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The Czech Crisis

The Czech Crisis. 1938. What started it all?. After the Anschluss, it was clear that Czechoslovakia would be the next country to attract Hitler’s Attention. A free and hostile Czechoslovakia would make it impossible for Germany to fight a war in the west.

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The Czech Crisis

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  1. The Czech Crisis 1938

  2. What started it all? • After the Anschluss, it was clear that Czechoslovakia would be the next country to attract Hitler’s Attention. A free and hostile Czechoslovakia would make it impossible for Germany to fight a war in the west. • Czechoslovakia’s geographical position, with its land thrusting deep into German territory, would be a direct threat to Germany. • Although not a large nation, Czechoslovakia was well defended and had a modern and well-equipped army.

  3. The Czech’s Weakness • Czechoslovakia had one crucial weakness, which Hitler planned to exploit. Its population included several ethnic minorities, among them 3.5 million ethnic Germans living in the Sudetenland. • The Sudeten Germans could be used to stir up trouble against the Czech government.

  4. The Sudetenland

  5. A Czech-German war? • The Czechs knew that to surrender the Sudetenland would make them defenceless against Germany, as all their defences were built there. • Hitler could easily take over the remaining land in Czechoslovakia if he wanted to.

  6. What was the Allies reaction? • Chamberlain was sure that a peaceful solution could be found to the Czech crisis. • On 15th of September he met Hitler at Berchtesgaden in Germany to discuss the crisis. • Hitler made it clear that is would only be resolved if he received the Sudetenland.

  7. Berchtesgaden 15th September 1938

  8. Chamberlains Response • Chamberlain stated that he had no objection to Hitler receiving the Sudetenland as long as the transfer was done efficiently and peacefully. • Hitler and Chamberlain both agreed on a date in the following year for the transfer to take place.

  9. Neville’s Return to Germany • A week later on the 22 September, after having the Czech’s agree that the land should be taken, Chamberlain returned to Germany to meet Hitler at Bad Godesberg.

  10. Hitler’s Impatience • Hitler now demanded that the Sudetenland be handed over by October 1st. • Also claims on Czech territory by Hungary and Poland be met. • If his demands were not met by October 1928, Germany would invade Czechoslovakia. • Europe was on the brink of war.

  11. The Munich Conference

  12. The Munich Conference • Mussolini proposed a four-power conference. • Both Chamberlain and Hitler saw this as a great opportunity. • Hitler was most pleased by this because he saw the prospect of his achieving his aims without having to fight.

  13. September 29 1938 • Chamberlain, Hitler, Daladier (the French prime minister) and Mussolini met in Munich and signed an agreement that gave Hitler the terms he had demanded at Bad Godesberg. • It was also agreed that Czechoslovakia’s new frontiers would be guaranteed by the four powers. This enabled the British and French to claim that Czechoslovakia had been saved.

  14. Daladier Mussolini

  15. `Peace for our Time`

  16. `Peace for our time` • The Soviets were not invited to the Munich Conference, because everyone knew they wouldn’t agree to Hitler’s terms. • The Czech’s were not even consulted and had no choice but to agree. • Czechoslovakia was put into poverty and there economy was destroyed. • A once rich country became worthless.

  17. Anglo-German Declaration • The day after the Munich conference Hitler and Chamberlain met and signed a Declaration promising to never be at war with each other again. • Chamberlain waved a copy of this agreement to cheering crowds stating `I believe it is peace for our time.`

  18. In the End • Chamberlain was wrong, there was no peace for his time. • Within six months Hitler’s armies were on the march again. • March 1939 Hitler occupied Bohemia and Moravia. • Then on 23rd of March Hitler also seized the territory of Memel from Lithuania.

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