What was the Sudeten Crisis

• Czechoslovakia had been set up under the Treaty of Versailles, which Hitler promised to overturn. He saw invading the Sudetenland as the first step in destroying Czechoslovakia and 'righting' another 'wrong' of the Treaty. Czechoslovakia had a big army and strong fortifications. The Sudetenland was home to forts, railways and industries, which could all be used as part of Hitler's war effort in years to come: the area had many factories producing glass and lignite, as well as the Skoda factory, which could be used to build tanks and other weapons
• The Sudetenland was home to around three million German speaking people. As a minority group (20% of the population), the German speaking Sudetens claimed that they had been persecuted by the Czechs and used this as an excuse to start riots. Hitler used this as an excuse; he needed to step in to 'save' German speakers in the Sudetenland
• The Sudetenland was a good base from which to launch an attack on Czechoslovakia. The area jutted into Germany, which surrounded it on three sides. Hitler thought that owning the Sudetenland would be a good strategic move, making his eventual invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia easier
• May 1938 - Nazis in the Sudetenland were producing false stories about the persecutions of Germans, and demanded Hitler come and save them
• 15th September 1938 - The British prime minister Neville Chamberlain flew to Berchtesgaden, the 'Eagle's nest', Hitler's holiday home in the mountains. Hitler demanded the Sudetenland as the price for peace. Chamberlain agreed - and forced the Czechs to agree
• 22nd September 1938 - Chamberlain returned to Germany and met Hitler at Bad Gosberg, Hitler now wanted the Sudetenland handed over straight away, and for Hungary and Poland to get land
• 29th September 1938 - The four Great Powers, Britain, France, Germany and Italy signed an agreement at the Munich Conference. Chamberlain and Daladier agreed to Hitler's demands
• 30th September 1938 - The day after the conference, Chamberlain flies back to Britain and gives the 'Peace in our time' speech
• 10th October 1938 - Hitler marched his troops into the Sudetenland
• 15th March 1939 - Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, the first time invading outside the terms of the Treaty of Versailles with a focus on Lebensraum, and as a result of that Britain and France sign a pact with Poland to protect it