Occupation of Czechoslovakia

• Background - Czech independence

  . Czechoslovakia had been created after the First World War and was a democratic, independent state

  . It was a member of the League of Nations and had been allied to France since 1924 and the Soviet Union since 1935
• The occupation - independence destroyed

  . After the Munich Conference German troops entered the Sudetenland. Czechoslovakia's President (Benes) fled to London. Emil Hacha took his place and tried desperately to keep the rest of the country together

  . Hitler encouraged Slovakia to break away from Czechoslovakia and set itself up as an independent state

  . 14 March 1939 - In desperation, Hacha travelled to Berlin to meet Hitler. He was kept waiting as Hitler finished watching a film. Hitler demanded that Hacha split Czechoslovakia in two, and said that if he refused, Germany would invade

  . Hacha agreed to split Czechoslovakia. Slovakia became independent (although it asked for German protection). The rest of Czechoslovakia (Bohemia-Moravia) became a German protectorate
• What significant territorial gain did Germany achieve on 15 March?

  Germany marched into Prague
• What happened to Bohemia-Moravia after German occupation?

  It became part of the German Reich
• How much resistance did the Czechs show to the German occupation?

  Very little resistance
• What occurred one day after German troops entered Prague?

  German troops were sent into Slovakia
• What was the extent of German occupation in Czechoslovakia?

  Germany occupied the whole of old Czechoslovakia
• What economic gain did Germany achieve from the occupation?

  Control of Skoda armament factories
• How did Stalin's perception of Britain and France change?

  He lost all faith in them
• What was the Soviet military's concern regarding Hitler's expansion?

  Whether it would be east or west
• What drastic action was Stalin ready to take?

  To protect the Soviet Union
• What realization did Britain and France come to regarding appeasement?

  It had not worked
• What would Britain and France do if Hitler invaded Poland?

  Declare war on Germany
• How did Stalin's language towards Hitler change?

  He softened his language towards Hitler
• How did Chamberlain react to the situation with Hitler?

  He was dismayed but not surprised
• What did Chamberlain privately worry about after signing the Munich Agreement?

  That Hitler would make greater demands
• What did the arrival of German troops in Czechoslovakia signify for appeasement?

  The policy of appeasement came to an end
• Why did the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia bring and end to the policy of appeasement?

  . Chamberlain felt that the Nazi occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia was different from occupation of the Sudetenland. Hitler had taken land that was not German-speaking, and that had not been part of Germany before the First World War

  . Hitler had announced after the occupation of the Sudetenland that it was 'the last territorial claim that I have to make in Europe'. The occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia proved that this was a lie

  . Some British people and many newspapers were furious when Chamberlain did not condemn Hitler's actions more forcefully. Anti-appeasement candidates were becoming more popular at elections
• How did the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia bring an end to the policy of appeasement?

  . Chamberlain announced that Britain would guarantee the freedom of Poland. If Hitler invaded Poland, Britain would declare war

  . At the same time that Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement he also ordered increased spending on weapons to prepare for possible war with Germany. So he was not as naive as sometimes has been suggested