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Czechoslovakia Munich
After the Austrian Anchluss, Czechoslovakia was to become
Hitler's next target. Hitler's strategy was to exploit the
existing Sudeten German minority problem as a pretext for German
penetration into eastern Central Europe. Sudeten German leader
Henlein offered the SdP as the agent for Hitler's campaign.
Henlein met with Hitler in Berlin on March 28, 1938, and was
instructed to raise demands unacceptable to the Czechoslovak
government. In the Carlsbad Decrees, issued on April 24, the SdP
demanded complete autonomy for the Sudetenland and freedom to
profess Nazi ideology. If Henlein's demands were granted, the
Sudetenland would be in a position to align itself with Nazi
Germany.
In 1938 neither Britain nor France desired war. France, not
wanting to face Germany alone, subordinated itself to Britain.
British prime minister Neville Chamberlain became the major
spokesman for the West. Chamberlain believed that Sudeten German
grievances were just and Hitler's intention limited. Both Britain
and France advised Czechoslovakia to concede. Benes, however,
resisted pressure to move toward autonomy or federalism for the
Sudetenland. On May 20, Czechoslovakia initiated a partial
mobilization in response to rumors of German troop movements. On
May 30, Hitler signed a secret directive for war against
Czechoslovakia to begin no later than October 1. The British
government demanded that Benes request a mediator. Not wishing to
sever his ties with the West, Benes reluctantly accepted
mediation. The British appointed Walter Runciman as mediator and
instructed him to force a solution on Benes that would be
acceptable to the Sudeten Germans. On September 2, Benes
submitted the Fourth Plan, which granted nearly all the demands
of the Carlsbad Decrees. Intent on obstructing conciliation, the
SdP held a demonstration that provoked police action at the town
of Ostrava on September 7. On September 13, the Sudeten Germans
broke off negotiations. Violence and disruption ensued.
Czechoslovak troops attempted to restore order. Henlein flew to
Germany and on September 15 issued a proclamation demanding the
return of the Sudetenland to Germany.
On September 15, Hitler met with Chamberlain at Berchtesgaden
and demanded the swift return of the Sudetenland to the Third
Reich under threat of war. The Czechoslovaks, Hitler claimed,
were slaughtering the Sudeten Germans. Chamberlain referred the
demand to the British and French governments; both accepted. The
Czechoslovak government resisted, arguing that Hitler's proposal
would ruin the nation's economy and lead ultimately to German
control of all of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France issued an
ultimatum, making the French commitment to Czechoslovakia
contingent upon acceptance. On September 21, Czechoslovakia
capitulated. The next day, however, Hitler added new demands,
insisting that the claims of Poland and Hungary for their
minorities also be satisfied.
The Czechoslovak capitulation precipitated an outburst of
national indignation. In demonstrations and rallies, the
Czechoslovaks called for a strong military government to defend
the integrity of the state. A new cabinet, under General Jan
Syrovy, was installed, and on September 23 a decree of general
mobilization was issued. The Czechoslovak army, highly modernized
and possessing an excellent system of frontier fortifications,
was prepared to fight. The Soviet Union announced its willingness
to come to Czechoslovakia's assistance. Benes, however, refused
to go to war without the support of the Western powers. War, he
believed, would come soon enough.
On September 28, Chamberlain appealed to Hitler for a
conference. Hitler met the next day, at Munich, with the chiefs
of government of France, Italy, and Britain. The Czechoslovak
government was neither invited nor consulted. On September 29,
the Munich Agreement was signed by Germany, Italy, France, and
Britain. The Czechoslovak government capitulated September 30 and
agreed to abide by the agreement.
The Munich Agreement stipulated that Czechoslovakia must cede
Sudeten territory to Germany. German occupation of the
Sudetenland would be completed by October 10. An international
commission (representing Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and
Czechoslovakia) would supervise a
plebiscite to determine the final frontier. Britain and France
promised to join in an international guarantee of the new
frontiers against unprovoked aggression. Germany and Italy,
however, would not join in the guarantee until the Polish and
Hungarian minority problems were settled.
After Munich, Bohemia and Moravia lost about 38 percent of
their combined area, as well as about 2.8 million Germans and
approximately 750,000 Czechs to Germany. Hungary received 11,882
square kilometers in southern Slovakia and southern Ruthenia;
only 53 percent of the population in this territory was
Hungarian. Poland acquired Tesin and two minor border areas in
northern Slovakia
(see
fig. 8).
Data as of August 1987
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