This article is part of the series The Road to World War II .

Czechoslovakia was one of the many newly created states after Versailles, formed from parts of the former Habsburg and Romanov Empires. However, it was nevertheless a state of minority groups - in particular three million German speaking people, who no longer enjoyed the privileges as under the Habsburg rule. This area, the “Sudetenland”, was given to Czechoslovakia after Versailles as it provided a natural, defensive frontier and vital for the countries industry. Henlein, the leader of the Sudeten Party, set unacceptable demands to Czechoslovakia and provoked unsuccessful uprisings - this provoked Britain and France to act.

What did Hitler want, and why?

Hitler hated Czechoslovakia because it was born out of Versailles; he believed that Czechoslovakia was in the way of his eastward expansion - especially the natural and easily defendable frontiers, the well-equipped army and the fact that she enjoyed diplomatic treaties with France and the Soviet Union (a problem, though, was that neither of these countries bordered her). In addition, he desired to united the German-speaking people into the Reich, gain the valuable resources in that area and to revise Versailles even further.

The annexation of the Sudetenland

Meetings before Munich

During the meetings at Berchtesgarden (September 15) and Bad Godesberg (September 22), Hitler clarified his intention of annexing the Sudetenland to Chamberlain. He also threatened with military occupation. At five minutes to twelve, literally speaking, Mussolini proposed a four-power meeting at Munich - with him as the arbitrator.

Should Hitler be granted his demands? Arguments for appeasement

Although in retrospect “appeasement” has often been heavily criticised, there were arguments in favour of this policy:

• the wide-spread horror of war
• British understanding of Germany undoing the “wrongs” of Versailles
• the belief that Germany could act as a bulwark against communism
• economic considerations - the uncertainty of US financial support and the concerning the costs of war
• strategic considerations - could the British Empire survive a major war? After all, Italy and Japan were counted as enemies too).

The Munich Conference

Without the consultation of Czechoslovakia, who had no choice but to accept the demands or else fight alone, the following agreements were reached at the Munich Conference¹

• Germany was allowed to annex the Sudetenland, the occupation would occur within ten days
• Czechoslovakia had to cede large industrial areas, vital fortifications and communications to Germany
• “Peace in our Time” - Hitler agreed that this had been his last demand and that, in future, force would no longer be used to solve disputes between two countries

Arguments that justified the Munich Agreement

Firstly, it was supported by public opinion, especially in Britain. Secondly, Britain was unprepared for a major war - with this concession, she was able to gain more time (significant time, in hindsight) to re-arm. Lastly, it was the “last chance” for Hitler, any further demands would result in a world-wide condemnation.

Arguments brought forward by the anti-appeaser

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last,” commented Winston Churchill. Against the Munich agreement spoke that a) the natures of Nazism and Hitler were such that they would continue to conquest, b) Munich would encourage Hitler to take further risks (as with the rest of Czechoslovakia and Poland), c) militarily Hitler could have been resisted, and d) it meant a major betrayal of Czechoslovakia.

Consequences

The most profound effect on Hitler was that he was more than ever convinced that Britain and France were unwilling to act - this encouraged him to take further risks, as later, the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Yet also, it gave Britain and France the literally speaking “air to breath”, that is, time for re-armament.

The destruction of Czechoslovakia - German occupation (March 1939)

Although Hitler had managed to gain the Sudetenland, he had failed to destroy Czechoslovakia altogether, as he had aimed to do. When the Czechs, however, sent in their army to suppress a Slovakian uprising (which was, not surprisingly, stirred up by Nazis), it gave the necessary justification for Hitler to act - he invaded Czechoslovakia under the pretext of restoring order.

Consequences

The invasion of Czechoslovakia was a turning point. Hitler could no longer claim to be undoing a wrong of Versailles, neither was it an integration of German-speaking people into the Reich - rather, the occupation represented an aggressive expansion into the East (“Lebensraum”).

France and Britain were now convinced that Hitler could not be trusted and that he planned to dominate Eastern Europe. They reaslised that appeasement had failed. They could no longer aside and watch.

Any further concessions to Hilter would titl the European power balance, and military preparations were hastily made. Significantly, Britain introduced conscription for the first time ever during times of peace.

Britain and France knew that the next obvious target for Hitler was Poland, and gave immediate guarantees to Poland in case of an attack in March 1939.

Mussolini, impressed by Hitler’s success in invading Czechoslovakia, followed suit and invaded Albania². The most likely next targets were Greece and Romania, and Britain and France extended their guarantees to these two countries in April 1939.

Britain and France realised that appeasement had failed. They could no longer stand aside and watch the balance of power tilt any further towards the Fascist powers. Further expansions had to be contained.

¹ September 29-30, 1938

² April 1939