Czechoslovakia Copyright Minstrels Gallery Ltd Czechoslovakia Created in

Czechoslovakia Copyright Minstrels’ Gallery Ltd

Czechoslovakia Created in 1919 out of Austro-Hungarian Empire

Austro-Hungarian empire had been a huge multi-ethnic territory 1914 Serbian nationalist, protesting against Austrian rule triggered World War I. To prevent nationalism from causing wars in future the empire was dismantled Attempts were made to create nation states - Poland for Poles, Romania for Romanians, etc. . 1919

Had they succeeded with Czechoslovakia? • Within its borders lived Czechs and Slovaks (who did not always get on) and also Poles, Germans, Hungarians and Ruthenians. • Czechoslovakia had states on all sides who might lay claim to her territory

Czechoslovakia Made up of: Teschen, where many Poles lived. The Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia. The Sudetenland (where far more Germans than Czechs lived) Slovakia, where Slovaks and some Hungarians lived. Ruthenia, where Ruthenians and Ukrainians lived.

Germany and Austria might lay claim to the German-speaking Sudetenland Poland had only agreed to divide Teschen in 1920 - she might still wish to control it all Hungary was to claim part of Slovakia and the whole of Ruthenia

She had two friends in Europe beyond her immediate neighbours - her ally France and the Soviet Union Would that be enough?

How easy would it be for France and the USSR to support Czechoslovakia?

After the Anschluss with Austria in March 1938, many people started wondering about Czechoslovakia

What interests did other European countries have in Czechoslovakia? France Britain • Czechs most important ally • “artificial creation” NC • overestimated strength of Germany • limited military pressure • “last chance to salvage Anglo. German relations • defensive mentality • fear of war • needed support of Britain • believed Henlein’s horror stories

What interests did other European countries have in Czechoslovakia? Hungary was happy for Germany to have the Sudetenland as she wanted to seize Slovakia and Ruthenia (the eastern areas of Czechoslovakia) Autumn 1938 Italy was allied to Germany and had no concern for Czechoslovakia Poland hoped for the break-up of Czechoslovakia as she hoped to seize Teschen. USSR was committed to supporting Czechoslovakia alongside France. But would France support Czechoslovakia? And how would the USSR get troops there when neither Poland or Romania were likely to allow Russian soldiers into their lands?

Key Individuals in the Czech crisis EDUARD BENES • Prime Minister • Worked hard for L of N and attempted to obtain good relations with other nations in Europe • Effective western style democratic politician

Key Individuals in the Czech crisis KONRAD HENLEIN • Leader of Sudeten German Party • Took orders from Hitler • Ordered to make demands Czechs couldn’t accept • Made demands for selfdetermination

Key Individuals in the Czech crisis LORD HALIFAX • 1936 -38 visits Germany • 1938 made Foreign Secretary • Halifax's friend reported: "He told me he liked all the Nazi leaders, even Goebbels, and he was much impressed, interested and amused by the visit. He thinks the regime absolutely fantastic” • Diary records "Although there was much in the Nazi system that profoundly offended British opinion, I was not blind to what he (Hitler) had done for Germany, and to the achievement from his point of view of keeping Communism out of his country. ”

Key Individuals in the Czech crisis DALADIER • April 1938, Daladier once again PM • Supporter of appeasement

May Crisis • Sudeten Germans portrayed as opposed minority – excuse to intervene in self defence • Henlein order to make demands which can’t be met “we must always demands so much that we can never be satisfied” • Guarantees to Mussolini ‘Operation Green’ • 20 May Czech troops mobilised • Warning – Brit + France • Humiliation – Hitler forced admit no aggressive intent • West blames Benes – make concessions

• ‘Operation Green’ by 1 Oct • Czech isolated • Several visits by Henlein to Germany – negotiations with Benes • Clashes between Sudetens and Czechs • Benes offers a ‘blank cheque’ – homerule • Conspiracy group visits Britain • Martial law declared in Czech - “a reign of terror” (Nazi newspapers)