech territory?

Answer 24

Hungary and Poland - taking land where Hungarians and Poles lived.

Question 25

What happened within Czechoslovakia after the Munich Agreement? (2)

Answer 25

1. Benes, the Czech leader, resigned.
2. The country descended into chaos.

Question 26

How was Chamberlain greeted in Britain after the Munich Agreement?

Answer 26

As a hero - he had averted war (or so people thought)

Question 27

Did the British people believe that appeasement could stop Hitler?

Answer 27

No. A September 1938 poll showed a majority thought it would fail - but that it might buy time.

Question 28

After the Munich Agreement, did the British people trust Hitler?

Answer 28

No. An opinion poll (survey) found that 93 per cent did not believe Hitler when he claimed to have no further territorial (land) ambitions

Question 29

How long did the Munich Agreement last?

Answer 29

About 6 months

(30 Sept. 1938 to 15 March 1939, when Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia)

Question 30

In March 1939, when the Germans invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, what did the Czechs do?

Answer 30

Nothing - they could not really resist

Question 31

In March 1939, when the Germans invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, what did the British and French do?

Answer 31

Nothing directly to stop the invasion.

But Britain and France told Hitler that if he invaded Poland they would declare war on Germany.

Question 32

Who was Hitler’s next likely target after invading Czechoslovakia in March 1939?

Answer 32

Poland (to Germany’s east)

Question 33

Why did Hitler not believe Britain and France when they told him they would declare war if he invaded Poland?

Answer 33

Britain and France had done nothing to stop Hitler since he started breaking the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1933