The Sudetenland (Part II - September-October 1938)

Question 1

When did the problem of Czechoslovakia reach its crisis point?

Answer 1

In September 1938

Question 2

Who was Prime Minister of Britain in 1938?

Answer 2

Neville Chamberlain

Question 3

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

Answer 3

He flew personally to meet Hitler

Question 4

When did Chamberlain first meet Hitler

Answer 4

15 September (mid-way through the month)

Question 5

Where did Chamberlain first meet Hitler on 15 September 1938?

Answer 5

Berchtesgaden (BERCH TES GADEN)

Question 6

Where was Berchtesgaden?

Answer 6

In the mountains of Bavaria (South Germany).

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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Generally well

Question 8

What was agreed at Berchtesgaden? (2)

Answer 8

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 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

The British navy and the French army

Question 13

How did Hitler justify his demands at Bad Godesburg?

Answer 13

He claimed the Czech government was mistreating Germans in the Sudetenland

Question 14

Why did Hitler agree to a third meeting at Munich?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Where did the third and final meeting take place?

Answer 15

Munich

Question 16

When did the Munich meeting take place?

Answer 16

29-30 September

Question 17

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

Answer 17

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

That Hitler could have the Sudetenland

Question 19

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

Answer 19

They had no choice.

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

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

Question 21

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

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

German troops marched into the Sudentenland

Question 23

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

Answer 23

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

Question 24

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

Answer 24

1. Benes, the Czech leader, resigned.

2. The country descended into chaos.

Question 25

How was Chamberlain greeted in Britain after the Munich Agreement?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Did the British people believe that appeasement could stop Hitler?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

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 28

How long did the Munich Agreement last?

Answer 28

About 6 months

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Nothing - they could not really resist

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Nothing directly to stop the invasion.

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Poland (to Germany’s east)

Question 32

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

Answer 32

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