Munich Agreement

• Hitler wanted to take Sudetenland by force if necessary
• Czechs wanted to fight back, as Britain, France and USSR promised to support Czechoslovakia
  • War was imminent
• Chamberlain met with Hitler
  • Gave in to his demands to take over Sudetenland

Timeline

May 1938

Hitler announced that he would go to war for Sudetenland if necessary

15 Sep 1938

Chamberlain met Hitler in Bavaria, Germany

• Hitler's terms:
  • Only claim parts of Sudetenland
  • Only do so if ppl wanted to be part of Germany
• Chamberlain convinced that Hitler's terms were reasonable

Several Days Later

Hitler demanded all of Sudetenland. Said he wanted to help ethnic Germans in Czech. Czech government mobilised troops to prepare for war.

28 Sep 1938

Chamberlain appealed to Hitler for a conference

29 Sep 1938

• Leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in Munich
  • Czech and USSR not invited
• Munich Agreement signed
  • Agreed to give whole of Sudetenland to Germany
• BR and FR informed Czech to either:
  • Face Germany alone in war
  • Accept the agreement
• Czech no choice but to accept

1 Oct 1938

Hitler took over Sudetenland. War temporarily avoided