IGCSE History: Czechoslovakia
Situation in Czechoslovakia 1938:
Sudeten Germans:
– 3.5 million German speakers (known as Sudeten Germans) lived in Czechoslovakia, concentrated most in the border regions.
– Because of this, the area was known was the Sudetenland
– They came from territories from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, given to Czechslovkia in the post-war treaties – St. Germain and Trianon as well as others.
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– Although this was a large number, it was only approximately 35% of the local population, which was largely dominated by the Czechs and Slovaks.
– These Sudeten Germans complained about:
- Being unable to self-determinate as was stated in Wilson’s 14 points
- Being discriminated against, and poor treatment by the Czechs
- This complaints (esp the latter) were significant, as:
- Hitler based his plan to occupy the Sudetenland on this, using Henlein to stir up the Sudeten Germans on the basis of their unequal treatment and create a crisis over this. He then brought this before the Central Powers, complaining not only were the Sudeten Germans unable to self-determinate, but were also being abused in their new country.
- Turned the Sudeten Germans towards Nazism and Hitler, who was advocating their return to Germany, which would end their suffering.
- Their discrimination was considered a legitimate reason for the Sudetenland to be returned to Germany in Runican’s report (a British official who was sent to observe and give advice on solving the problem int eh Sudetenland), which led to little resistance from Britain and France, even though this was a violation of post-war treaties.
- Gained the world’s sympathy, making Britain and France even more disinclined to put up strong resistance
– As mentioned before, Hitler extended his influence over the Sudetenland through Konrad Henlein, the local Nazi leader
– Henlein led the Sudeten German Party which received money and orders from Hitler
– He claimed that the Sudeten Germans were given unfair treatment and demanded for the Sudetenland to be returned to Germany
- He took part in negotiations with the Czechoslovak government, but they were inconclusive
- 28th March, 1938: Hitler met with Henlein and instructed him to keep making impossible demands to the Czechoslovak government.
- The purpose of this was to drag out the negotiations and so create a crisis over Czechoslovakia.
- Evidence of Hitler’s aggression and active policy concerning lebensraum (territorial gain)
Support from Britain and France?
– Beneš, the head of the Czechoslovakian state, appealed to Britain and France for help.
- However, despite France promising Czechoslovakia in the Locarno Treaty of 1924 that it would defend it against Germany and offer it military aid if Germany attacked, they did not want to act, and offered Beneš no practical aid
– French Attitude:
- Felt it was none of their business and did not want to intervene, due to the…
- The change of government in April, 1938, and the New French PM, Daladier not keen on going to war with Germany over such a far off country.
- France being weak financially and militarily, and being in no position to fight Germany, which had rearmed by 1935
- They were practicing apolicy of appeasement against Germany
- His foreign minister, Bonnet, tried to avoid war without going back on their agreement with Czechoslovakia.
– Britain was not obliged to act:
- Their military leaders could not see any way that they could help.
- Were not in a position to start a military conflict
- March 1938, Chamberlain said in private that Czechoslovakia could not be saved.
- They were practicing a policy of appeasement against Germany
Hitler prepares to act:
– Causes for the Sudetenland Crisis:
- Different nationalities in Czechoslovakia.
- Hitler’s support for the Sudeten Germans.
- Nazis in Sudetenland led and riled by Konrad Henlein.
- The policy of appeasement.
– Hitler was sure that neither Britain nor France would intervene.
– April: Hitler visited Rome:
- Gained Mussolini’s support for their invasion of Czechoslovakia; were not afraid of receiving resistance from Italy.
– 30th May: Hitler told his generals he had decided to smash Czechoslovakia by military action in the near future.
– Britain and France put pressure on Czechoslovakia to make concessions:
- Lord Runciman was sent in July to work out a settlement.
- Runciman was biased in favor of the Germans:
- Due to their being discriminated against
- Suggested that the Sudetenland be separated from Czechoslovakia.
The Munich Crisis:
– Hitler was ready to go to war over Czechoslovakia, his generals were not so convinced:
- They felt that Britain and France would intervene.
- They were not ready for a large scale war.
– Hitler disregarded his generals:
- He was sure that Britain and France would do nothing.
- They had already appeased his remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936) and Anschluss (1938)
– September 1938:
- Henlein ordered local Nazis to attack Czech and Jewish targets.
- This caused his negotiations with Prague to be broken off.
- Henlein left for Germany on the 15th:
- His stories of the mistreatment of Sudeten Germans were much publicized, gaining the sympathy and support of the majority of the German public
Chamberlain flies to Germany:
– Chamberlain met with Hitler on the 15th of September, 1938 at Berchtesgaden:
- Hitler complained about the treatment of the Sudeten Germans.
- Chamberlain agreed that the Sudetenland should be annexed by Germany.
- In return he wanted Hitler to promise not to do this using force – making this a ‘peaceful takeover’
– Chamberlain returned to London and received cabinet support for what he promised Hitler.
– Daladier and Bonnet came to London on the 18th of September:
- They agreed with Chamberlain’s proposal.
- In return they wanted Britain to promise to protect what was left of the Czechoslovak state so they need not comply with the Locarno agreement in which they promised to protect Czechoslovakia in the event of German invasion.
– Czechoslovakia had not been part of the conferences, and Beneš was informed a day later on the September 19th, of Britain and France’s decision:
- He was extremely unhappy and refused to co-operate at first.
- He then realized he was powerless to resist without Allied support and on the 21st he was forced to agree.
– Hitler wanted to destroy Czechoslovakia by force and no longer wanted a peaceful takeover.
– Chamberlain met with him again on the 22nd of September, 1938 in Bad Godesberg:
- Told Hitler that France, Britain and Czechoslovakia had accepted his proposal.
- Hitler refused his original deal:
- Demanded an immediate takeover.
- Votes should be held in other areas of Czechoslovakia on whether or not they, too, should be annexed by Germany.
- That the claims of Poland and Hungary over other parts of Czechoslovakia needed consideration.
- Chamberlain was horrified and attempted a compromise, but was unsuccessful
War?
– War between Britain and Germany seemed all too likely.
– Britain:
- Issued 38 million gas masks.
- AA guns were put into place.
- Chamberlain: 27th Sept 1938: ‘How horrible, fantastic, incredible, it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing’ – showed the British attitude towards Czechoslovakia and their desire to avoid the conflict at all cost
– Chamberlain sent Sir Horace Wilson to negotiate with Hitler on 26th and 27th September:
- Hitler repeated several times that he would “smash the Czechs.”
Munich Conference:
– 28th September:
- Chamberlain was in the middle of a speech to parliament describing the negotiations with Germany when he was passed a note. The note said that Hitler had agreed to a conference in Munich with representatives from France, Italy and Britain to discuss a peaceful end to the crisis.
- The MPs cheered wildly upon hearing that there was a chance war could be avoided.
– Munich Conference (29th Sept 1938):
- A day after beginning the conference, Chamberlain and Daladier agreed with Hitler on the terms of the annexation for the Sudetenland:
- Hitler promised peace after the annexation of the Sudetenland:
- Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland were the only lands where German speakers lived in Europe.
- Czechoslovakia was not represented at the conference.
- No real negotiations took place; Britain and France simply gave Hitler what he wanted.
- Weakness of the policy of appeasement
Conclusion of Czechoslovakian Crisis
– 1st October, 1938 German troops marched into the Sudetenland unopposed:
- Beneš was forced to resign and was exiled.
- Both the Allies and the League gave in to aggression yet again
- League failed in its purpose to protect countries against aggression; sanctions and system of collective security unsuccessful
- Benes made a touching speech about the League’s failure and Czechoslovakia’s helplessness, which marked the useless of the League
