March 3 Czechoslovakia

03/03/2011 07:09:00

It would appear that Henlein very much was complicit with Hitler by the late 1930s, Germany is looking like a good option for Czechoslovakia Hitlers objectives for Czechoslovakia Wanted an excuse for war o Didnt expect chamberlain to be so weak in appeasing him (Czechoslovakia never was an ally of Britain, Britain was Frances ally) France was Czechoslovakias ally, also in 1935 became allied to Russia o Soviet Union sells Czechoslovakia a huge number of aeroplanes and arms Czechoslovakia had good resources in terms of arms creation, the Skoda factories offered great potential Many of the generals were concerned about the possible intervention of Russia on behalf of Czechoslovakia o Can be seen that Hitler does not see the Blitzkrieg of Czechoslovakia as creating the results for a world war Events leading up to invasion 1937 o First objective in war would be to overthrow Czechoslovakia and Austria simultaneously o Sees Poland as potentially useful In November of 1937 he views the West as having written off Czechoslovakia December 1937 o Germany to prepare for war, an offensive war against Czechoslovakia in order to gain living space for Germans. Does see the potential threat of other powers getting involved on behalf of Czechoslovakia The story of the Sudeten Germans is second to how Hitler wants to use them to manipulate Czechoslovakia Following this the British and French put pressure on the Czechs to come to some form of agreement with the Sudeten Germans Large issue was how Russia could have helped Czechoslovakia Would have to go across Poland and/or Romania

At the time of the Munich agreement the Czech army wanted to fight without allies against the Germans, they had a fast mobilising and strong army at the time Puts strong pressure on Hitler to eliminate Czechoslovakia very quickly Chamberlains plan of appeasement is to transfer areas with a predominantly Germany population, the British would guarantee the other Czech lands The Czechs reject this, goes a lot further than offering a Sudeten government o Hitler starts to demand more than Chamberlain proposed, Demands that Hungarian and Polish claims on Czechoslovakia are honoured The French mobilise on the Maginot line and Britain calls up its reservists Perhaps shows proof the Britain and France may be willing to fight Mussolini steps in to bring about the Munich conference o Sudetenland is awarded to Germany, Polish and Hungarian claims are dealt with a month later

3/3/2011 7:09:00 AM

3/3/2011 7:09:00 AM